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Presentation Title: Supporting community-led restoration of kelp forest ecosystems and associated fisheries For the last 15 years Assoc. Prof Hepburn has led transformative climate change, aquaculture and fisheries research and teaching programmes in partnership with coastal communities. Key to this work is building capacity and applying fit-for-purpose research to empower decision-makers to alter public policy surrounding marine management and ecosystem restoration. He co-leads Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai a research partnership programme with indigenous communities (primarily Ngāi Tahu) developed to better meet community aspirations and support local action by Tangata Tiaki/Kaitiaki (customary fishery managers). He has published more than 60 papers on macroalgal ecophysiology, climate change, and fisheries. Assoc. Prof Hepburn currently leads an active and diverse lab group and is committed to supporting the leaders of coastal communities and training the next generation of scientists equipped to gather and share the knowledge we need to traverse an uncertain future. |
Presentation title: Supporting community-led restoration of kelp forest ecosystems and associated fisheries
Natural resource and environmental management by indigenous people is often based on intergenerational goals that includes an ecosystem wide focus. In New Zealand, Customary Protection Areas (CPA) provide a legislative framework to allow for local management of fisheries by Iwi (tribes). Here a working partnership between researchers and Tangata Tiaki (customary fishery managers) from the Ngāi Tahu tribe is shared. This partnership called Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai (meaning looking after the food gathering areas and practices) primarily provides data that supports protection and restoration of fisheries, practices, and rights of Ngāi Tahu. While restoration of fisheries for the cultural keystones like the pāua (abalone, Haliotis iris) is often a focus, kaitiakitanga, a form of stewardship applied by Tangata Tiaki, values and acknowledges the role of all living things. This holistic approach understands the foundational role of seaweed in these ecosystems. Today a transition of in water leadership from scientists to the community is occurring and projects restoring Macrocystis pyrifera forests and controlling the invasive kelp Undaria pinnatifida are the focus for this process. Sharing the benefits of research and restoration programmes with communities is central in developing true partnership models and supporting future focused restoration of coastal ecosystems.