BEFORE THE GISBORNE DISTRICT COUNCIL IN THE MATTER of the Resource Management Act 1991 AND IN THE MATTER the Gisborne District Council Proposed Regional Freshwater Plan STATEMENT OF EVIDENCE OF JAMIE QUIRK FOR THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF CONSERVATION ON FRESHWATER CONSERVATION VALUES General and Regional Policy Statement 26 July 2016 Department of Conservation PO Box 10420 Wellington 6143 Counsel acting: Teall Crossen Email: tcrossen@doc.govt.nz Telephone: 0272013376 1
Introduction 1. My name is Jamie Quirk. I am an employee of the Department of Conservation (DOC) where I hold the role of Ranger, Services (Biodiversity) for the East Coast of the Lower North Island based in Gisborne. 2. My evidence provides an overview of the conservation values of the Gisborne district focussing on freshwater fisheries, wetlands, coastal waters and recreation. 3. I have worked for DOC since its inception in 1987. I have held various positions as DOC has evolved. I have experience with recreation, wildlife, historic places, marine, and pest control. I have been involved in various freshwater projects throughout the Gisborne district, including an extensive - presence absence survey for indigenous freshwater fish from the Waipaoa catchment to Cape Runaway. I have also been involved in compliance activities in relation to the Whitebait Fishing Regulations 1994 relating to whitebait fishing. I have gained a good understanding of the conservation values and freshwater values of the Gisborne District through field experience, observation and gathering data. 4. DOC s current Gisborne District geographical boundaries are from the Waikare River in Northern Hawkes Bay to Cape Runaway in the North East with the dividing range of the Urewera and Raukumara Ranges. These boundaries have varied over the years which have provided me with freshwater and wetland experience in areas in addition to the GDC boundaries. 5. I have read the Environment Court s Code of Conduct for Expert Witnesses and I agree to comply with it. My qualifications as an expert are set out above. Other than those matters identified within my evidence as being from other experts, I confirm that the issues addressed in this brief of evidence are within my area of expertise. I have not omitted to consider material facts known to me that might alter or detract from the opinions expressed. Freshwater Fisheries 6. One of the functions of the Department under the Conservation Act is to preserve so far as practicable all indigenous freshwater fisheries (section 6). 7. There are a number of key threats to freshwater fish in the Gisborne region. These include a lack of baseline data, a lack of protection for spawning sites (which have 2
been highly modified in the lower urban catchments), high sediment loads, barriers to fish passage, pest fish incursions, illegal fishing, sale of whitebait, poor riparian management, water quality issues, upland habitat destruction, and a general lack of understanding by the public around the environmental needs of freshwater fish. Lack of baseline data 8. In the Gisborne District there is a lack of baseline data, which makes it very difficult to ascertain exactly the state of the freshwater fishery. To my knowledge there are 2 Nationally Vulnerable freshwater fish: Lamprey and Shortjawed Kokopu. There are 7 At Risk freshwater fish: Longfin eel, Torrentfish, Giant Kokopu, Koaro, Inanaga, Bluegill bully and Redfin bully. There are 6 species classified as Not Threatened: Yelloweye mullet, Shortfin eel, Banded Kokopu, Crans Bully, Common Smelt and Black flounder. 9. These fish are in various habitats in a variety of rivers and streams across the district, including the Waipaoa catchment and as identified in the schedules in the plan. However, I can make a number of personal observations below. 10. In comparison to other areas, my personal observation is that the whitebait fishery is poor. This is anecdotal, as catch efforts for whitebaiters are not recorded. But when I am out on compliance patrols it is clearly evident that the fishers in the Gisborne district have to put in large periods of time to catch small amounts of fish when compared to fishers in Wairoa and Whakatane. Lack of protection for spawning sites 11. The majority of indigenous freshwater fish in the district spawn towards the bottom of a freshwater catchment in an area known as the saltwater wedge. This is the zone where fresh and saltwater intersect. Spawning is done on stream margins on high tides. The eggs are spawned amongst vegetation. Very few of these sites have been located so far in the district and they are threatened by vegetation being modified by stock, erosion and siltation. The Waipaoa river system is highly modified due to flood control measures particularly at the lower end where spawning would traditionally have been. 3
