Fishing News index> May 2007

Freshwater biodiversity advice service re-funded

Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game are delighted to report to licence holders that the free freshwater biodiversity advisory service within the region has received further funding from the government to enable the service to now continue until August 2008.

The service focuses principally on areas such as wetland creation and enhancement, improving stream health, fish passage, fish surveys and other similar watery topics. Advice can include provision of information, onsite visits, assessment of practicalities/opportunities, information gathering (including levels for wetland construction), assistance with resource consent processes/fees, contractor advice, planting advice and plant donation. Over the last 3 years or so, over a dozen new wetlands have been created within the Tasman region, with many more planned. The aggregate industry has been the driving force behind some of the bigger wetland projects.

The Tasman aggregate users group, in partnership with Tasman District Council, Fish and Game, and other interested parties, have in the last two weeks excavated the second stage of a wetland creation project on Council administered Challies Island, in the Waimea River berm lands. The project will result in a wetland greater than 1 hectare in size in a region that has virtually none left. Ultimately, if this project is successful, there will be scope for up to 3 more similar wetlands of this size within the Challies Island area. Being an old river channel that was cut off at the time of river stop banking and channel protection works, the project aims to restore freshwater habitat back into this area. Fish and Game envisage the area will provide excellent game bird hunting in the future, and hope to ballot the area to hunters as occurs in Marlborough wetlands that Fish and Game administer.

Back to Reel Life May 2007