Coastal marine rules

New Coastal Rules: What You Need to Know

Marlborough has new coastal rules to help protect our unique marine environment. These changes make it clearer and easier for everyone to enjoy the water while caring for our special places.

Why these changes?

We want to keep Marlborough’s coast healthy and safe for people, wildlife, and future generations. The new rules protect important habitats, rare birds, and underwater cables. By following these rules, you help keep our marine area clean and thriving.

How does this benefit you?

• Cleaner, safer water for swimming, boating, and fishing
• Healthy habitats for native plants and animals
• Clear guidelines so you know what you can and can’t do

What do you need to do?

Anchoring:

• Do not anchor within Category A Ecologically Significant Marine Sites or within 100m of King Shag breeding sites (check the map).
• You can anchor in most places, but not for more than 60 consecutive days (or 90 days in 12 months) in the same bay or inlet.

Sewage discharge:

• Never release untreated sewage within 750 metres of shore or 1000 metres of a marine farm or within bays with limited or slow circulation (see map).
• Only use treated discharge (Grade A or B) is permitted in these areas. For a summary of what Grade A and Grade B sewage is, visit the Sewage Discharge section of the Maritime NZ website:
  Go to the Maritime NZ website

King Shag breeding sites:

Keep at least 100 metres away from marked King Shag breeding areas. These rare birds are easily disturbed.

Hull cleaning:

• Follow the rules for cleaning your boat in the water.
• Capture macro-fouling and dispose of it at an approved landfill. Please refer to the MPI website for more information on differences in fouling.
• Stop cleaning and contact Council or MPI if you spot unusual pests.
• In-water cleaning of light fouling and goose barnacles is allowed if your anti-foul coating is within its service life and you follow manufacturer guidelines.

Submarine cables:

• Don’t anchor or disturb the seabed near submarine cable protection zones (marked on the map).