About

Environment

Directors commissioned Enfocus Limited to carry out an environmental scan or overview of freshwater fisheries in New Zealand as an important first step in refining the activities of Wai Maori to advance Maori interests in freshwater fisheries.

Summary

- There are at least 40 species of freshwater fish, and about half of those are endangered.

- Most species are small in size, are highly localised and have small populations.

- Because of these characteristics few species have recognised commercial or recreational value.

- Freshwater fisheries are managed by a number of Acts and Regulations administered by several central and local government agencies with considerable overlap of roles.

- Several institutes, notably the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and Cawthron, compete for research funding.

- The Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST) is a significant funder of freshwater fisheries:

• 2004/05 - $812k allocated to eels and whitebait.

• 2005/06 – focus on Taupo and Rotorua lakes.

- The Department of Conservation (DoC), the Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) and Regional Councils also undertake or commission monitoring and research. Some Regional Councils sometimes fund particular research projects.

- A number of iwi have been involved in partnerships with science providers (usually NIWA) in carrying out freshwater fisheries research.

- Six fisheries have been identified as having potential for further commercial and/or customary development; tuna, whitebait, piharau, mullet, koura and patiki.

- There is potential for Wai Maori to devote funds to these species but in many cases it may not add significant value in either commercial or customary terms.

- Eels have the most potential but development is hindered by a number of regulatory and biological constraints.

Overview of freshwater fisheries in New Zealand

The full report considered the current state and use of certain indigenous freshwater species and
habitats as well as describing the commercial and environmental management issues associated with
those species and the rivers, lakes and streams that support them.

The exact number of freshwater fish species is not certain but at least forty have been identified, in the following nine families:

Galaxid / kokopu (23 species), bully (7), fl ounder (2), eel (2), mullet (2), southern smelt (2)
lamprey (1) and papanoko (1). There are also two native koura species, and the freshwater
mussel (kakahi).

Most of these species are highly localised and have small natural populations, and most are very small in size (between 60 - 150mm). These species tend to be well camouflaged and secretive and therefore very little is known about their life cycles. Furthermore, at least nineteen species are endangered and one is already extinct. Because of these characteristics few species have recognised commercial or recreational value.

The Freshwater Management Regime

A number of Crown and local government agencies have a role in freshwater fisheries which are managed by a number of Acts and Regulations. Both Doc and MFish have overlapping roles in managing freshwater fisheries and regional councils take part in management of the quantity and quality of freshwater fish habitat. A number of Acts and Regulations impact on freshwater fisheries.

Fisheries Act 1996

Promotes the use of (marine and freshwater) fisheries resources while ensuring sustainability. Four freshwater species fall within the quota management system: flatfish (flounder), grey mullet, yelloweyed mullet and eels. Lamprey, freshwater mussels and koura (South Island) are listed in Schedule 4C of the Fisheries Act which only makes the stocks accessible to those fishers who are currently authorised to target those species.

Freshwater Farming Regulations 1983

Freshwater fish farm licences and operation requirements are administered by MFish. These regulations are due to be revoked as a result of the broader aquaculture reform and there will then be no limit on species which may be farmed.

Conservation Act 1987

States that one function of DoC is: ‘to preserve so far as is practicable all indigenous freshwater fisheries, and protect recreational freshwater fisheries and freshwater fish habitats.’

Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983

These regulations are administered by DoC and focus on sports and acclimatised fisheries, although some parts relate to native freshwater fish.

Whitebait Regulations

These regulations are also administered by DoC, but restrictions do not apply where whitebait is taken for the purposes of a hui or tangi and authorities have been notified before they are taken.

Customary Fishing Regulations

Regulation 27 of the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 1986 is available for iwi, hapu or whanau
before using either the Kaimoana Customary Fishing Regulations 1998 or the Fisheries (South Island
Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998. They are of particular importance to Maori as they create a system where iwi, hapu or whanau appoint kaitiaki to manage customary fishing in an area.

The Resource Management Act 1991

The purpose of this Act is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources
including freshwater animals and their habitats. Local government must consider effects on freshwater
fish and their habitat when considering resource consent applications.

Research Funders and Providers

A number of organisations participate in provision of funds and research services related to freshwater fisheries that are described below.

