Marine reserves not only benefit fish within them, but also those beyond their boundaries. New research from the University of Auckland found that young snapper off the coast of Northland are related to adult snapper from the Goat Island marine reserve, tens of kilometres away.

Goat Island was New Zealand's first marine reserve, and its opening in 1977 was vehemently protested. “Nothing to do at Goat Island Bay any more," declared a local newspaper headline. Today, the reserve overflows with visitors drawn by its marine life.