This is a second post about Fiordland Marine Reserves. If you didn’t read the first one, you can find it here.

Gold Arm Marine Reserve

The Gold Arm (Kahukura) Marine reserve is located at Charles Sound and covers an area of about 464 hectares. It provides a very sheltered habitat away from the influence of ocean swells since it is located in the farthest from the ocean part of the Charles Sound. It encircles the inner fiord reaches of Gold Arm, including the tidal mouth of Windward River. Since this reserved provides such a good sheltered habitat, it has a very diverse community life. Beautiful black and red corals are plentiful, and sometimes, especially if it is a bright sunny day, they can be seen form a boat.

The Gut Marine Reserve

This marine reserve was established in 1993 and together with Milford Sound Marine Reserve became the first marine reserve in Fiordland. In Maori it is called Te Awaatu which means “The channel of Tu”. Tu was mythical figure i Maori legend who carved out the fiords and lakes with his ko (giant digging stick), while one of his feet was standing on Secretary Island and the other on Resolution Island.

The gut Marine Reserve is the smallest in Fiordland covering only 93 hectares. It is located between Bauza and Secretary Islands and has a high tidal flow. The reserve is known for its sea pens and other suspension feeders, including the red and black corals, zoanthids and lampshells.

Gaer Arm Marine Reserve

This reserve includes large areas of estuarine habitat at the entrance of the Camelot River, and has a relatively shallow basin. It’s eastern side contains rock wall habitats with several vertical drops down to 50 - 60 meters (164-196 feet). On these vertical drops live anemones and other colorful sessile suspension feeders. Most of the eastern side of the reserve is hidden from direct sunlight. Cockle and pipi beds in the estuarine habitat of the Camelot River are amongst the largest populations of these species found in Doubtful Sound.

Other marine reserves in Fiordland are Elizabeth Island, Five Fingers Peninsula, Wet Jacket Arm, and Long Sound Marine Reserve. The Largest marine reserve in Fiordland is Long Sound reserve covering area of 3,672 hectares. It is also the most physically isolated in Fiordland.