Estimating the extent of urchin barrens and kelp forest loss in northeastern Aotearoa, New Zealand

On shallow rocky reefs in northeastern Aotearoa, New Zealand, urchin barrens are indicators of the ecosystem effects of overfishing reef predators. Yet, information on their extent and variability is lacking. We use aerial imagery to map the urchin barrens and kelp forests on reefs (<30 m depth) across seven locations, including two long-established marine reserves and a marine protected area that allows recreational fishing. Urchin barrens were present in all locations and were restricted to reefs <10–16 m deep. Urchin barrens covered 30% (7–49%) of shallow reefs in fished areas, with variation among and within locations likely related to the relative extent and topography of reefs and wave exposure. Within the marine reserves, barrens covered <2% of shallow reefs. Long-term comparison of historical imagery at two fished locations demonstrates that current areas of urchin barrens were historically dominated by kelp forests, but barrens have persisted since at least the early 2000s. We estimate ∼30 km² of barrens exist across the region. This demonstrates the widespread nature of barrens, the potential long-term effectiveness of no-take marine protection in restoring urchin barrens, and the need for a multifaceted management approach to restore kelp forests and prevent further expansion of barrens.