12. Eel species migrate out to sea to spawn. However river and stream systems play an important role in the lifecycle providing food sources and protection in flood events and from predation. High sediment loads 13. Sediment loadings impact on freshwater fish by smothering habitats where fish seek protection from predators and high sediment flood events result in an interruption of food chains by smothering instream insects that the fish feed on. Barriers to fish passage 14. Due to the migratory nature of indigenous freshwater fish for feeding and spawning and a requirement for a variety of habitats, poorly designed and installed floodgates and culverts can easily exclude fish from whole catchments. They do this by either blocking the path, creating turbulent sections of water they cannot swim up or creating waterfalls. Some freshwater fish are known to climb on damp surfaces, such as Koaro, Banded Kokopu and Longfin Eels which are in the streams and rivers in the district. A good example of this is the presence of Banded Kokopu and Eel in streams at Kakanui Te Araroa. To get to these locations they climb 200m vertically up the edges of streams and waterfalls. Pest Fish 15. Gambusia have been introduced to areas around Gisborne. These fish are fast breeding and have an ability to survive in a broad range of habitats. They compete for food with native species, and also affect freshwater fish by feeding on them. This is a preventable problem as it is totally human induced. There are also numerous other pest fish in other parts of NZ and if introduced to the district would have an impact on freshwater fish in the Gisborne region. Whitebait 16. Whitebait are the juvenile species of galaxids which include the indigenous inanga, koaro, banded kokopu, giant kokopu and shortjaw kokopu. All of these species are identified as being present in the Gisborne region in Schedule 1 of the proposed Gisborne Regional Freshwater Plan, and all, except the banded kokopu, are listed as either Threatened or At Risk. 4
17. Whitebait fishing regulations are in place to allow for the sustainable take of these species and have various tools to assist in this. A set season and times for fishing allows the fish access to river systems unimpeded. 18. Illegal fishing methods include blocking whole streams by nets which means no fish can migrate up river. Out of season fishing and night time fishing also intercept these migrating fish, preventing them from completing their life cycle. Also the use of multiple nets means more fish are taken than intended by the current regulations. 19. There is also a commercial imperative as the sale of freshwater species such as whitebait is legal. This encourages people to actively harvest fish for sale, putting more pressure on the fishery. Poor riparian management 20. Riparian margins provide a number of ecosystem services that contribute to the life supporting capacity of freshwater. Vegetation in these areas acts like a sediment and nutrient filter, creates shade, cools water, minimises evaporation, and provides habitat for invertebrate species to complete their lifecycle and also to provide food for indigenous fish. These forested areas also provide a food resource for fish when insects in the vegetation fall into the water making them an easy target for the fish. 21. The removal and/or reduction of these riparian margins for stock crossings, flood management, pasture conversion, and arable cropping reduces their effectiveness. This has occurred throughout the Gisborne district. Water quality issues 22. High faecal coliform counts and nutrient loadings alter water quality making some rivers unsuitable for swimming at certain times of the year. GDC occasionally close rivers and beaches from sewerage system failure also. 23. Excessive nutrients in freshwater also contribute to excessive algal growth. This can disrupt the food supply of native fish by smothering habitat. 5
Lack of upland habitats. 24. Due to extensive deforestation there are very few forested areas in the upper catchments. These play an important role in the life cycle of fish. For example, the Taruheru River in Gisborne has only a small forested area at Waihirere Reserve GDC. In addition to this, many upland habitats in the region are affected by the harvest cycle of exotic forestry. Harvesting can result in not only the loss of shade and the release of sediment, but often result in slash being left in waterbodies which would normally provide habitat or a food source for indigenous fish. Freshwater fish and the public 25. The complexity of the lifecycle of freshwater fish is poorly understood by the general public. The perception is that fish simply live in locations where they are either seen or captured. This is too simplistic. Fish actually require a set of habitats from the mountains to the sea. If any one of these habitats is damaged or destroyed this can lead to a variety of issues. For example, if spawning sites are damaged in either the salt wedge or in the upper catchment there will be minimal breeding/recruitment of juveniles therefore creating population issues. 26. Another example is where fish passage is interrupted by poorly installed culverts which halt up stream migration leading to localised extinctions of fish from those areas. Wetlands 27. Wetlands in the district are poorly represented in public conservation land (PCL). The Motu Scenic Reserve and Waipare Scenic Reserve are the only areas of PCL) with extensive wetlands. 28. Wetlands generally in the district have been drained or infilled over time to provide for urban or farming development. The last remaining large wetlands are in the Te Araroa area. There are smaller wetlands scattered through the district which are generally modified and prone to drought conditions. These wetlands have value for Threatened or At Risk birds fish and plants such as Dabchicks and Bittern, but are at risk from drought, drainage, infilling and invasive weeds. Wetlands in Schedule 3 of the proposed Gisborne Freshwater Plan do not cover all wetlands in district. 6
