Conserving a good chunk of our landmass for nature was the challenge of last century; the focus needs to shift seaward. I'm a strong supporter of New Zealand's sustainable fishing industry, and I do not support the Greens' call for a blanket ban on bottom trawling. It's no more practical than prohibiting ploughing. But, just as on land, we need to set aside marine protected areas. The Marine Reserves Act was passed by National in 1971, but only one reserve was created by the time I came to Parliament in 1990. This was at Leigh and opened by then fisheries Minister Jim Bolger in 1977. I've worked hard all over New Zealand to expand that network. Making the Poor Knights a no-take marine reserve in 1998 was pretty controversial. When visiting the site near Tutukākā, I faced a barrage of protest from recreational fishers. I required a police escort after a death threat was made. I was confronted only a few years ago at Whangārei airport by a cheeky local who introduced himself rather unnervingly as the guy who had made the threat. He jocularly told me not to worry, as he now thought it was such a great idea that he would shoot anybody that would undo the reserve!