According to Māori oral history, ancestor Tu-Te-Raki-whanoa carved out the fiords and lakes with his giant ko (digging stick), with one foot on Ka-Tu-Waewae-O-Tu (Secretary Island) at the entrance to Doubtful Sound and the other foot on Mauikatau (Resolution Island) at the entrance to Tamatea / Dusky Sound.

[4] Rock lobsters within the reserve are larger and more numerous than outside it, and five year study of red coral has found no major changes to the population.

[1] Educational and scientific activities are encouraged, but must not disturb or endanger plants, animals or natural features.

[6] The protected marine life can be viewed by diving or snorkelling, either independently or with a tourism or charter boat service.

However, members of Ngāi Tahu may remove pounamu provided they have the right authorisation, only collect by hand, keep disturbance to the site to a minimum, and only carry as much as they can in one trip.