November 26, 2012
Farm run-off shrinks flounder catch
A Hawkes Bay marae is blaming farm run-off and water taking for a massive drop in the number of flounder in its river.
Tom McGuire from Kohupatiki Marae in Clive instigated the year long Operation Patiki to survey stocks in Ngaruroro Tawhito, also known as the Clive River.
He says in his parents’ generation up to 50 flounder would be collected for breakfast at the pa, but there are now few of the fish to be found.
"The numbers are not there. There's not enough flow in the river and the weed is growing fast. It's coming up to Christmas and the water levels are dropping, it warms up and oxygen levels are cut off by the warm water," Mr McGuire says.
The marae is working on a 10 year plan with the regional council to restore the river by stopping run-off, replanting river banks with native trees and breeding young flounder to restock the awa.
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