Rocky reefs and seastacks provide a habitat for encrusting animals, invertebrates and inshore fish that thrive in murky waters.

[1] The reserve reaches depths of about 50 metres (160 ft), with a seabed of mud and sand providing a habitat for burrowing shellfish and coastal fish like flounder, gurnard, snapper and sharks.

[6] The regulation establishing the marine reserve was passed by Prime Minister John Key on 11 August 2014, and took effect 7 September 2014.

[10] According to a court summary of facts, he deployed a bottom trawl net the previous New Year's Eve while travelling back from a fishing trip at Greymouth.

[12] Visitors are urged to travel with sufficient food, water, warm clothing and wet weather gear, and tell people where they are going and when they expect to return.