Iwi, Hapū & Whānau Partnerships Tuna Research & Management

Transcription

1 Iwi, Hapū & Whānau Partnerships Tuna Research & Management Erica Williams NIWA Engagement of Indigenous and Western Science Knowledge Systems Te Papa, Wellington -May 2015 Outline Current role as a member of Te Kūwaha -Māori Environmental Research, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd Tuna (freshwater eel) life cycle Working with Māori communities Te Roopu Taiao o Utakura: Lake Omapere & the Utakura River Ngā Kaitiaki o Ngā Wai Māori: Wairua River Waikato-Tainui Manaaki Tuna Project: Waikato River Rangitaane Tuna Aquaculture: Horowhenua and Wairarapa 1

2 Te NIWA NIWA is a Crown Research Institute ( Te Kūwaha (Māori Environmental Research Group) established within NIWA c With Māori, for Māori, by Māori(wherever possible) Currently 8 core staff members but also draws upon expertise of other NIWA scientists. Te Kūwaha is a team of managers, scientists and technicians. Based in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington & Christchurch offices. Also contract external networks of Māori scientists and social scientists to complement in-house expertise 2

3 13/05/2015 Te Kūwaha Customary NIWA s National Centrefisheries of Māori Environmental Research@ research Vision in partnership with others, NIWA complementary knowledge systems support kaitiakitanga & provide environmental research excellence that enhances the social, environmental & economic aspirations of whānau, hapū &Dr iwierica Williams & Dr Cindy Baker Tuna in Aotearoa Western science recognises 3 types of eel in Aotearoa: Longfinned eel Shortfinned eel Longfinned eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) Maximum size: 2.0 m, 25 kg Australian speckled longfin While shortfins also occur in SE Australia and some Pacific Islands, longfins only occur in Aotearoa. The Australian longfin was discovered in some Aotearoa rivers around 1990, but may have arrived here as early as the 1970s. Shortfinned eel (A. australis) Maximum size: 1.1 m, 3 kg Australian longfin eel (A. reinhardtii) Maximum size: 2.0 m, 21 kg Drawings courtesy of R. M. McDowall 3

4 Tuna are an important taonga species in Aotearoa. Whānau harvest tuna as part of their regular dietary intake, as well as for guests on important cultural occasions. Many Māori communities around the country are very concerned about the reduced availability and declining health of tuna from their local waterways. Over the course of an eels lifetime they are exposed to a gauntlet of human-induced threats and challenges. Tuna in New Zealand There are 3 types of eel in Aotearoa: Longfinnedeel Shortfinnedeel Australian speckled longfin While shortfins also occur in SE Australia and some Pacific Islands, longfins only occur in Aotearoa. The Australian longfin was discovered in some Aotearoa rivers around 1990, but may have arrived here as early as the 1970s. Longfinned eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) Maximum size: 2.0 m, 25 kg Shortfinned eel (A. australis) Maximum size: 1.1 m, 3 kg Australian longfin eel (A. reinhardtii) Maximum size: 2.0 m, 21 kg Drawings courtesy of R. M. McDowall 4

5 Getting science off the shelf 5

6 Whānau-driven Ōmāpere & Utakura Focus on intergenerational capacity & whānau projects UCHI Utakura Cultural Health Index & Monitoring Programme Hapū / Trust management of lake fishery Relationships with landowners Fencing & planting around the lake Rāhui on commercial eel harvest Putting the big girls back Henwood & Henwood (2011) report social spill-over benefits for people involved in restoration of Lake Omapere Other positive project outcomes to date relate to relationships, collaborations, capacity and capability. Those involved in the lake project are now part of a large network of people with expertise and an interest in environmental restoration. Henwood and Henwood (2011) highlight the cultural benefit of involving Te RoopūTaiao o Utakura with scientific water quality monitoring - Recording and dissemination of local environmental information is expected to increase understanding of the role of kaitiakitanga as a social practice, and its relationship to waiora and hauora in sustainable environmental restoration. Henwood, R., Henwood, W. (2011) Mana whenua kaitiakitanga in action: Restoring the mauri of Lake Ōmāpere. Alternative 7(3):

