Researchers at the University of Waikato are turning to the ocean to clean up our freshwater environment, create sustainable business opportunities and develop new life saving medicines while restoring our marine ecosystems in the process.
While our marine environments are declining at a rapid rate they also sustain us environmentally, culturally and economically and if this is to continue we need to work hard to reverse the decline, says Professor of Marine Science, Kura Paul-Burke.
She leads a $13 million research project incorporating mātauranga Māori into marine restoration funded by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment's Endeavour Fund.
The Pou Rāhui, pou tikanga, pou oranga: reigniting the mauri of Tīkapa Moana and Te Moananui-ā-Toi project, will work with 5 iwi partners to investigate and share localised knowledge and tikanga Māori approaches, supporting a deeper understanding of rāhui, marine management and restoration action using mātauranga-ā-iwi and modern scientific tools.
“We are growing our whānau of Māori post-grad students doing their masters and PhDs prioritising mātauranga Māori alongside marine science. It is about celebrating different knowledge systems to help our environment,” says Professor Paul-Burke.
Professors Chris Battershill and David Schiel are leading another project incorporating mātauranga Māori in work to improve the health of the coastal environment and contribute to reversing the decline of New Zealand's kelp forest ecosystems. Toka ākau toitu Kaitiakitanga - building a sustainable future for coastal reef ecosystems received $8.8m from MBIE.
Focusing on kelp forests across four economically, ecologically and culturally important regions, the project embraces the connections between the mountains and the sea to establish sustainable intergenerational management strategies for kaimoana and marine health. Enhancing the resilience of coastal reef ecosystems in the face of increasing sedimentary inundation from land runoff in our fast changing climate, is a prime target.
These new research projects continue to build on a strong multidisciplinary marine science capability in Tauranga. The University has made significant investment in a new marine science research base at Sulphur Point and built New Zealand’s first state-of-the-art aquaculture facility for macroalgae cultivation in 2020. Since then it has also been granted a seaweed and freshwater algae fish farming license enabling large scale seaweed research to enrich our blue economy.
“There are just so many opportunities for cultivating, developing and commercialising seaweed,” Dr Marie Magnusson says. “The facilities we have and the industry partnerships we have grown offer so many great opportunities for our students in a growing industry.”
Research led by Associate Professor Magnusson has already seen the launch of trials using algae to clean treated wastewater alongside Bay of Plenty company Aqua Curo, and in another project alongside AgriSea they are using sea lettuce or Ulva to remove nutrients from river estuary water at Waihou on the Firth of Thames.
“The industry connections we have are great for our students because they get to see that all the nitty gritty work they are doing in the lab has application in the real world and is solving real world problems,” says Dr Magnusson.
Marine Science and aquaculture programmes at the University of Waikato Tauranga campus take a sustainable and culturally sensitive approach to this growth industry and the Bay of Plenty provides a unique living laboratory for students to learn.
The University also launched its Blue Green Lab in Tauranga in 2022 providing a space for University staff and students to work on projects with and for local companies across automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and biotechnology for the horticulture and marine sectors and environments.
The lab also provides a space for engaging with future students and the local community, and reinforces the University’s commitment to growing investment and activity in support of community and industry in the region.
Our strong industry connections and the real world application of research whether for commercial purposes or to help inform environmental management is a real strength at the University, says Dr Magnusson.
Professor Conrad Pilditch oversees a team of PhD students researching New Zealand estuaries in the hopes their findings will contribute to national and worldwide efforts to monitor and improve estuary health. Dr Shari Gallop is also part of the team. Her research considers how to restore our estuaries in the face of climate change.
Improving the health of our estuaries, the nurseries of the sea that sit at the interface between our marine and freshwater environments is key to improving our marine environments, says Professor Pilditch.
The oceans represent a hyperconnected environment so activities in one place at one time can impact miles away and our activities on land have a direct impact on what ends up in our estuaries, says Professor Pilditch.
“Although it might seem out of reality for people to do positive actions today at the local level, it's critical that we start,” he says.
Protecting our marine environment also extends to understanding its delicate ecosystems and the species that live in our waters.
Marine biologist Dr Phil Ross is leading a team in collaboration with local iwi, to investigate an increase in great white sharks in Bay of Plenty waters.
The region has recorded the most extended marine heatwave ever seen in New Zealand and while warmer waters have been cited as the reason great whites are attracted to the region, Dr Ross says it is not the only reason.
“This is what we will be looking at, as well as monitoring the number and location of sharks with satellite tagging,” he said.
Researchers at the University are also striving to create sustainable business opportunities for rural coastal communities from farming flounder to regenerating mussel beds and creating sustainable mussel farming solutions from cabbage tree and flax fibers.
They are also focused on uncovering what sustainable healing medicines and products we can harness from the deep blue. Of high relevance to Aotearoa New Zealand, is discovery and development of agrichemicals from marine bioactive sources that provide new environmentally ‘friendly’ alternatives to current herbicides, with a focus on economically and culturally important biosecurity threats such as Kiwifruit Psa-V and Phytophthora.
