Native Freshwater Fish

Our Project partners undertake a variety of activities to understand freshwater native fish, their habitats and the mauri of the waterways in Te Hoiere catchment. Some of these activities are funded through the Project, while other activities were already under way or have been brought forward in priority by Project partners. Some of this collective work to understand fish habitats directly informs work to remediate barriers to fish passages, such as hanging culverts.

eDNA

The community, including catchment groups, and several Project partners have taken environmental DNA samples in Te Hoiere catchment. Also known as eDNA, it refers to the fragments of genetic material that are left behind as living things pass through water or soil. By collecting DNA that has been shed in the environment and sequencing it, we can paint a picture of the plants and animals in a localised area.

This work was accelerated with eDNA kits provided by Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and results funded by Te Hoiere Project and Marlborough District Council's Catchment Care Programme. Samples from many sites across the catchment show DNA from farm animals and native species to insects, pests, and plants. This eDNA work in 2023 helps to form the baseline for our freshwater ecosystems, while a more in-depth monitoring programme is being developed by Marlborough District Council.

Explore eDNA results in Te Hoiere with Wilderlab

Electric Fishing

As part of Te Hoiere Project, Marlborough District Council and the Department of Conservation teamed up to train in electric fishing, a research technique used around the world. It will be used during the summer months as part of a wider fish monitoring programme throughout the Marlborough District, with Te Hoiere a priority area.

New Zealand has 51 species of native freshwater fish, with 14 of these found in Te Hoiere catchment. Most are nocturnal, small and hard to find. The most efficient way to find out where they live is to use electric fishing. This works by sending a small electric current through the water that temporarily stuns the fish without harming them which means they can be captured far more efficiently than other methods, such as netting.

Once the fish are caught, they are identified, measured and released back into the water unharmed. This information helps to identify what species live in local streams, as well as expand on eDNA work to start understanding distributions of fish species through the waterways.