It was a morning all about water for the 30 lifestyle block owners, farmers and community group members who shook off the rain to attend the Waipu River Catchment Native Freshwater Fish Field Day on Thursday 28 April at Waionehu Stream, McLeans Road, Waipu.
The purpose of the event was to share tips and techniques for restoring the health of waterways, offer support for getting the work done and kickstart a kōrero, possibly leading to the formation of the first catchment groups in the area. Representatives from Patuharakeke, Piroa Conservation Trust, Whitebait Connection, Fonterra, NZ Landcare Trust, Waipu Waters, Weed Action and Waipu About Tern came together to deliver the field day.
Local farmer Mary Abercrombie looking at a redfin bully fish at the Waipu River Catchment Native Freshwater Fish Field Day. The redfin bully is a territorial fish and a good indicator of a healthy waterway
The number one tip was to appreciate that every site is different. For this particular site, slowing erosion and combating weeds – such as kikuyu, alligator weed and nasturtium – through native riparian planting would be a great first step. Planting not only provides habitat for native fish, it also creates shade and reduces water temperatures in the stream.
Humane fish traps were set the day before, pulled out during the event and decanted into containers so attendees could enjoy a closer look at the inhabitants of the stream. The species identified included īnanga (native), redfin bully (endemic), toitoi or common bully (endemic), tītarakura / tīpokpoko or giant bully (endemic), kōeke or freshwater shrimp (endemic), tuna kūwharuwharu or longfin eel (endemic) and tuna hinahina or shortfin eel (native).
The fish were then released back into the awa, with some of the tuna choosing to slide home early down the grassy bank, much to the delight of the audience who were able to witness how these species move across land.
This marks a key part of their lifecycle – tuna heke (migrating eel) make an epic journey to the middle of the Pacific ocean to spawn and die, leaving their offspring to return on the currents to Aotearoa. All of this while overcoming barriers to migration such as culverts, dams and water pumping stations – a fate they share with whitebait and other migratory species.
Aotearoa has more than 50 native freshwater fish species and about 70% of these are Threatened or At Risk, according to the Department of Conservation. Our sports fish, such as trout and salmon, also need to be able to migrate up and downstream to complete their lifecycle.
Peter Gibbs, local landowner, was pleased with what the traps revealed: “It is so encouraging to see life in the stream. It’s amazing how nature can restore itself so quickly. Focusing on the health of the stream is a wonderful thing to share with our grandchildren.”
We are planning other events and activities for the catchment in the coming months and will keep you posted. If you are interested in forming a catchment group to restore your local river, please contact Lydia Draper ([email protected]) or Peter Grant ([email protected]) of the Waipu Waters group.
If your focus right now is on pest plants and animals then the following contacts at Piroa Conservation Trust (PCT) may be of use to you. In the meantime here are some useful sources of information for protecting our native freshwater fish and monitoring/enhancing the catchment:
• Tips & Tricks for water monitoring
• A macroinvertebrate ID chart
• The Fish Passage Assessment Tool
• Designing & installing fish friendly structures
• The NZ Freshwater Fish Database
• Weedbusters: Great website for weed species identification and methods of control.
• Native Plant Conservation Network: Easily the best online resource for native plants identification.
• Handy info for riparian planting on-farm in Northland
The event organisers would like to thank the very generous Liz and Peter Gibbs for allowing access to the Waionehu Stream next to their property.
If you are interested in forming a catchment group to restore your local river, please contact Lydia Draper ([email protected]) or Peter Grant ([email protected]) of the Waipu Waters group.
For more information on stream/riparian management, visit the NZ Landcare Trust website: www.landcare.org.nz/resource-item/hooked-on-native-fish
Image by Peter Grant
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