23/06/14 Pungarehu 1

Transcription

1 23/06/14 Pungarehu 1

2 Longfin in the wild Longfin ready for the heke 2

3 GOAL: Revitalise traditional fishing practices of Whanganui Iwi OBJECTIVES 1. To assess the state of traditional fisheries and supporting habitat 2. To identify traditional fisheries management used by Whanganui Iwi 3. Complete a research report to inform management decisions affecting our taonga METHODS Iden%fica%on of taonga species, fishing prac%ces and suppor%ng habitat A review of all available literature including submissions and reports was completed. Taonga species, fishing prac?ces and suppor?ng habitat were iden?fied 3

4 Species of tradi?onal significance in marine and freshwater environments Taonga species Main tradi5onal fishing prac5ce Aqua5c environment and habitat Inanga (whitebait) Poha (nets), pah (stone pa) River and estuary ripo (rapids), river bank, gravel Koaro (whitebait) Poha, pah River and estuary ripo, river bank, gravel Banded, short- jawed, & giant kokopu (whitebait) Poha, pah River and estuary ripo, river bank, gravel Ngaore (common smelt) Poha, pah River and estuary ripo, river bank, gravel Papanoko (torrenoish) Poha, pah River and estuary ripo, river bank, gravel Toitoi (upland, common, redfin, and Cran s bully) Poha, pah River and estuary ripo, river bank, gravel Karohi (whitebait) Poha, pah River and estuary ripo, river bank, gravel Pariri Bobbing (s?ck with worm) River and estuary ripo Kakahi (freshwater mussel) Rukukai (hand gathering) River mud and sand banks Koura (tau koura = freshwater täruke = saltwater) Freshwater crayfish=tau koura (using rahurahu fern), Saltwater crayfish=taaruke Tau koura=river and tributaries kakahi beds Taaruke=Rohe moana reefs Piharau (lamprey) Utu piharau (weir) River - Ripo Tuna (longfin and shoroin eel) Paa auroa/paa tuna, hïnaki, bobbing, rama matarau (torch & spear), Aho hii ika matau River, lakes, tributaries Ripo, driuwood/ snags along the river bank, deep pools (hook & line), harakeke rope Pa5ki (flaoish) Poha, rama matarau River and estuary mudflats and sandy inter5dal/sub5dal areas Kanae (grey and yellow- Poha River and estuary eyed mullet) Kahawai Poha, Aho hii ika matau River and estuary 4

5 Rapid name: Upokopoito Site number: 1 Approximate distance from river mouth: 43km Site photo Topography Stored in WRMTB database High cliffs on the both sides of the river papa cliffs run along the length of the rapid. Right bank is gradual slope flavens out to farmland; stock can access awa. A large gravel bank forms an island at this site: - a man- made wall lies at the top end of the ley side of the island - two man- made walls lie at the bovom of the island The main channel is to the right of the gravel island Depth Profile Water flow Water clarity Water level: Low=L, Mid=M, High=H Site accessibility Substratum State of river bank Shallow around the island, deepens towards river banks. Deepest in middle of both channels Fast flowing current Water ranged from opaque colour in centre of channels through to clear water in the shallows Very low compared to the average water level Requires a boat to access this site Gravel, sand and silt. DriYwood and large logs lie along the steep papa cliff side of the river and run the length of the rapid up to a kilometre downstream to Te Auokura rapid Mainly willow and poplar trees around the edges of the river bank with some na?ve plants scavered throughout the area. Pasture extends to the riverbank in places up and downstream of the site. There is obvious visual evidence that erosion affects this site. Goats and pigs were observed grazing the steep papa cliff side. CaVle also have access to the river up and downstream where the steep sided bank slopes away to hill country terrain Rapid name: Te Auokura Site number: 2 Approximate distance from river mouth: 42km Site photo Stored in WRMTB database Topography Steep sided bank slopes away to undula?ng hill country on one side of the river. On the other side a road follows the river cubng through steep hill country. Depth Profile Deep from river bank to river bank Water flow Fast flowing current in the middle of the river a result of man- made walls that channel the water Water clarity Predominantly clear water on the inside of the man- made walls, through to opaque in the middle (deepest sec?on) Water level Very low compared to the average water level Site accessibility This site is difficult to access by land, having to nego?ate down a steep bank covered in na?ve bush Substratum Gravel, sand and silt. DriYwood and logs are stranded in a large back current from one river bank out to approximately 20 metres into the river and extend about 250 metres downstream State of river bank Sand/silt river bank transi?ons from steep grassy banks to regenera?ng na?ve shrub. Some pasture on one side above the high river bank. Very livle visual evidence that erosion affects this site. 5

