New Zealand has one of the longest and most diverse coastlines of any country. At 18000km long it incorporates subantartic islands, subtropical islands, near shore islands, reefs, seamounts, remote islands, mangroves, fiords, estuaries, sounds, harbours, and wild exposed rocky coast. This uniquely diverse marine environment contains a high percentage of New Zealand's biodiversity and is a diver's paradise.
The philosophy that it's ok to put much of our waste into the sea needs to be reconsidered. Divers are the underwater eyes and need to voice concern about pollution, sedimentation, biosecurity, poaching, overfishing, and physical damage to marine flora and fauna. Divers should themselves observe the diver care code and educate others to do the same.
New Zealand Underwater is committed to the increased creation of marine protected areas in New Zealand waters by promoting greater levels of marine protection, and we're also proposing our own marine reserve.
Become an Environmental Member and support the work we do. This includes writing submissions, lobbying politicians, coordinating Seaweek, a voice on the Auckland Conservation Board, being an Environmental Ambassador, and participating in diver environmental programmes. Take action, join now, and help us represent the interests of divers and those special underwater places we love to visit. If you wish to communicate with Peter Crabb email him on films@blueplanet-productions.com
