11. Coastal shelf and edge of the southeast coast and East Cape of the North Island
Map ID Number: 11
Location: Southeast coast of North Island
Approximate area: 29,860km2
Description of area:
Continental shelf, edge, and slope with various current gyres influenced by subtropical currents.
Biological attributes:
The coastal shelf and edge off of the east coast of the North Island is a significant feeding area for a range of seabirds and marine mammals. The importance of this area for feeding is associated with areas of rich oceanic mixing. The mixing zones near the East Cape are foraging habitat for seabirds from the northern subtropical and east regions to the Chatham Islands. This zone is part of the seabird migratory route from the southern islands and east coast of the South Island to North Pacific wintering grounds. Mammals found in the area include pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), beaked whales, sperm whales, common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), long- and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus and G. melas respectively), oceanic dolphins, and orcas (Orcinus orca). There is possibly a small population of Hector’s dolphins (Cephalorynchus hectori).
Criteria applied:
Seasonal/migratory importance.
Status and management:
No specific management measures other feeding is associated with areas of rich ocethan protection afforded by the Exclusive anic mixing. The mixing zones near the East Economic Zone.
State of information:
Information on seabirds and mammals in this area is poor except for gannet populations at Cape Kidnappers, bycatch species data, and beaching records of various whales in Hawke Bay.
References and further reading:
Adams (1992), Department of Conservation (2004), Robertson (1990).