Environment > Research Programme

Fish and Game Research for 2008-09

The New Zealand Fish and Game Council has a statutory function to develop a research programme promoting the management of sports fish and game. This programme assists Fish & Game New Zealand (the NZ Council and 12 regional Fish and Game Councils) achieve its management and advocacy needs. Research undertaken during 2008-09 includes:

Ongoing Projects

National Angler Survey
Provider: NIWA
Contact: Martin Unwin
The third of our National Angler Surveys is almost completed – previous ones were undertaken in 1995 and 2002. These surveys represent the most valuable national fisheries data held by Fish & Game.

National Trout Health study
Provider: Fish & Game/Cawthron Institute
Contact: Maurice Rodway
Analysis of trout otoliths will provide a base line with which to compare a similar set of data in about 5 years time. This will enable us to determine whether or not trout growth rates have changed in response to environmental changes.

Lake Acoustics programme
Provider: NIWA/Fish & Game
Contact: Stephane Gauthier (NIWA)
This programme looks to provide a reliable method of counting trout and salmon in major South Island lakes.

Trout Habitat and Energetics
Provider: Cawthron Institute
Contact: John Hayes
The research is to provide new information, improved models, and monitoring tools to better understand, predict, and monitor how changes to freshwater environments and ecosystems affect salmonid populations.

Otolith Microchemistry
Provider: Otago University/Fish & Game
Contact: Rasmus Gabrielsson of Otago F&G
A review of the methods used to track life time movements of trout will be undertaken to ensure this promising method is scientifically defensible.

Angler Preferences for Fishery Types and effects of environmental change
Provider: Steven Beville
Contact: Neil Deans (NMF&G)
The survey will reveal what kinds of fisheries anglers prefer.

National Game Harvest Survey
Provider/ Contact: Richard Barker, Otago University
This annual survey began in 1992. It provides robust game bird harvest statistics.

New Projects for 2008-09

Trout Migration and Life History in the Lake Ellesmere Catchment
Provider: Otago University/North Canterbury Fish & Game
Contact: Davor Bejakovich
This study is to identify the recruitment patterns and life history of the trout population in the Lake Ellesmere catchment.

Salmon run Assessment using DIDSON Technology
Provider: Cawthron Institute
Contact: John Hayes
DIDSON (a sonar camera) is used overseas to identify the size and characteristics of fish populations. This study is to trial the technology in New Zealand for salmon run assessment.

Pond Carrying Capacity
Provider: Landcare/Eastern Fish & Game
Contact: Matt McDougall
Different factors likely to affect pond carrying capacity will be studied to identify why some ponds hold waterfowl while others do not.

Movements of Canada Geese in the Lower North Island and upper South Island
Provider: Wellington Fish & Game
Contact: Phil Teal
A tracking device to locate Canada geese and plot their movements across regions will be trialled.

Didymo Physiology and Autecology
Provider: NIWA
Contact: Kathy Kilroy/Neil Blair
This NIWA study, funded in part by Fish & Game, proposes to investigate the chemical requirements of didymo and ways to manipulate their environment so that didymo is suppressed.

Lapsed Licence Holder pilot studies in Nelson/Marlborough and Wellington
Provider: NZ Fish & Game Council
Contact: Ric Cullinane
This study will identify the reasons for licence holder lapsing and exiting the sport and trial initiatives to increase participation.

Assessment of Fishery Characteristics and Values
Provider: Otago Fish & Game
Contact: Niall Watson
This research is to assess the fishery characteristics of backcountry river fisheries and to determine how those fisheries are valued by anglers.

For more information on any of these projects please contact the NZ Fish & Game Council.