Wednesday, 11 August 2021

Balancing ocean conservation in rock pools Coromandel's Eastern Seaboard

rocky seashore Coromandel's Eastern Seaboard - photo February 2012 Chris Ball 

The Eastern seaboard of Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( the Coromandel Peninsula) - this stretch of the coastline is rugged, born out of volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Rugged cliffs and rocks interspersed with sandy beaches line this stretch of coastline,  washed by Te Moana nui a kiwa ( Pacific Ocean ).

Rock pools at the base of the rugged cliffs provide shell fish, fish, crabs and ocean plant life. These are an exciting place for they provide the very life of the ocean - they are part of the " food web" - marine ecosystem in this area, reliant on each other for survival –  sea urchin, kina, paua, crabs, ika (fish), along with the plankton and kelp of the rock pools. Rock pools in this stretch of the coast are often nurseries for juvenile fish.        

         Ocean Rock Pools " Food web" 
        various from stock images  

All the ocean life in these rock pools are interdependent on each other. From tiny plankton and phytoplankton to the birds in the area and the dolphin, orca and shark passing through.  Once on this coast, there were paua in plenty- one place carried the name of this shell fish - now GONE!!!! There are anecdotal and local stories of rock pool shellfish including , crabs, fish and birds down in population numbers - impacting on  the very mauri ( life force/ essence) of the ocean life of  Te moana nui a Kiwi ( Pacific Ocean ). 

It is known that pollution of ocean , climate change over-harvesting, over fishing and poaching are impacting. Plastics find their way to rock pools and even erosion from storms and flood brings sedimentation. Pollution brings algae blooms, sea lettuce and toxins which impacts. 

Rock Pools Pauanui - photo August 2012 courtesy Chris Ball 

 Microscopic  plankton and phytoplankton  are the foundation of   rock pools and  ocean food in the " food web. "

Eastern Seaboard ocean rock pools provide a fascinating world to visit with family or school group. The ocean " food web" is a complex system where small organisms are eaten by larger ones. At the foundation base of the "food web" are microscopic plants and at the other end  are well-known predators like sharks and seabirds. Depending on their size and place within the "food web" , fish serve a variety of purposes and help to balance the ecosystem in many ways. 

In fact all from plants to sea creatures and from small to large, help balance the ecosytem. 

Eastern Seaboard on Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( Coromandel Peninsula )  rock pools are fascinating places for families and school groups to visit at low tide. They open a window to an exciting world of diverse sea life. They are places where we can "do our thing" to :

Help restore the balance and preserve the diverse ocean life 

Exploring rock pools South Beach Pauanui - photo courtesy Chris Ball July 2012 

                 On our visits 

 Low tide is the best tide! This makes viewing ocean life –  sea creatures and plant life  -  safe and easy

  • Bring a small bag with you to pick up any waste found on the coast eg plastics
  • Photographs and leave Footsteps only
  • Find footholds on bare rocks, which are less slippery than those covered with algae and other sensitive sea life.
  • Observe, not disturb. If you overturn a rock, place  back how was found and always leave plants and sea creatures  alone.
  • Leave all shells, rocks, and seaweed behind. They are needed by life in the pools.

Then maybe those things will help our ocean restore.


From stock images 

Reference Source: 





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