October 31, 2018
Whitebait protection on the table
The Conservation Department is seeking the views of the public on what should be done to tackle the decline in whitebait populations.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says whitebait are a key part of Kiwi culture and a taonga to iwi.
Four of the six species that make up the whitebait fishery are threatened or at risk of extinction, and they face significant pressures from degraded habitats, poor water quality, obstacles to fish passage such as culverts and in some areas heavy fishing.
DOC is running an online survey as well as drop in sessions throughout the country, including at Pokeno on November 9.
Visit DOC's website for the whitebait survey and FAQs: https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/have-your-say/all-consultations/2018/improving-whitebait-management/
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