The geological features include the exposed reef platforms that were uplifted by 2 m or more during the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, and the spherical concretions known as the Ward Beach boulders.

An exclusion zone has been established from just north of the Ward Beach road end to the Chancet Rocks, to protect the area from incursion by vehicles.

[6] Immediately following the earthquake, the uplifted rocks and reefs were covered with seaweed, crayfish, paua, sea snails and other marine life that was now exposed above the high tide mark.

[8] The uplift caused by the earthquake changed the depth of water above the seabed offshore, and created a surf break that previously did not exist.

The large uplift of the seabed caused by the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake revealed spherical concretions on the raised rock platforms at Ward Beach.

[13] The layers of limestone rock were originally laid down on the sea floor, but have been tilted upwards into an almost vertical position by deformation of the Earth's crust.

The most likely explanation is that this global event was caused by the impact of a large asteroid striking the earth where Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is today.

The fishing company applied to Marlborough District Council for a resource consent to launch their boat from a point further north on the beach, close to a scientific reserve at Chancet Rocks.

Opponents claimed that the proposal would risk disturbing animal and plant life, including a colony of New Zealand fur seals.

[21] The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society subsequently complained to the Marlborough District Council that the company had used bulldozers to drag its boats further up the beach to a new launch site.

The orders include an exclusion zone south of Chancet Rocks, to protect threatened bird species such as banded dotterels and variable oystercatchers that nest on the beach.

[23] On 24 January 2020, Burkhart Fisheries applied for a consent to shift gravel and restore a temporary causeway at a site on the beach 50 m south of the exclusion zone.

However, Burkhart Fisheries found that sea conditions were pushing gravel into the launch site too quickly, and the terms of the newly approved resource consent limited the ways they could respond.