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The Environmental Defence Society Incorporated submitted on the discussion document "Managing our wetlands in the coastal marine area". They support Option 1's proposal for a new definition of 'natural coastal wetlands' to ensure the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-F) applies to coastal wetlands, but oppose exempting certain activities from NES-F rules. They strongly oppose Option 2, which would remove coastal wetlands from NES-F's jurisdiction, citing a recent High Court decision confirming NES-F's applicability to coastal wetlands. The society emphasizes the importance of wetlands, their ecosystem services, and the need for protection, highlighting the severe degradation and loss of wetlands due to human activities. They argue that the NES-F does not duplicate coastal wetland regulation but rather provides national-level direction on wetland management, integrating policy direction from the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 and the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010.