14. Marlborough Sounds
Map ID Number: 14
Location: North coast of the South Island
Approximate area: 2,299km2
Description of area:
The Marlborough Sounds are formed from drowned river valleys resulting in a complex coastline with a large variety of habitats. High velocity semidiurnal tidal flows characterise the entrance of the sounds. In central New Zealand they represent the largest extent of sheltered harbour habitats.
Biological attributes:
The sounds have a reasonable diversity of native suspension feeders and muddy benthic communities in unmodified habitats. There is a mix of northern and southern brachiopod species and other invertebrates. Over their length the sounds show a strong transition in fauna and flora from that typical of exposed rock reefs and sandy sediments to those typical of sheltered shores. The sounds ecosystem also supports a large number of marine farms, which farm mainly suspension feeding mussels.
Criteria applied:
Representation (across physical types); meeting ground.
Status and management:
Some of the area is zoned for marine farming, which requires resource consent and fisheries permits. Sediment runoff from forestry operations and roads poses a threat to water quality.
State of information:
Not recorded during the workshop
References and further reading:
Bardsley (1976), Cole et al. (2001), Estcourt (1967), Farhey and Coker (1992), Grange (1991a), Nelson et al. (1992), Ogilvie (2000), Struik (1979).