•This regionally and nationally recognised project aims to discover and document the subtidal rocky reef communities found in the South Taranaki Bight. Initially focusing on one target reef (approx. 11km offshore and depth of approx. 23metres), a number of surveys will be conducted throughout the year allowing us to capture the ecological variance across seasons. A range of basic scientific methods will be employed by local community groups to survey the reef. It is hoped that this research effort will continue into the future and expand to incorporate additional reefs. The Project uses a number of survey methods to learn more about the biodiversity. A unique insitu camera set up (situated for many weeks at a time on the reef, until retrieved for maintenance) taking short video bursts over night and day, benthic (reef floor) surveys involving a diver transect method, with the diver capturing images of 0.5m2 quadrats every meter along a 30m transect tape, fishing surveys for predatory reef fish (conducted by Hawera High School and Patea Area School, and supported by local fishing charters 'South Taranaki Fishing Charters'), as well as tagging of fish as part of the Tindale Marine Research Charitable Trust tagging program, acoustic surveys through a loaned hydrophone, plankton trawls, baited underwater video drops (BUV), Environmental DNA (e-DNA) as part of the EPA's Wai Tuwhera o te Taiao – Open Waters Aotearoa programme, secchi disk measurements for water clarity, and species identification work via samples sent to NIWA. A Trident underwater drone also enables the Project to survey the ocean (thanks to Wildlife Conservation Society, WCS). Partners in the Project are: South Taranaki Underwater Club, Hawera High School, Patea Area School, Te Kaahui o Rauru and Te Runanga o Ngati Ruanui Trust. The Project is fortunate to have had since its inception until early 2017, the support of scientific officer Thomas McElroy who holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in marine biology, ecology and biodiversity with a Masters in Marine Conservation. In early 2017 Thomas left and Joshua Richardson joined the Project back in 2016. Joshua holds a Masters in Marine Science. The Project has made efforts to engage with the wider scientific community, and now collaborates with Auckland University’s Leigh Marine Lab, Dr Radford, an acoustic specialist, Andrew Stewart of Te Papa (fish ID work), NZ sponge specialist at NIWA Dr Michelle Kelly and Sadie Mills of NIWA for other species ID work. All species observations are uploaded to 'I-naturalist' an extremely user friendly public database that allows us to share species observations and connect to a wide network of experts who can validate our sightings. The Project is called 'Coastblitz Pātea'. Initial funding for the Project came as part of the Government’s National Plan for Science in Society - via the 'Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment' (MBIE) funding the ‘Curious Minds’ initiative (young people, communities and scientists collaborate on a science project.) In 2015 the Curious Minds initiative was launched and Taranaki (administered by Venture Taranaki) was one of the pilot regions given funding. This Project received funding from the first and second funding rounds of $19,321 and $19,681 respectively. The TSB Community Trust, now re-branded as the Toi Foundation has also generously supported the Project, via capital and program grants. Significant donated time and resources come from the South Taranaki Underwater Club (STUC) members. The Project won the 'Protecting our Coasts and Oceans' category in the 2017 Green Ribbon Awards, held at Parliament on the 8 June. And in 2016 won a Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Award for 'Environmental Action in the Community'. The Project also exhibited for five months at Aotea Utanganui, the South Taranaki Museum during 2016/2017. Photographs of sponges, taken by Bruce Boyd of the South Taranaki Underwater Club have also made their way into version 2 of the NIWA Sponge Guide!
