Penguins are but one of the creatures that could be helped by expanded marine protection zone.

OPINION: For most of us, leaving out 95 per cent of New Zealand oceans from proposed legislation aimed at looking after our oceans makes absolutely no sense at all. Yet, as the consultation period on a new Marine Protected Areas (MPA) framework comes to a close, that's exactly the situation we face.

The government is proposing a new MPA Act – which is supposed to enable the establishment of a national network of protected areas to look after the most precious and ecologically-important parts of our oceans.

The overall idea is great but, nonsensically, the proposal covers only the territorial sea - which goes to 12 nautical miles - and leaves out our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which covers our deep seas out to 200 nautical miles and comprises around 95 per cent of our oceans.

Our deeper oceans are globally important and home to an amazing array of animals and habitats. Penguins, albatrosses, petrels, whales, dolphins, giant manta rays, rare sharks and sea lions all swim through or forage in the deep sea. There are incredible habitats in our deep seas such as seamounts, trenches and deep water corals. These are home to bubble gum coral, the beautiful unique jewel anemone, sea pens and sponges (such as the organ pipe sponge).

Some of these habitats and species are unique to New Zealand. Some are threatened with extinction. All of them are special. We have a responsibility to the world to help look after them and most New Zealanders recognise this. Polling shows that 96 per cent of the public want more protected marine areas.

This doesn't mean prohibiting use of all our oceans. It doesn't mean shutting down all economic activity. It means using the best science to identify the most ecologically-important habitats and species and then creating a representative network of protected areas. The massive impact that human beings are having on our planet means that we need to set aside some areas and just leave them alone.

However, this does not mean it's a 'free-for-all' everywhere else. Protected areas are critical, but they should be seen as part of a broader effort to achieve responsible ocean management including, for example, fisheries policy.

So why has the EEZ been left out of the proposed protection framework? The government had previously promised to include the EEZ, and papers released just last week show that the deep sea was originally included in earlier drafts of the proposal. Yet, at some point in the second half of 2015 the promise was forgotten, the EEZ was dropped and the proposal changed.

We can't be certain, at this stage, why this decision was made.

The indications are that this is about protecting oil and gas interests. It is unclear whether this is because of an unwavering ideological commitment to oil exploration at all costs by some Ministers, or because the oil and gas industry is using its considerable influence over our government to block protection of the deep seas and the animals that live there.

If the oil and gas industry is not blocking the way to sensible law making, then WWF would welcome a statement from the industry supporting inclusion of our deep seas in the proposed legislation. If they are unwilling to do this, then I think the industry owes the New Zealand public an explanation as to why oil and gas interests should trump sensible law making and the wishes of most Kiwis.

Either way, it is vital that we exercise our voices in this process. I hope you will join me and thousands of other New Zealanders and let the government know that you want marine legislation that includes our deep seas. The government has demonstrated a commitment to marine protection by introducing a Bill to create a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary. While this is an important and welcome step, we need to move on from having to write special legislation each time we want a MPA.

This is an opportunity for New Zealand to be a world leader in managing oceans. We need legislation that enables the creation of a network of protected areas that can be in both coastal areas and our deeper waters. Let's do this once and do it right.

Submissions on the government's proposals close on March 11 and can be made at wwf.org.nz or the Ministry for the Environment's website. If enough of us speak out on this, I'm sure our government will listen.

Alex Smith is a senior campaigner fo WWF-New Zealand.