JONATHAN Gardner is a professor of marine biology at Victoria University who’s off to the University of London in October on a NZ-UK Link Foundation Visiting Professorship. Gardner is a world expert in marine protection, biodiversity conservation and population genetics. He hopes the New Zealand experience in marine protection will assist the UK as that country sets up a system of marine protection areas.

Name: Jonathan Gardner
Age: 48
Occupation: Marine biologist
Place I call home: Wellington
My passion is: The marine environment
My hero is: Tossup between Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill or Edward Jenner (smallpox vaccine)
If reincarnated I’d be: Very surprised because I don’t believe in reincarnation.


What is your nationality and family background?
English. Born in Norwich (East Anglia) into a small and close family with no working connection to the sea other than family holidays at the beach.
What brought you to New Zealand?
A lectureship in marine biology at Victoria University of Wellington in early 1994, and having done my time as a post-Doctoral researcher in both England and Canada, it was time to move on to what my father would call “a real job”. I have been here ever since.
What sparked your interest in the ocean and marine biology and research?
I grew up in the late 1960s and into the 1970s at a time when there was increasing environmental awareness (Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring; the Jacques Cousteau films; Marvin Gaye’s classic album What’s Going On; etc) and was strongly influenced by these sorts of things. I was always interested in marine biology. Most of my education and indeed my first couple of years of university were spent doing subjects that I had to do so that I could go on to do the marine biology courses, which is what I really wanted.
Do marine protection areas deliver conservation benefits?
NZ’s often pointed to as a world leader in marine protected areas (MPAs). The well documented response in all parts of the world is for those species that are most heavily fished to bounce back reasonably quickly. Paua, rock lobster, blue cod, blue moki, and snapper all respond very positively to protection. That’s the single species response. In the ecosystem as a whole, systems tend to move back to what we think are likely to be their “natural state” – that is, the kind of condition that they were in before significant human impacts. MPAs deliver conservation benefits to several different levels. They are an important “insurance policy” because they protect areas up and down the length and breadth of NZ.
How does New Zealand stack up in the world in terms of preserving our marine resources?
Generally speaking we’re pretty good. NZ is much better than most other countries, and certainly on a par with (quite possibly better than)countries such as Canada, USA and Australia. We learn from our experiences (e.g., shift from single species management to ecosystem based management for our fisheries). A lot of the problem isn’t about management but an ongoing need for education.
As an early activist for a marine reserve on Wellington’s south coast, does the Taputeranga Marine Reserve fulfil all you set out to achieve?
It’s very hugely important. Its main achievements are as a contribution to NZ’s marine conservation and also as an educational tool and something that the local community can take ownership of and feel proud about.
Have you any tips for fishermen or best fishing spots? Absolutely not!
What will you do during your time in London?
My three month appointment will allow me to share with academics and public audiences in the UK about the NZ experience with MPAs, the legal process we work in, and the benefits. This is as much a social science experience as it is a biological science experience. The UK is now starting to set-up a comprehensive network of MPAs. I want to learn from the UK scientists and managers about their experiences so that I can better understand the international view of MPAs.
Please finish these sentences:
My favourite marine creature is …the giant clam
My favourite fish to eat is … blue cod (I buy it, I never catch it)
When I’m not working I like to … try a variety of different NZ and international wines