Fiona Tarlton: Marine Conservator, Trustee, Kelly Tarlton’s Marine Wildlife Trust

Grey Lynn local, Fiona has been involved in Marine Conservation all her life being Kelly Tarlton’s daughter.

She is a keen Scuba Diver, especially enjoying shipwreck diving. Fiona leads an adventurous life, as does her son Tane Tarlton. On TV3 early 2026 he hosts ‘Tane Tarlton’s Ocean Adventures‘.

With Fiona’s background as an Archaeologist, with her Master’s Degree, (Honours) from Auckland University, she has always cared about New Zealand, it’s history, prehistory and it’s environment. Her thesis ‘Tropical Cyclones in the South West Pacific and their effects on Archaeological Sites.’

Kelly Tarlton’s Marine WildLife Trust (KTMWT), have helped rescue about 120 dying Turtles from around NZ. The Trust’s Marine Biologists do all they can to bring them back to health.  A highlight for Fiona is the turtles being released, often to marine sanctuaries, happily swimming off, some with satellite trackers on their shell.

Helping protect the Hauraki Gulf waters around Auckland is the prime focus area of KTMWT.  Where once were kelp forests, scallop beds and crayfish, plus healthy fish stocks, now largely lay kina barrens. KTMWT have scientists studying kelp species and ways of attaching it to rocky reefs, in order to support reefs and mussel spat.  Commercial Fishing and Recreational Fishing have had a noticeable impact on our Hauraki Gulf.

Fiona is actively against Seabed Mining, Bottom Trawling / Dredging, overfishing, commercial whaling and krill trawling in Antartica, and would like better marine protection, more marine sanctuaries, increased controls and cameras on commercial fishing boats, less By-catch.

  She speaks on Exotic CAULERPA, an invasive species of seaweed, first identified 4 years ago at Great Barrier Island/ Aotea. Caulerpa smothers life on the ocean floor.  It has now spread to the Bay of Islands. Caulerpa is the worst threat to our marine way of life ever! Currently there are approaches being developed and tested to eradicate caulerpa, such as UltraViolet Light, Chlorine Tablets under Carpeted areas, a Dredge that vacuums caulerpa up, AI identification technology.

️Keep your boat and gear free of any seaweed before moving locations.

KTMWT also run School Holiday Programs for youth keen on Marine Science and protection.