29. There has been a project to restore a wetland at Young Nicks station and considerable private money, time and effort has gone into this restoration project. It proves that with the commitment and where with all wetlands can be restored. 30. Due to the scarcity of wetlands in the district, in my opinion any wetland is of great importance. For example the man made pond wetland at the adventure playground in the Gisborne urban area has a pair of Dabchicks that are resident. Dabchicks have the conservation status Nationally Vulnerable. 31. The Matawhero loop wetland does not appear in the Schedule 3 of the plan. This wetland has Bittern (Nationally endangered) and Dabchicks. It is owned by Nga Uri Te Kooti and was gifted back as part of a Treaty Settlement. It provides habitat for a range of indigenous species. Coastal Water 32. Marine environments are complex environments. These environments are impacted and interlinked with freshwater. Without good quality coastal habitats a major part of the lifecycle of the majority of freshwater fish would not be completed. As part of their lifecycle whitebait species spend a period of time in the sea. This provides a food source for marine species such as Kahawai. 33. Sediment from rivers has a major impact on marine habitats smothering reef systems that are reliant on complex food webs that can be modified by sediment. For example, sediment can smother and damage or kill seaweed communities that are reliant on sunlight to grow. Put simply, without this seaweed, juvenile fish have nowhere to feed and live. Therefore this simple step is removed from the food web and then a trophic cascade is created. This means that that fish does not breed therefore its juveniles do not provide a food source for bigger fish, which then provide less fish to eat for even bigger fish, which then provide less fish for humans to eat. This removes biodiversity from the sea. 34. The effects of sediment discharge into the coastal marine area is also poorly understood by the wider public as these events take place underwater out of sight. As we do not have any natural sites that are un-altered by sediment loads there is not a reference point in the Gisborne district and it is very difficult to say exactly what our reef systems would be like in a natural state. 7
35. In the Gisborne district we have all seen sediment covering paddocks after flood events smothering grass. This smothering effect is exactly the same underwater. The big difference is that it has nowhere further for the sediment to go. It may be suspended in the water and moved around by tidal movements, but remains in the sea. 36. The Waiapu and Waipaoa rivers are well documented as being some of the most sediment laden rivers in NZ. This is the result of deforestation and geology of the land. The plumes from these rivers go out to sea considerable distances. As very little data is available about the marine biodiversity before the deforestation of the land it is difficult to ascertain exactly what marine biodiversity has been lost. There are also numerous other streams and rivers also adding to sediment that is altering the marine environment. Recreation values of freshwater 37. The Motu River has its headwaters in the Gisborne district. The Motu River has a national Water Conservation Order 1984 and this means that the river shall be preserved as far as possible in its natural state. It has recreational value for rafters, fishers, jet boaters, and trampers. The majority of the large tributaries for the Motu River emanate from PCL. 38. The Ruatahunga Stream is also one of the last remaining trout fishing rivers on the East Coast and is also located within PCL. It is a remote and difficult to access river. 39. Whitebait fishing takes place in a variety of East Coast rivers. Due to the complexity of the lifecycle of freshwater fish these fish will generally spend some part of their lifecycle in PCL or in waterbodies within privately owned and exotically forested land. 40. Freshwater recreation in Gisborne City on the Waimata, Turanganui and Taruheru rivers is dominated by Waka Ama, flatwater kayaking, rowing and as a training area for surf lifesavers and multisports people. Therefore, these rivers provide a place which impacts on the social, health and wellbeing of a large sector of Gisborne Society. 41. There are also a variety of rivers used for Waka Ama and other recreational activities up the East Coast. 8
Comments on the Gisborne Proposed Freshwater Plan 42. I have read the planning evidence of Mr James Witham that sets out the amendments and additional objectives and policies that he is recommending for the proposed Gisborne Freshwater Plan. 43. In relation to the matters covered in my evidence, I support the recommendations made by Mr Witham. Jamie Quirk 26 July 2016 9