Stewart Island · New Zealand · Kelp forest · Reef
Ulva Island
No-take kelp reserve ten minutes from Golden Bay
Area photo: Annette Teng · CC BY 3.0
Ulva Island sits in Paterson Inlet inside the Ulva Island–Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve, 1,075 hectares of no-take water closed to fishing since 2004. It is the one part of Stewart Island with documented underwater life: giant kelp over rock, at least 56 species of marine fish, and fur seals, sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins passing through. Ten minutes by water taxi from Golden Bay.
Where it is and how deep
46.9339° S, 168.1311° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The reserve covers 1,075 hectares south-west and north-east of Ulva Island, in Paterson Inlet, and the diving is short. Brachiopods, one of the reserve's better-known residents, thrive at depths of less than 20 m, and that shallow band is where the described life sits. Paterson Inlet behind the island drops to 45 m, but nothing about the reserve asks you to go looking for it.
The structure here is weed rather than coral. A forest of giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, stands over the rock, and the reserve's algal list runs to 56 brown, 31 green and 174 red species. At least 56 species of marine fish have been recorded inside the boundary, blue cod and carpet shark among them, with kina, sea cucumbers and starfish across the rock underneath.
The larger animals come through rather than live here: New Zealand fur seals, sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins all visit the reserve. The water is unusually clean for an inlet — much of the land around Paterson Inlet is unspoilt forest, so the runoff into the harbour carries little with it — and the last published assessment, in 2019, found the reserve's ecosystem in good health.
Background
The Ulva Island–Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve was established in 2004, with legal recognition on 13 December of that year, and covers 1,075 hectares south-west and north-east of the island in Paterson Inlet. In the same year most of the surrounding inlet became a mātaitai reserve, allowing customary and recreational fishing while prohibiting commercial fishing. In 2019 the reserve's ecosystem was assessed as being in good health.
Marine life and season
- Seals & sea lions
- Penguins
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Prime |
Season follows Stewart Island: The cage season runs roughly Dec–Jun under permit; winter weather in the Foveaux Strait shuts the crossing entirely.
Know before you go
- Lion's mane jellyfish are part of the recorded fauna here — hooded and fully covered is the sensible way to dive it.
- The reserve floor is the reason to come — anchor with care, and leave catch bags and spears on the boat, since both are banned inside the boundary.
Dive videos
Snorkelling Ulva Island Marine Reserve 2017 · Abel Tasman EcoTours Marahau, New Zealand on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the diving at Ulva Island?+
Shallow. The reserve's documented life, brachiopods included, sits at depths of less than 20 m, and that is where the diving is. Paterson Inlet itself reaches a maximum of 45 m, but the reserve water is well above that.
Can you fish or take shellfish at Ulva Island?+
No. The reserve has been no-take since 2004 — fishing, catch bags and fishing spears are all banned inside it, and boats have to anchor carefully to avoid damaging the sea floor. Most of the wider Paterson Inlet is a mātaitai reserve where commercial fishing is prohibited.
Sources
- Ulva Island-Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve — Wikipedia
- Paterson Inlet — Wikipedia
- Ulva Island (New Zealand) — Wikipedia
In The Logbook
- Kelp forest diving, and where it still growsCold water · 13 min read
- Where to dive with seals and sea lionsBig animals · 17 min read
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