Respect and protect the coastal environment: message clear as busy beach season begins
Over the past few weeks, our beaches experienced their first summer-season influx of visitors enjoying a range of activities. The coastal environment has multiple functions and various users, each with their own set of values.
Motorbike enthusiasts thunder through the same dunes where conservationists have just planted hundreds of seedlings to stop erosion and provide habitat for native shorebirds nesting in the grasses. The passionate bird watcher has a different expectation from an afternoon studying shore birds than the owner of the dog that scatters them while exercising. Boats, jetskis and commercial fishing vessels add other dimensions to the use, and frequent misuse, of the marine environment.
Multiple users contribute to the continuing pollution that necessitates beach clean-ups. An island of plastic bottles, toothbrushes, old fishing nets, printer cartridges and plastic bags, twice as big as Texas, currently floats around the northern Pacific Ocean. Any piece of plastic dumped in the street, roadside or playground has a good chance of finding its way into the sea.
Luckily, mindful communities are caring for Tasman Bay’s coastal environment. This was reflected in the response of the 1000 people who registered for the coastal tidy-up along 50 sections of coast from Abel Tasman National Park to Cable Bay on Saturday 20 November.
After 50 groups had signed up to clear coastal rubbish, interest in the clean-up remained so high that the effort was extended to the region’s rivers and streams.
This first Tasman Bay Big Beach Clean-up was jointly organised by the Department of Conservation, Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council and Nelmac Ltd, and covers some astounding 291 kilometres of coast. Adventure race champion Nathan Fa’avae, who is supporting the endeavour, said the enthusiastic response was superb.
“Groups were quick to register for the clean-up and all 50 coastal sections had been taken on within about six weeks. It’s great to see so many Tasman and Nelson locals caring for our beaches and wanting to make them litter-free and more attractive for people and wildlife.”
There are many ways to be respectful of the coastal environment and to safeguard what we have, said Claire Webster, TDC’s environmental education officer. She is asking people to spread the message among family and friends.
“I praise people for every little step they take. If everyone is respectful and accountable for their actions, it makes a real difference.
“Dogs should not be harassing birds when nesting or feeding. The beach is where the bird’s homes are, and we are only visiting. If people have a bike on the beach and they stick to the road rules and do not disturb the birds, that’s great. Boat owners out there should be thoughtful of their impact and conscientious to leave an area as they find it and to pick up any rubbish when they leave. Instead of idling they could turn off the engine and enjoy a moment of silence and think of the creatures of the sea.”
There are clear guidelines and enforceable rules in place if disrespectful beach users are caught.
“Road rules apply on the beach and if people are speeding or vehicles are not registered or licensed, then the police will be interested,” said Graham Caradus, TDC’s regulatory services co-ordinator.
TDC recently received a complaint about an ATV and a trail bike ripping about at great speed on the beach between Rototai and Pohara. The complainant was adamant that the motorists were travelling through bird nesting areas—not the first time such activity has been observed in this area.
“Driving vehicles on the beach does not breach council rules as long as no damage is done and vehicles have a general permission to be on the beach,” said Mr Caradus. “Only when damage is done, causing flocks of birds to fly, disturbing birds nesting or feeding, then you are breaching the rules set out in the TRMP.”
Mr Caradus said that observers needed to get close enough to see whether vehicles were registered or to get registration details, or to call the police. If the area was treated as a public road, both speeding and dangerous use charges were possible consequences in the above mentioned case, said the compliance officer.
Coastal birds are nesting at the moment, making them particularly vulnerable to disturbance by humans and animals. DOC advises that dogs must be kept under control when running loose on sandy beaches, or must be on a leash, particularly at high tide, when they may disturb and attack flocks of migrant waders or ground-nesting birds. Dog owners have a legal responsibility under the Dog Control Act to prevent their pet from harassing wildlife.
Cats are also pets to reckon with in the coastal area as they are serious predators of rare rails and crakes in wetlands and estuaries. DOC recommends that cats wear an identification tag so if they are caught in a live capture area, they can be identified and returned to either the SPCA or the owner. Desexing cats is also recommended, and the SPCA or your vet can advise on this.
Ina Holst
