Lost Rivers – in New Zealand

New Zealand’s trout fisheries are going downhill and in some cases such as Canterbury’s Selwyn and Irwell Rivers, “lost” as public trout fisheries says Graham Carter, president of the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers.

Co-ordinated by Federation executive member Steve Gerard of Methven, the federation had compiled a list of rivers that were either lost or in noticeable decline, from an anglers perspective.

“It’s very eye opening and a sharp reminder with an election looming, that water and rivers is an issue to take up with politicians. At the very least all anglers must vote and vote with the future of our trout rivers in mind,” he said.

"Lost Rivers" represents a decline of the ‘intergenerational equity’ and every New Zealander shares in our freshwater resources.

A link gives all the other lost rivers in both the South and North Islands - see http://www.nzffa.co.nz/map.html

"This mapping lists rivers where a significant loss of opportunity to catch fish has been identified, and highlights the significant decline in our freshwater fisheries.

The causes generally relate to developments such as large scale irrigation, intensive farming particularly dairying and forestry clear felling and forestry monocultures within catchments that have impacted on those river environments."

Graham Carter said the mapping was compiled using NIWA angler usage and perception surveys and expert angler input. Only rivers where there was an obvious decline have been listed, there remain a significant number of others where there wasn't enough collaborating information to include them.

"The purpose of the mapping is to further raise awareness of just how big an issue this really is, and is a work in progress, we will keep updating the map as more information is compiled."

He urged anglers to tell the Federation about any degraded rivers that should be included: maps@nzffa.co.nz or info@nzffa.co.nz

5 Attachments

Preview attachment lost_river_lower_south.JPG

/

lost_river_lower_south.JPG

Preview attachment lost_river_upper_south.jpg

/

lost_river_upper_south.jpg

Preview attachment lost_rivers_mid south.jpg

/

lost_rivers_mid south.jpg

Preview attachment North Island.png

/

North Island.png

Preview attachment waikato_water_quality.jpg

/

waikato_water_quality.jpg

ends

© Scoop Media