October 04, 2012
Hawkes Bay concerned at decline in eel population
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Maori committee wants to see a temporary ban on commercial eeling in the region.
Chairperson Mike Mohi says staff have reported an alarming decline in the longfin eel.
The committee wants programmes to improve the understanding of eel habitats and population numbers in the region, and for more areas to be designated for customary fishing only.
Mr Mohi says eels are an important indicator of the health of streams, and the expansion of the region’s towns and cities has affected many eel habitats.
There is also the concern about the development of the Ruataniwha dam on the Makaroro River, which could require programmes to trap eels and native fish and move them upstream of the dam.