Nelson’s first marine reserves ranger heads to Indonesia to upskill

Nelson’s first marine reserves ranger is heading to Indonesia to study community involvement in managing large marine protected areas.

Department of Conservation (DOC) marine reserves ranger Stew Robertson is based in Motueka and oversees the Tonga Island and Horoirangi marine reserves in Tasman Bay.

Before he was appointed to the role in 2020, there was no dedicated marine reserve ranger in Nelson.

His work includes patrolling reserves to ensure people are complying with the rules, not fishing, and educating people about marine reserves.

Robertson will travel to Indonesia to study marine protection in the Raja Ampat archipelago, a globally significant marine biodiversity hotspot at the heart of the Coral Triangle.

He is this year’s winner of DOC’s Stephen O’Dea Development Award – in memory of the the field centre manager at Punakaiki who died along with 13 students in the Cave Creek disaster in 1995.

The naming of the recipient of the annual award is timed for World Ranger Day on 31 July.

Robertson said he was inspired to visit Raja Ampat after seeing it in a documentary he watched when sick with Covid-19 earlier this year.

The archipelago of more than 1400 islands is situated off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula on Papua, Indonesia’s most eastern island.

“I dreamed about going to Raja Ampat to learn about what they do and I’m thrilled to be getting the opportunity through the Stephen O’Dea Development Award. I plan to bring back a kete of knowledge we can learn from.

“I am especially interested in the work of local marine rangers in Raja Ampat and how their compliance effort has significantly contributed to marine life rebounding in protected areas.”

DOC Director-General Penny Nelson said the Stephen O’Dea Development Award provided frontline staff with a professional development opportunity in conservation management.

“Stew will look at how marine conservation organisations have worked with local communities to create and manage a large marine protected area network. It will assist our understanding on ways DOC, mana whenua iwi and local communities can best work together to protect and enhance our marine environment.”