In a collaborative study, echosounder surveys of the lower reservoir at ZEALANDIA, the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, show that electro-fishing and netting have successfully reduced perch numbers in the conservation safe haven.
With the help of a helicopter, NIWA scientists, in partnership with Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board and Environment Waikato, have deployed a 2.8 metre environmental monitoring buoy into Lake Taupo – to help care for the health of New Zealand’s largest lake.
Two fossils discovered in the Ormond Valley, near Gisborne, have been identified as a mysterious extinct native fish, the grayling or upokororo. They represent the first known fossils of New Zealand grayling.
Scientific records of at least 104,000 samples of New Zealand’s freshwater fish, invertebrates, algae and other aquatic plants are now available at the click of a mouse.
NIWA scientists have been simulating flooding in Milne Stream near Halswell to study the effect of plants along the banks of Christchurch streams. The study is a joint project between NIWA and the Christchurch City Council, and field work wraps up tomorrow (Friday, June 4).
Forty years ago anglers in New Zealand were actively encouraged to ‘kill eels on sight’. Although the attitude towards eels has changed significantly since then, it has not stopped our native longfinned eel stocks declining, mirroring the global downward trend in freshwater eel recruitment.
The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology has approved $1.8 million over the next 5 years to address the declining status of New Zealand’s lakes.
Research that will help restore New Zealand’s streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries has received $9 million of funding over six years from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.
New Zealand’s marine and freshwater environments are extremely important for our economic and social welfare, but they are under constant pressure from human uses and introductions of new invasive species.
Have we got enough fresh water? The answer is “maybe”, but certainly not all in the right places, nor of the right quality. A new national centre has just been established to help manage New Zealand’s water resources.
New Zealand scientists with internationally recognised skills will be teaming up with top level American researchers both in the US and New Zealand to find solutions for environmental problems common to both countries.