Marine Treasures of the Marlborough SoundsEvidence Against the NZ King Salmon Application

for Salmon Farms in the Marlborough Sounds

Evidence of Danny Boulton

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The following photographs have been taken in thecourse of 2012 as part of the evidence against the NZ King Salmon application for nine salmon farmsin the Marlborough Sounds.

Maps of the proposed farms have been included,with dive sites marked and numbered.

The photographs show an overview of the uniqueand diverse marine environment that will be severely impacted if salmon farms are operated in its vicinity. This natural beauty could be lost forever.

Sustain our Sounds Inc. surveys have shown areasthat are presently unclassified to be 'Ecologically Significant Marine Sites' according Department ofConservation trigger levels (See Table).

Therefore all dive sites represented here are of eco-logical importance.

Maps are reproduced from NZ King Salmon Evidence.

© 2012 Danny Boulton

Photo front cover: Jason Nudibranch / Dive Site 2 Kaitira.Photo back cover: Waitata, White Horse Rock proposed concentrated fish feeding site / Dive site 5.

Examples of species and habitats of ecological importance in the Marlborough Sounds, thecommon substrata they are found on and their associated DoC trigger levels (adapted fromDoC 1995).Table from Cawthron Institute Report No. 1983, August 2011).

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3Proposed Salmon Farms and Dive Sites 1, 2 Kaitira.

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Discovery of a vast sponge gardenDive Site 1 Kaitira.

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5Anemones filter feed in the current / Dive Site 2 Kaitira.

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6A Triplefin watches for prey amidst anemones / Dive Site 2 Kaitira.

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7Large sponges dominate an underwater garden / Dive Site 2 Kaitira.

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8A juvenile scorpion fish camouflaged like rock / Dive Site 2 Kaitira.

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9Blue Cod hover inquisitive / Dive Site 2 Kaitira.

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10Delicate yellow hydroids sway with the current / Dive site 2 Katira.

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11Flowers on rock. Anemones, starfish, hydroids and algae / Dive site 2 Kaitira.

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12White eggs dot a hydroid tree. / Dive site 2 Kaitira.

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Proposed Salmon Farms and Dive Site 3 Tapipi.

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14Tubeworm mounds complimented by a host of sponges / Dive site 3 Tapipi.

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15An elephant fish egg case, a significant specie / Dive site 3 Tapipi.

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16Finger sponge with distant hydroids and sponges /Dive site 3 Tapipi.

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17Sponge and cobble give protection to juvenile blue cod / Dive site 3 Tapipi.

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18A carpet shark sleeps on the sand / Dive site 3 Tapipi.

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Proposed Salmon Farms and Dive Site 4 Richmond.

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20Jewel anemones shine from an underwater bonsai garden / Dive Site 4 Richmond.

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21A delicate yellow hydroid bows to the current / Dive Site 4 Richmond.

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22A sponge reaches for the light / Dive Site 4 Richmond.

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Proposed Salmon Farms and Dive Site 5 Waitata, White Horse Rock.

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24A crab clings to an orange sponge while feeding / Dive Site 5 Waitata, White Horse Rock.

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25A diver looms over a vast sponge garden / Dive Site 5 Waitata, White Horse Rock.

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Beside the garden path. Sponges and seaweed break free of the sand. Dive Site 5 Waitata, White Horse Rock.

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27Butterfly Perch splash color around giant sponges / Dive Site 5 Waitata, White Horse Rock.

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28A diver descends to the magic of discovery / Dive Site 5 Waitata, White Horse Rock.

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29Algae and sponges colour the slopes / Dive Site 5 Waitata, White Horse Rock.

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30Proposed Salmon Farms and Dive Sites 6, 7, 8 Tory Channel, Ngamahau.

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31A wellington nudibranch grazes in Tory channel / Dive Site 6 Ngamahau.

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32Hydroid trees filter the Tory channel current / Dive Site 7 Ngamahau.

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33Fingers of Giant Kelp cling to rock as an anchor point / Dive Site 7 Ngamahau.

Giant kelp reaches for the sur-face in Tory Channel

Dive Site 7 Ngamahau.

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34Triplefin and cream sponge / Dive Site 8 Ngamahau.

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35Ecologically Significant Marine Site 3.11 in Pelorus Sound.

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February–August 2012

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