Fishing News >July 2007

Trout Spawning Stream Decimated by Stock
A known trout spawning stream near Middlemarch has once again been decimated by wintering stock.

Fish & Game staff found the unfenced stream which runs through a winter feed paddock heavily pugged meaning any trout spawning has been be destroyed.

The issue has been forwarded to the Otago Regional Council compliance unit. The Regional Water Plan makes it clear that this type of damage is unacceptable and Fish & Game has urged them to take strong action.

“We have also expressed our disappointment to the council as we reported damage to the stream at this time last year”.
It appears the Otago Regional Council’s educational policy on the need to fence stock out of waterways does not appear to be getting through as occurrences of stream decimation are being observed at the same locations.

“We appreciate it is hard to farm without mud over winter, but it is totally unacceptable to allow stock to destroy streams in this way” Fish & Game Environmental Officer John Hollows said.

Fish & Game believe it is well past time for the Otago Regional Council to actively enforce their rules to ensure that the minority of the farming community that are destroying our waterways are brought into line.

John Hollows
Environmental Officer
Otago Fish & Game Council

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