A programme designed to unclog waterways in the Manawatū Whanganui region has set its sights on freeing up more than 1000km of habitat for migratory fish.
Indigenous fish such as tuna (eels) need to be able to move up and down freshwater habitats to access feeding and spawning environments. Photo: DOC
The Enhancing Native Fish Populations through Fish Passage Remediation project was recently awarded $2.6 million through the government's Jobs for Nature programme.
The Horizons Regional Council has since committed a further $300,000 towards the $3.2m project that will build on existing programme, and will include removing large barriers to the movement of migratory fish.
Horizons freshwater and partnerships manager Logan Brown said the programme, which until now had employed eight staff, would allow for the removal of at least 25 barriers and open up 1250km of habitat.
"This will increase native fish numbers and distribution, improve aquatic habitat, and increase kākahi [freshwater mussel] populations," Brown said.
The project is expected to employ 26 people over its five-year lifetime
The Ministry for the Environment is overseeing the project.
Acting deputy secretary for sustainable land use Martin Workman said ensuring fish could get up and down streams and rivers as part of their natural lifecycle contributed to Te Mana o Te Wai, the life-supporting capacity of water.
"Giving effect to Te Mana o Te Wai is central to the new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management introduced this year. This means giving first priority to protecting the life-supporting capacity of the water," he said in a statement.
"The second obligation is to provide for human health needs, and only then can water be used for other purposes."
Brown said in November, Horizons employed eight tertiary educated people who, following an induction that included swift water and electric fishing training, had got straight to work.
"This work is important as many of the region's waterways have lower native fish diversity and numbers than predicted. We know one of the key factors impacting the distribution and population of native fish is barriers to their migration.
"Indigenous fish such as tuna (eels) and īnanga (whitebait) need to be able to move up and down freshwater habitats to access feeding and spawning environments and maintain healthy populations. Structures such as culverts, dams, weirs, fords and tide gates can delay or prevent fish movement and stop them from accessing these critical habitats."
Much of this work is done on foot, with the team walking up and down streams to record fish populations and assessing and removing potential barriers.
Sean Georgeson is one of the Research Assistants employed through the Jobs for Nature funding.
He was loving it.
"I love working outdoors. I've wanted to make a difference for the environment since a young age, and I really feel like I'm fulfilling that dream through this work."
The $1.3 billion Jobs for Nature programme is designed to create nature-based jobs to benefit the environment and support the economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to the fish passage remediation project, Horizons Regional Council was awarded a further $15.8m from the fund in July.
This includes $4.6m towards a riparian planting and stream fencing programme, and $11.2m towards Lake Horowhenua water quality interventions.
These projects are being supported by an additional $4m from Horizons, as well as $4m from landowners.
By the numbers:
- at least 25 fish migration barriers removed
- open up 1250km of habitat for migratory fish
- eight people employed to date
- 26 jobs over project lifetime
- $2.6m of Jobs for Nature programme funding. Administered through Ministry for the Environment
- $300,000 of Horizons Regional Council funding
- $300,000 barrier owner funding
- $3.2m total project cost
- five-year project