“New Zealand’s natural marine environment has played an important role in the discovery of many important drugs and continues to be an important resource for drug and agrichemical leads,” says Professor Battershill, who heads the Coastal Marine group in the School of Science at the University of Waikato’s Tauranga campus. “It is enormously productive and an essential element in our well being and economic future, however it is under severe pressure here and around the world.”
Watafiti wa Chuo Kikuu cha Waikato wanatafuta bahari ili kusafisha mazingira yetu ya maji baridi, kuunda fursa za biashara endelevu na kuendeleza dawa mpya za kuokoa maisha wakati wa kurejesha mifumo yetu ya ikolojia ya baharini. """Wakati mazingira yetu ya baharini yanapungua kwa kasi, yanatutegemeza kiikolojia, kitamaduni na kiuchumi, na ikiwa hii itaendelea tunahitaji kufanya kazi kwa bidii ili kubadilisha kupungua,"" anasema Profesa wa Sayansi ya Bahari, Kura Paul-Burke." Mfumo wa utafiti wa $ 13 milioni unajumuisha Maori katika ukarabati wa baharini unaofadhiliwa na Shirika la Uvumbuzi wa Biashara na Uajiri. "Pauhai, Puawai, Puawai: Reigniting the Mauri of Tikkapua Moana and Te Moanui-A-Toi Project, itafanya kazi na washirika watano wa Iwi kuchunguza na kushiriki maarifa ya ndani na mbinu za Maori za ""kuchanganya"" na kusaidia uelewa wa kina wa Puawai, usimamizi wa baharini na hatua za ukarabati kwa kutumia zana za Maori na kisasa za kisayansi." <unk>Tunaongeza idadi yetu ya wanafunzi wa Maori wanaofanya shahada ya uzamili na shahada ya udaktari kwa kuweka kipaumbele Maori pamoja na sayansi ya baharini. Ni kuhusu kusherehekea mifumo tofauti ya maarifa kusaidia mazingira yetu, "anasema Profesa Paul-Burke. Profesa Chris Battershill na David Schiel wanaongoza mradi mwingine unaojumuisha Maori katika kazi ya kuboresha afya ya mazingira ya pwani na kuchangia kurekebisha kupungua kwa mifumo ya ikolojia ya misitu ya kelp ya New Zealand. Toka Akai Toitu Kaitiakitanga - kujenga siku zijazo endelevu kwa mifumo ya ikolojia ya pwani ya matumbawe alipokea $ 8.8m kutoka MBIE. Kwa kuzingatia misitu ya kelp katika mikoa minne muhimu kiuchumi, ikolojia na kitamaduni, mradi huo unashughulikia uhusiano kati ya milima na bahari ili kuanzisha mikakati ya usimamizi endelevu ya kizazi kwa kaimoana na afya ya baharini. Kuongeza nguvu ya mifumo ya ikolojia ya pwani ya pwani katika kukabiliana na kuongezeka kwa mafuriko ya sedimentary kutoka kwa maji ya ardhi katika hali yetu ya hewa inayobadilika haraka, ni lengo kuu. Miradi hii mpya ya utafiti inaendelea kujenga juu ya uwezo mkubwa wa sayansi ya baharini katika Tauranga. Chuo Kikuu cha New Zealand kimewekeza kwa kiasi kikubwa katika kituo kipya cha utafiti wa sayansi ya baharini huko Sulphur Point na kujenga kituo cha kwanza cha kisasa cha ufugaji wa samaki wa New Zealand kwa kilimo cha macroalgae mnamo 2020. Tangu wakati huo pia imepokea leseni ya ufugaji wa samaki wa mwani wa bahari na maji baridi, ikiruhusu utafiti mkubwa wa mwani wa bahari kutajirisha uchumi wetu wa bluu. "Kuna fursa nyingi sana za kukuza, kuendeleza na kuuza mwani wa baharini", anasema Dakt. Marie Magnusson. "Utafiti ulioongozwa na Profesa Magnusson tayari umeona uzinduzi wa majaribio ya kutumia mwani kusafisha maji taka yaliyotiwa dawa pamoja na kampuni ya Bay of Plenty Aqua Curo, na katika mradi mwingine pamoja na AgriSea wanatumia saladi ya bahari au Ulva kuondoa virutubisho kutoka maji ya mto wa Waihou kwenye Firth of Thames. """ "Uunganisho wa viwanda tunao ni mzuri kwa wanafunzi wetu kwa sababu wanapata kuona kwamba kazi yote ya nitty gritty wanayofanya katika maabara ina matumizi katika ulimwengu halisi na ni kutatua matatizo ya ulimwengu halisi, "anasema Dk Magnusson. Programu za Sayansi ya Bahari na Ufugaji wa Maji