7 Tuna Populations in the Wairua & Mangakāhia Rivers Ngā Kaitaiki o Ngā Wai Māori NgāKaitiaki o Ngā Wai Māori Te huarahi hei whakahokia mai te mauri o ngā awa Caretakers of freshwater rivers and tributaries a pathway to return the essence of life to the waterways Representing five hapū in the Wairua catchment Te Parawhau, Te Kahuo Torongare, Te Uri-ro-roi, Ngāti Hau and Te Ore Wai In January 2012 Ngā Kaitiaki o Ngā Wai Māori launched a five year strategic plan for waterways from the headwaters in Te Ruapekapeka, Tapuhiand Puhipuhi to the Wairua/Mangakāhia confluence Difficult to catch enough tuna for whānau consumption let alone to provide at marae events 7

8 Strategic goals - Tuna Three annual tuna (elver) transfer operations achieved Tuna friendly options in place at flood control scheme Fish ladders & passes in place at power station & pumps Monitoring in place for tuna Elver trap & transfer 8

9 Tuna surveys Community workshops Akerama and Korokota Marae Surveyed sites in Mangakāhia River, Wairua, Whakapara and Waiotu River catchments 9

10 Collaborations Te Raa Nehua, George Tuhiwai and whānau, Millan Ruka Matua Henry, Hona Edwards, Jeannie Poutai, Jordan Poutai Walter, Danica Searancke-Tipene, Karlene Wakefield, Solomon Tipene Boss Tipene, Mate Tipene, Majorie Marsh-Tipene whānau of Akerama and Korokota Marae, Mariao Hohaia, Tania Pene Rachel Ropiha, Katrina Hansen, Bruce Griffin, Susan Botting Irene Middleton, Marcus Schlesier Russell Watson, Tyrone Newton, John Andrews, Bill Grime, Joel Davey Conal Summers, Andrew Carvell Sue Reed, Rudi Hoetjes Edwin, Ben and Sharon Smith Merryn Robinson and whānau, Mangakāhia Area School Joe Mahanga, Colleen Rushton, Kamo High School Ken Oliveira, Greg Kelly, Eric Graynoth, Mike Beentjes, Dave Rowe Funding provided by Envirolink, Northpower, NIWA, MBIE and MPI, Progress to date Three annual tuna transfer operations achieved. On-track Tuna friendly options in place at flood control scheme. On-track Fish ladders & passes in place at power station & pumps. Ontrack Monitoring in place for tuna. On-track Two seasons completed. Trials about to begin at Mountain Rd Pump Station. Elver trap in place at power station. Trials about to begin to inform design of solutions for downstream passage. Baselines surveys of some areas are complete. Next priority sourcing funding to characterise bioaccumulative contaminants in tuna and US-EPA risk assessment 10

11 Waikato River Tuna Management Waikato River Treaty Settlement Te Ture Whaimana (the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River) is the primary direction-setting document Prevails over any inconsistencies in other policies, plans, or processes affecting the Waikato River. Fisheries Management Mechanisms Waikato River Iwi working to produce: Fisheries Plans Fisheries Regulations Fisheries Bylaws Waikato-Tainui Manaaki Tuna Project Funded by the Waikato River Clean Up Trust Multi-Year Eel Restoration Project 1. Tuna restoration plan 2. Targeted wetland habitat restoration 3. Strategic eel transfers 4. Eel passage at lower Waikato pump stations 5. Building capacity of Waikato-Tainui tribal members 6. Develop a community-driven tuna monitoring framework 11

12 13/05/2015 Rangitaane o Manawatu Tuna Aquaculture Overcoming the hurdles 3-year MPI-funded project: Annual glass eel fishing Rangitaane fishermen developing unique capacity What is the impact of harvesting glass eels on elvers? Species separation trials can we separate out the longfins easily? On-growing shortfin glass eels in culture conditions developing facilities at Oringi, Danniverke Get science off the shelf Where could science help our communities achieve their goals? 12

13 Listen to our communities Pass it on 13

14 I know I m biased but. Unlike any other species tuna are a common interest with the ability to bring people and knowledge systems together, Ki UtaKi Tai Treaty partners, agencies, landowners, multinational companies, local businesses, schools and the public. We can harness this collective knowledge, enthusiasm and energy to develop shared understandings and collaborations that implement solutions to address the legacy of restoration challenges that are ahead of us for the benefit of tuna populations and our communities. 14