September 12, 2018
New rules for whitebait protection
Parliament has passed the first reading ot the an amendment to the Conservation Act designed to better protect indigenous freshwater fish.
The bill enables the Minister of Conservation to review and improve regulations on fish passage, and develop regulations to address threats such as damage to fish spawning sites and fish being killed by activities such as drainage works and pump stations.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says almost half of New Zealand's 56 indigenous freshwater fish species of which 22 are threatened with extinction,
She says the new rules will help community efforts to improve fish passage by improving culverts and planting along stream margins to help restore aquatic habitats and fish spawning sites.
The bill heads been sent to select committee process where it can be refined if any clarification is needed on any overlaps between managing indigenous fish and managing sports fisheries.
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