katika Chuo Kikuu cha Waikato Tauranga Campus huchukua mbinu endelevu na ya kitamaduni kwa sekta hii ya ukuaji na Bay of Plenty hutoa maabara ya kuishi ya kipekee kwa wanafunzi kujifunza. Chuo Kikuu hicho pia kilianzisha Maabara yake ya Bluu ya Kijani huko Tauranga mnamo 2022 kutoa nafasi kwa wafanyikazi wa Chuo Kikuu na wanafunzi kufanya kazi kwenye miradi na kwa kampuni za ndani katika automatisering, roboti, akili bandia na teknolojia ya kibiolojia kwa sekta za bustani na mazingira ya baharini. Maabara pia hutoa nafasi ya kushirikiana na wanafunzi wa baadaye na jamii ya ndani, na inaimarisha kujitolea kwa Chuo Kikuu cha kuongezeka kwa uwekezaji na shughuli katika kuunga mkono jamii na viwanda katika mkoa. "Uunganisho wetu wa nguvu na sekta na matumizi halisi ya utafiti, iwe kwa madhumuni ya kibiashara au kusaidia kuelimisha usimamizi wa mazingira, ni nguvu halisi katika Chuo Kikuu,"" anasema Dk Magnusson." Profesa Conrad Pilditch anaongoza timu ya wanafunzi wa PhD wanaochunguza vijito vya maji vya New Zealand kwa matumaini kwamba matokeo yao yatasaidia juhudi za kitaifa na za kimataifa za kufuatilia na kuboresha afya ya vijito vya maji. Daktari Shari Gallop pia ni sehemu ya timu hiyo. Utafiti wake unafikiria jinsi ya kurejesha mito yetu ya maji katika hali ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. """Kuboresha afya ya vijito vyetu, mabustani ya bahari ambayo yanakaa kwenye kiunganishi kati ya mazingira yetu ya baharini na maji baridi ni muhimu kwa kuboresha mazingira yetu ya baharini,"" Profesa Pilditch anasema." """Bahari zinawakilisha mazingira yaliyounganishwa sana, kwa hivyo shughuli katika mahali moja kwa wakati mmoja zinaweza kuathiri maili mbali na shughuli zetu ardhini zina athari ya moja kwa moja kwa kile kinachomalizika katika mito yetu,"" anasema Profesa Pilditch." "Hata ingawa inaweza kuonekana nje ya hali halisi kwa watu kufanya vitendo chanya leo katika ngazi ya ndani, ni muhimu kwamba tunaanza", anasema. Ulinzi wa mazingira yetu ya baharini pia huenea kwa kuelewa mifumo yake ya ikolojia nyeti na spishi zinazokaa katika maji yetu. Mwanabiolojia wa baharini Phil Ross anaongoza timu ya wataalamu wa uvuvi wa baharini ya Iwi, ambayo inashughulikia ongezeko la idadi ya papa weupe katika maji ya Ghuba ya Plenty. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""maji ya joto zaidi yametajwa kuwa sababu ya kuvutia kwa nyeupe kubwa katika eneo hilo, lakini sio sababu pekee.""" "Hii ndiyo tutakayoangalia, pamoja na kufuatilia idadi na eneo la papa kwa kuweka alama za satelaiti", alisema. Watafiti wa Chuo Kikuu cha Oxford pia wanajitahidi kuunda fursa za biashara endelevu kwa jamii za pwani za vijijini kutoka kwa kilimo cha flounder hadi kuzalisha vitanda vya shellfish na kuunda suluhisho endelevu za kilimo cha shellfish kutoka kwa nyuzi za mti wa kabichi na nyuzi za kitani. Pia, watafiti wanajaribu kugundua dawa na bidhaa za kudumu ambazo zinaweza kutumiwa katika matibabu ya magonjwa ya akili. Kwa Aotearoa New Zealand, ni muhimu sana kugundua na kuendeleza kemikali za kilimo kutoka vyanzo vya bioactive vya baharini ambavyo hutoa mbadala mpya wa mazingira ya "urafiki" kwa dawa za kuua magugu za sasa, na kuzingatia vitisho muhimu vya usalama wa kibiolojia kama vile Kiwi Psa-V na Phytophthora. "Mazingira ya asili ya baharini ya New Zealand yamecheza jukumu muhimu katika ugunduzi wa dawa nyingi muhimu na inaendelea kuwa rasilimali muhimu kwa madawa ya kulevya na vichwa vya kemikali za kilimo, ""anasema Profesa Battershill, ambaye anaongoza kikundi cha pwani cha baharini katika Shule ya Sayansi katika Chuo Kikuu cha Waikato Tauranga." "Ni uzalishaji mkubwa na kipengele muhimu katika ustawi wetu na siku zijazo za kiuchumi, hata hivyo ni chini ya shinikizo kubwa hapa na duniani kote. "