Nelson/Marlborough Reel Life December 2019

Sneaky little buggers!

While you are enjoying NZ’s iconic rivers and lakes this summer, invasive and often microscopic pest weeds may be hitching a ride, using you or your equipment as a vector, to spread between waterways!

Stealth is the main way these freshwater invaders travel.

Right; Lake snow causes many annoyances like clogging up water filters as well as your fishing gear.

Sometimes a stream is infected but the pest isn’t visible yet, so unaware, we spread the organism somewhere else.

Just one drop of water on angling gear, watercraft or even a damp tramping sock, can be their way in!

Unfortunately, this beautiful region already bares the unsightly scars of infestation.

Didymo has taken hold in the Cobb Valley, within the Kahurangi National Park and in the iconic Buller River, recognised by a ‘Water Conservation Order’ for its value to the region.

Lake Rotoiti, within the Nelson Lakes National Park, is also infected.

The Waimea River is contaminated with Lagarosiphon causing large weed mats and Waimea Inlet waterways infested by the ‘pest fish’ Gambusia, which scoffs migrating native fish eggs.

Fortunately many water ways remain unaffected and we are working to keep them this way.

Other known pest weeds threatening invasion include Hornwort, Salvinia, Elodea, Hydrilla, Egeria, Water Hyacinth and Lindavia.

Fortunately, these ‘sneaky buggers’ have not yet made it to the top of the South Island.

The 2017 discovery of Lindavia or ‘Lake Snow’ in many iconic southern lakes and Lake Taupo is concerning.

This pest algae forms a slimy brown to white mucus that hangs in the water column.

It sticks to water craft, swimmers, chokes up water supply and boat filters.

Wanaka township water supply has been drastically affected, costing ratepayers.

Decontamination test on Lake Snow have found it to be very hardy.

Imagine this pest in this region’s water supply or lakes, no thank you!

If you see something new or unusual in our lakes and rivers this summer, report to the Ministry for Primary Industries hotline, found at MPI.govt.nz

Right; so how do we stop these ‘sneaky little buggers’ from invading our patch?

Fortunately, the Ministry for Primary Industries has established a ‘Freshwater Partnership Biosecurity Programme’ aimed to unite interested parties such as; Iwi, Fish and Game, Department of Conservation, Land Information NZ and Regional Councils.

Since 2008, this programme has driven a national ‘CHECK, CLEAN, DRY’ campaign, encouraging individual freshwater users to take personal responsibility for stopping the spread of freshwater pests.

A dedicated behaviour change is required, being to always CCD in between waterways.

Did you know there is a Freshwater Advocate for Nelson/Marlborough Region?

An integral part of the CCD campaign is riverside advocacy.

The role of Freshwater Advocates is to support, educate and motivate freshwater users to CCD in between waterways.

In essence, if you are travelling in between waterways, check and remove any pest weed matter entangled in your equipment, dry anything wet that may be carrying weed spores, then wait 48 hours before entering a different waterway.

If within 48hours, first clean equipment by soaking or scrubbing for one minute, with 5% biodegradable dishwashing liquid or 2% house hold bleach.

This should kill any pest weed cells or fragments.

Once you get into the habit, it’s easy!

I have some quick tips to make CCD even easier and as your Nelson/Marlborough Freshwater Advocate, will be travelling waterways this summer to help you to stay firm against those invading ‘sneaky buggers’.

If you spot me come and say hello.

See you out here! For further information see https://www.mpi.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/outdoor-activities/check-clean-dry/

Tagged fish competition is live!

Some trophy trout have also been released into the lake.

200 tagged rainbow trout have now been released into Lake Argyle and there are some great prizes up for grabs if you catch one of the lucky fish.

We've also released some monster trout into the lake up to 15 pounds - but anglers should note the lake water is currently very dirty from recent rains and needs time to clear.

To enter:
1. Catch a tagged fish
2. Take a photo of the tag
3. Send Fish & Game the tag number - via email, phone, or facebook
4. We'll tell you if you're a winner!

There are some great prizes, including 2 x $500 Henderson's Vouchers, rod/reel combos, lure packs, licences....and more.

Competition finishes on 29 February 2020.

Merry Christmas from the Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game team.

Jacob Lucas, Nelson Marlborough Fish & Game Officer.