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The New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group- Improved coordination & management of a key
pressure facing our waterways
Sjaan Bowie1,4, Bryn Quilter2,4, Paul Franklin3,4
1 DOC, Christchurch2 Tonkin & Taylor, Hamilton
1 NIWA, Hamilton4 New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group
Our freshwater species need help73 FW invertebrates21 FW fish
• 74% of our freshwater fish at risk or threatened
• 26% increased conservation ranking• 9% identified as at risk or threatened
for first time
Our freshwater species need to moveFreshwater fish Aquatic invertebrates
Migratory &
Resident
We’ve changed our rivers…
Fish passage - a key threat facing our freshwaters
Loss and/or degradation of habitat
Predation and/or competition by introduced species
Legislative requirements•MfE/MPI - NES/NPS
•Regional Councils - RMA 1991
Managing and controlling environmental effects
• DOC
“Protecting freshwater fish habitats”
“Advocating the conservation of aquatic life & freshwater fisheries”
Administering the fish passage provisions :
Culverts and fords may not be built to impede fish passage, without a permit
May require any dam or diversion structure has a fish facility
Nov 2013 Workshop
KEY NEEDS:• Greater coordination & • National guidelines
DOC & NIWA took on this challenge
DOC/NIWA MOU2014-2020
– Co-ordination – Improve & maintain access to resources– Improve, profile & promote good management
& research
NZFPAGNational management guidelinesNational assessment protocol & structures
databaseIdentify key knowledge gaps & promote
opportunities
New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group
Group of ecologists, engineers and environmental advisors representing various groups involved in fish
passage management in New Zealand.
AimUse our multi-disciplinary team to develop,
communicate, promote, & advocate for improved technical guidance & policy to support fish passage
& connectivity of our waterways
Key NZFPAG roles• Better national coordination• Promote awareness & implementation of best-practice• Increasing accessibility to guidance & tools.• Being a central point of reference• Coordinating an interdisciplinary approach • Identifying & seeking opportunities to advance research
& management.• Liaising with, and fostering support from key groups• Promoting the development & influencing legislation
and policy.
Improved co-ordination & communication
• Website www.doc.govt.nz/fishpassage
• Email / wider interest group• Banners/ fliers / posters• Logos• Regular newsletters
Improved guidance• Key guidance on web pages• Lessons learnt case studies• Collation good practice DOC • Whitebait activity sheet
National guidelines
• Structures <4m
• Implementation 2018National workshopMfE regional workshopsStormwater Conference
Protocol, app & structures database
• Funded by an Envirolink Tools grant• NIWA, with support from NZFPAG• Collating all instream structures data • Development begun, including steering group, specialist
workshops, determining key fields & some field testing
Research strategy
Development of a national research strategy Key themes identified from workshop 2013NZFPAG expanded further creating a list of topics/ priorities
Key themes:Understanding the fishUnderstanding instream structuresUnderstanding remediation solutions
Large Dams
Establishing a team to begin looking at the key research gaps & how we can better manage large dams in NZ to provide and consider fish passage.
Providing submissions to a variety of national initiatives
Advocacy
Future – many gaps still to fill…• Flood/tide gates• Large dams• Water intakes/screening• Built barriers• Monitoring• Case studies• Relevance to engineers• New remediation tools & knowledge• Improved knowledge of species needs
World Fish Migration Day21 April 2018
A global event to create awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish
Join the fun & create an event to celebrate this great cause
https://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/
Any questions?
Thank you to all the NZFPAG, wider interest group & everyone with an interest in
helping our fish