Treasures of the sea

Main Navigation

• Home
• Executive Summary
• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Methods
• 3.1 The Oceanography of the New Zealand Marine Ecoregion
• 3.2 Cetaceans, seals, and seabirds
  • 1. Subantarctic Islands (and continental shelf areas to 500m depth)
  • 2. Chatham Islands
  • 3. Chatham Rise
  • 4. Stewart Island
  • 5. South Island southern and eastern shelf edge
  • 6. Otago/Catlins Shelf
  • 7. Northeast South Island
  • 8. West coast of South island
  • 9. North coast of South Island
  • 10. Trench zone
  • 11. Coastal shelf and edge of the southeast coast and East Cape of the North Island
  • 12. Hauraki/northeast coast of North Island
  • 13. West coast of North island
  • 14. Three Kings Islands
  • 15. West coast basin
  • 16. Kermadec Islands
  • References and further reading
• 3.3 Fishes
• 3.4 Benthic invertebrates, algae, and plants
• 3.5 Information gaps
• 3.6 Future steps for the future of Biodiversity
• 4.0 Discussion
• 5.0 References
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3
• Appendix 4

6. Otago/Catlins Shelf

Print this page

Map ID Number: 6

Location: Coast of southwest South Island out to 200 m depth contour

Approximate area: 6,610km²

• Description of area
• Biological attributes
• Criteria applied
• Status and management
• State of information
• References and further reading

Description of area:

A narrow (less than 35km) margin of continental shelf (mostly less than 80–120m deep) and slope borders the southeast side of the South Island.

Biological attributes:

The Otago/Catlins Shelf area is an important mainland breeding location for a number of species, given its proximity to highly productive water on the continental shelf and on the shelf’s edge. The area provides habitat for 2 seal species (New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) and New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)), Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorynchus hectori), 2 albatross species (northern (Diomedea sanfordi) and southern (D. epomophora) royal albatrosses), 2 penguin species (yellow-eyed (Megadyptes antipodes) and blue penguins (Eudyptula minor)), 1 petrel species (sooty shearwater (Puffi nus griseus)), and a variety of cormorants. There are important coastal wetlands in the area for wading birds, and migratory waders gather at these feeding sites at the southern end of their fly way. The Otago/Catlins area is an important breeding location for yellow-eyed penguins and New Zealand fur seals, and is the only mainland breeding site for New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) and royal albatross. It is the only location in the world where albatross species hybridise and are also viable (northern and southern royal albatross). Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) migrate through this area in the spring.

Return to Page Top

Criteria applied:

Conservation status/threat classification; species diversity; and cultural (community) values.

Status and management:

Some of the seabird and marine mammal species in the Otago/Catlins area are classified as threatened with extinction under the IUCN and/or DoC threat classifications. Under the IUCN classifi cation, the northern royal albatross, yellow-eyed penguin and Hector’s dolphin are endangered, while the southern royal albatross and the New Zealand sea lion are classified as vulnerable. Introduced terrestrial predators are a threat to penguins. Under the DoC classification the New Zealand sea lion and Hector’s dolphin are classified as threatened.

The Otago Peninsula’s proximity to a large urban centre makes it an accessible and popular ecotourism destination for viewing iconic species. Yellow-eyed penguins can be seen on the peninsula and albatrosses nest at Taiaroa Head. New Zealand sea lions also occur on the peninsula and in the Catlins.

State of information:

Information is good for the New Zealand sea lion and fur seal. Population and foraging information for albatrosses and yellow-eyed penguin is good.

References and further reading:

Connel (ed.) (1999), Darby and Seddon (1990), DuFresne et al. (2001), Hitchmough (comp.) (2002), IUCN (2002), Moore (1999), Moore and Wakelin (1997), Robertson et al. (1998)