According to the Department of Conservation, the reserve is likely to be mostly an estuarine habitat, with animals like spiny dogfish, stargazers, flounder and red decorative crabs.

[3] The reserve was part of a conservation strategy the Fiordland Marine Guardians launched in 2002 and presented to the Ministry for the Environment Marian Hobbs and Minister of Fisheries Pete Hodgson in 2003.

[7][2] Educational and scientific activities are encouraged, but must not disturb or endanger plants, animals or natural features.

There is a ban on fishing, and taking, killing or moving marine life and materials.

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.