31945 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries

31945 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: What evidence, if any, does the Minister have that Benthic Protection Areas offer additional protection for marine species and habitats, particularly in areas where bottom trawling does not occur?

Hon Shane Jones: Benthic Protection Areas (BPAs) protect areas of the seabed from the impacts of fishing by prohibiting all forms of trawling and dredging in the water column up to 100 metres above the seafloor. I am advised that when BPAs were designed, the objectives included creating closures to bottom trawling that were large and relatively unfished (to protect pristine areas of the seafloor), and to cover areas that are broadly representative of the marine environment.