The Challenger Region encompasses three distinct areas; the Marlborough Sounds, Golden and Tasman Bays, and the West Coast.

The region has thousands of visitors each year, with many coming to dive or fish or play around in boats. The natural beauty, warm climate and sheltered waters at the top of the South Island help make this a nationally-significant recreational fishing area.

The region is also important to Maori customary fishers, who harvest a wide variety of fish, shellfish, and seaweed species.

The region contains significant commercial fisheries, with most fish landings being to Greymouth, Westport, Motueka and Nelson (Australasia’s biggest fishing port).

A wide range of marine mammals and seabird species are found in the Challenger region, including the endangered Hector’s dolphin. Many areas are either closed or restricted to commercial and recreational set netting to prevent incidental by-catch of Hector’s dolphin in nets.