Foundation for Research Science and Technology

FRST has been a signifi cant funder of freshwater fisheries research and over the last fi ve years has averaged $770,000 for eels and $366,000 for whitebait.

Central and local government

Both DoC and MFish undertake or commission monitoring and research and Regional Councils sometimes fund projects.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

Maintains the New Zealand Freshwater Fish database and carries out freshwater research projects often with iwi.

Cawthron Institute

The Cawthron Institute is a private not-for-profit research centre based in Nelson specialising, among
others, in aquaculture of shellfish and seaweeds.

A number of iwi have been involved in partnerships with science providers (usually NIWA) in carrying
out freshwater fisheries research.

Individual Fisheries and Issues

This section reviews the six fisheries which are thought to have actual or potential commercial and/or
customary value.

Tuna (Eels)

Two species exist in New Zealand: the short fi n (Anguilla australis) and long fi n (Anguilla dieffenbachia). There is a small niche market eel harvesting industry but no farming of eels. Eels now fall within the quota management system and about 750 tonnes per year are harvested with a value of about $3 million. Aotearoa Fisheries Limited has control of two of the four major eel processing plants in New Zealand.

Enhancement of eel fisheries by trapping and transfer is seen as a key to the long term survival of the industry. It is facilitated by the Eel Enhancement Company with about forty quota owning shareholders.

Eels can also be farmed by capturing glass eels and on-growing them to marketable size but it has yet to be proved profi table in New Zealand, with high costs, slow growth rates, disease and uncertain supply of glass eels. There is no legal ability to take glass eels and regime change is essential if this is to occur. It is generally agreed that eel aquaculture will need to be carried out on a large scale by entrepreneurs prepared to take a high level of risk.

Attempts have been made at full life cycle farming but it is exceptionally difficult. The Japanese have been researching this area for years with limited success. Mahurangi Institute (Warkworth) is working intensively at this process.

Eel are a taonga species and eel fishing remains an important cultural activity and was a signifi cant issue when eels were introduced to the quota management system. The current customary allowance in the North Island eel fisheries is 74 tonnes for shortfi n and 46 tonnes for longfin.

Tuna are of course viewed by Maori as a taonga species but fishing for family subsistence is limited to six eels per person per day. This is clearly not suffi cient for Maori customary use.

As noted above a considerable amount of research is conducted annually on eels on a wide range of issues.

Whitebait

There are five species of ‘whitebait’ of which the most common is the inanga. The fishery is managed by DoC and there is no restriction on whether the fish are used for personal consumption, customary use or are sold. Consequently there is no reliable data on the fishery, although DoC recognises a decline in the population of four of the species.

There is one commercial whitebait breeding venture at Raglan, although at this stage NIWA doubts that it could be commercially viable because of high labour costs.

Piharau / kanakana (Lamprey)

Lamprey is not a quota management system species and there is no known commercial fishing carried out. They are however, a taonga species and were an important historical food source for Maori. It is classified as ‘threatened’.

Kanae (Grey Mullet) and Aua (Yellow-eyed mullet)

Both species spawn at sea but are common in estuaries and upstream for several kilometres, especially grey mullet which reach up to 500mm in length and are popular as smoked fish with an oily fl esh. They are farmed all over the world but in New Zealand are taken by wild catch in the upper North Island and a small amount is exported. The annual total allowable catch of grey mullet is under-caught and the sustainability of the fishery needs to be established.

Patiki (Flounder)

Of the three species only the black fl ounder (patikimohoao) is a truly freshwater species. Flounder are in the quota management system grouped with eight species as ‘flatfish’ and 3,000 – 4,000 tonnes are caught annually. About 800 tonnes worth $6 million are exported. There are questions about the sustainability of the fishery which have yet to be resolved.

Flatfish is one of the five major recreational fish species and is of customary signifi cance to Maori.

Koura (Freshwater Crayfish)

There are two species of koura. It is non-migratory and lives in a range of freshwater habitats. No solid evidence of their abundance is available but the trend appears to be towards decline.

Koura are not in the quota management system and there is no known commercial fishing, but Regulation 71 of the Freshwater Fish Regulations 1983 prohibits their sale.

Koura are farmed overseas and there are four or five farms in New Zealand. Output is small with up to 2 tonnes per year estimated for one farm.

The level of recreational fishing is unknown but they are an important traditional Maori food source
especially in the Central North Island.