Fishing News index>August 2007

Eastern region Round-up

New Tools to Keep Didymo Threat Out

The Central North Island Didymo Regional Partner Group, set up by Biosecurity New Zealand as part of the national response to the invasive algae, Didymo, has welcomed new Import Health Standards to come into force in October of this year, which will allow border control officers to intercept felt soled waders from visiting anglers.  Felt soles provide an important transfer mechanism for Didymo, unless they have been carefully treated to kill any attached Didymo cells.  With the new back country fishing season just weeks away, the Group believes this is an important step to protect the region from Didymo.

New funding will also come on stream over the next few months that will allow the Group to establish greater advocacy at the regions airports to ensure all recreational water users are aware of the need to ‘Check, Clean and Dry’ their equipment before using it locally.

There has been media comment recently playing down the impact of Didymo in the South Island, where it has infected 55 rivers and five lakes in the past three years.  The Central North Island Regional Partner Group, made up of DoC, Fish & Game, Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board, Genesis Energy, Tongariro River Advocates, Recreational Canoeing Association and Local and Regional Councils, completely rejects the statements which suggest the impact of “rock-snot” is not as severe as first thought. 

The Group has no doubts that a Central North Island Didymo incursion would have a disastrous effect on the region’s blue duck population, local industry, the production within the Lake Taupo Fishery, and, therefore, the local and regional economy.  With limited control tools available once Didymo establishes, keeping it out remains the prime focus for Didymo management in the North Island. 

Mohaka Hydro - Dam Good News!

The threat posed by the Meridian Energy proposal to build a hydro dam on the Mohaka River is over –for now anyhow.  Meridian has announced that they have dropped the Mohaka proposal for at least 5 years.  They have cited uncertainty over financial viability and Treaty of Waitangi claims as the reason for the decision though there is also no doubt that this would have been a difficult project to gain consents for.  The middle and upper reaches of the river already have conservation order status in recognition of the outstanding trout fishery while the eel fishery also has great significance.  In any event it is good news from our perspective as we now have some respite and leave the matter having clearly identified the extent of the fisheries concerns.

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