Monitoring Results

Fiordland User Study 2007 - Results Available

What's going on in Fiordland and what do people really think of the place?

A major study was carried out between February and June last year to find out what people are doing in Fiordland, and how they perceive or value the area. The study was carried out in two parts: via a questionnaire survey of commercial, recreational, and other user groups of the Fiordland Marine Area (FMA); and via interviews with key people who have local knowledge of the FMA.

The survey asked about issues including:

• How often, and for what reasons, do people go to the FMA?
• What activities do people do in the FMA?
• What do people value the most about the FMA and why?
• What do people know about how the FMA is managed?
• What do people think are the main threats to the FMA?

Study Results

Notable findings from the study include:

• Marine pests and pollution are perceived to be the two greatest threats to the FMA by almost all groups of users surveyed.
• Those interviewed (the key individuals with local knowledge) perceived the depletion of fish stocks to be the primary threat to the values they held for the FMA.
• Most respondents under-estimated the number of marine reserves in the FMA. People also tended to assume that a higher proportion of the FMA is protected by marine reserves than it actually is. The perceived current level of marine reserve protection is generally considered adequate.
• Marine reserves were reported to have a positive influence upon enjoyment and use, although there is some confusion about certain rules.
• Over half of the respondents had heard of the Fiordland Marine Guardians (commercial fishers reported the greatest awareness), and most seemed reasonably knowledgeable about their role.

You can download Volume 1 of the report containing the study results here (1.8 MB). Volume 2 contains detailed material on the methods used to gather and analyse the information.

Why was the study undertaken?

The study was undertaken for two reasons. Firstly, it establishes reference or baseline data. In other words, it looks at who's doing what in Fiordland and what do people in Fiordland think of the place right now. Finding out this information while the Fiordland Act is so new, means that changes happening over time can be tracked. Secondly, the study will provide vital information for a major review of the management of the FMA which will be carried out in 2010.

The objectives of this project contribute to the overall monitoring plan for the Fiordland Marine Area, and relate to perceptions, understanding and use of the Fiordland marine environment.