6 Rapid name: Whakaruawaka Site number: 4 Approximate distance from river mouth: 38km Site photo Stored in WRMTB database Topography Gradual inclines on both sides of the river that rise steeply Depth Profile A deep groyne runs for 500m upstream of the rapid. The depth profile gets shallow across the rapid and deepens downstream of the rapid Water flow Fast flowing current Water clarity Clear in the back current (eddy), opaque where the current is swiy Water level Very low compared to the average water level Site accessibility Access from road side Substratum Gravel, sand and silt. This site has a large gravel bed (approx 1.5 acres). DriYwood and logs occur along both river banks. State of river bank Pasture on one side and large poplar trees & willow trees on the other side. Erosion of the river bank is evident at this site CaVle were observed grazing the river bank. Rapid name: : Paetawa Site number: 5 Approximate distance from river mouth: 36km Site photo Stored in WRMTB database Topography Steep river banks drop ver?cally for approximately 10m before mee?ng the waters edge. Depth Profile Shallow on one side of the gravel bed (island during low water levels) and deep on the other side Water flow Fast flowing current on the deep side of the island and slower flowing current in the shallow region Water clarity Clear in the shallows, opaque in deep water Water level Very low compared to the average water level Site accessibility Access through private property and down the steep sided river bank Substratum There was a large kakahi bed between the rapids - vital koura habitat. Manmade rock wall is present at this site. Submerged snags occur along both sides of the river for a distance of approximately 2kms downstream. State of river bank Both banks have patches of regenera?ng na?ve bush, large poplar & willow trees. Farmland extends to the steep sided river bank in areas. Erosion of the river bank is evident at this site CaVle were observed grazing the river bank. 6

7 CONCLUSION Tragically, large tuna are no longer in abundance because the rhythm of annual ebb and flow of tuna in the River has been altered by water diversions, pollu?on, habitat degrada?on and unsustainable levels of commercial fishing, farming This pilot study highlights some key observa?ons: Large numbers of healthy tuna that were caught throughout the year using many different methods (catches regularly exceeded 2000 tuna in a single night) no longer happens Catch rates have been reduced to a frac?on of past levels, eroding the primary food supply of whänau and hapu of the Whanganui River. 7

8 tradi?onal sites have been eliminated through erosion. Erosion is magnified during flood events because farmers and?mber merchants have removed large na?ve trees along the River, reducing the stability of the papa riverbank Large tuna (over 4kg) used to be common. Current catches indicate this is no longer the case. Therefore, the observed decline in size and number of tuna within our mahinga kai may be due to a combination of anthropogenic effects, such as: The Whanganui River no longer flows to the same rhythm because hydro-power schemes have diverted the flow of water at 18 locations on the River in order to generate renewable sustainable power. The obvious impacts of the diversions are: obstruction to the downstream migration of adult tuna (reducing breeding capacity) obstruction to the upstream migration of juvenile tuna (limiting recruitment to areas below diversions) reduction in the amount of water in the River at any given time (increasing mortality during summer months when water levels are naturally low) 8

9 Erosion, a result of significant deforestation along parts of the River to provide for agriculture and forestry, reduces water quality and alters preferred tuna habitat. Erosion may also have an adverse effect on potential food sources of tuna. Pollution and destruction of habitat from gravel mining operations and agricultural development may have an adverse effect on the health of tuna as well as impacting potential food sources of tuna. Introduced exotic species like trout compete for the preferred food source of tuna Commercial fishing has reduced the number and size of tuna, and still continues in the lower reaches of the Whanganui River Enormous gravel banks once snaked along the River, changing shape with each new flood event, providing essen?al habitat for tuna and prey alike large boulders made up a significant propor?on of these large gravel banks. Flow- rates altered by hydro- power scheme diversions introduced post 1960 reduce the effect flood events have on moving and reshaping gravel beds in the River. 9

10 The removal of river stone and boulders has reduced vital tuna habitat. Large- scale extrac?on began around 1882 with the removal of vast amounts of stone par?cularly large river boulders that were crushed and used to supply large- scale development of roads. NIWA (FAR 2008/7) iden?fied large boulders in a tributary in the Whanganui River as significant habitat for excep?onally high tuna biomass. WHERE TO NOW? RURUKU WHAKATUPUA TE MANA O TE AWA TUPUA WILL ESTABLISH : A FISHERIES COORDINATION GROUP TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROTECTION, MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE UTILISATION OF FISHERIES WITHIN THE WHANGANUI RIVER CTACHMENT A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS TO EXPLORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGULATORY MECHANISM UNDER THE FISHERIES ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CUSTOMARY FOOD GATHERING BY IWI INTERESTS IN THE WHANGANUI RIVER. 10