Pupils check out marine reserve

COLIN SMITH

CATCHING ON: Showing fish hooks they made during a Seaweek trip to the Horoirangi Marine reserve are Shannon Norton from the Nelson Christian Academy, and Josiah Kemp from Hampden Street School.

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Twenty-six Nelson pupils got the chance yesterday to view first-hand the impact marine reserves have on life under the sea.

They spent the day aboard the catamaran Jamarh as part of Seaweek, an annual celebration of New Zealand's sea environment and a chance to learn about, and experience everything marine.

The pupils had the chance to learn about traditional Maori fishing practices and view what is under the sea with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research's remotely operated video camera.

Ten-year-old Shannon Norton, from the Nelson Christian Academy, said there was a massive difference between sea life in the Horoirangi Marine Reserve, north of Nelson, and outside it.

"In the marine reserve there was lots more coral, all this moki and blue cod and in the non-reserve part we just saw a lot of sponge and a couple of spotties, that was it."

Despite her cap falling in the sea, Shannon said she enjoyed the trip on the catamaran. "It was fun having the sail up instead of the motor."

Josiah Kemp, 10, from Hampden Street School, said they made traditional Maori fish hooks that ensure that breeding and juvenile fish are left in the sea.

- © Fairfax NZ News