The New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group- Improved coordination & management of a key

pressure facing our waterways

Sjaan Bowie1,4, Bryn Quilter2,4, Paul Franklin3,4

1 DOC, Christchurch2 Tonkin & Taylor, Hamilton

1 NIWA, Hamilton4 New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group

Our freshwater species need help73 FW invertebrates21 FW fish

• 74% of our freshwater fish at risk or threatened

• 26% increased conservation ranking• 9% identified as at risk or threatened

for first time

Our freshwater species need to moveFreshwater fish Aquatic invertebrates

Migratory &

Resident

We’ve changed our rivers…

Fish passage - a key threat facing our freshwaters

Loss and/or degradation of habitat

Predation and/or competition by introduced species

Legislative requirements•MfE/MPI - NES/NPS

•Regional Councils - RMA 1991

Managing and controlling environmental effects

• DOC

“Protecting freshwater fish habitats”

“Advocating the conservation of aquatic life & freshwater fisheries”

Administering the fish passage provisions :

Culverts and fords may not be built to impede fish passage, without a permit

May require any dam or diversion structure has a fish facility

Nov 2013 Workshop

KEY NEEDS:• Greater coordination & • National guidelines

DOC & NIWA took on this challenge

DOC/NIWA MOU2014-2020

– Co-ordination – Improve & maintain access to resources– Improve, profile & promote good management

& research

NZFPAGNational management guidelinesNational assessment protocol & structures

databaseIdentify key knowledge gaps & promote

opportunities

New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group

Group of ecologists, engineers and environmental advisors representing various groups involved in fish

passage management in New Zealand.

AimUse our multi-disciplinary team to develop,

communicate, promote, & advocate for improved technical guidance & policy to support fish passage

& connectivity of our waterways

Key NZFPAG roles• Better national coordination• Promote awareness & implementation of best-practice• Increasing accessibility to guidance & tools.• Being a central point of reference• Coordinating an interdisciplinary approach • Identifying & seeking opportunities to advance research

& management.• Liaising with, and fostering support from key groups• Promoting the development & influencing legislation

and policy.

Improved co-ordination & communication

• Website www.doc.govt.nz/fishpassage

• Email / wider interest group• Banners/ fliers / posters• Logos• Regular newsletters

Improved guidance• Key guidance on web pages• Lessons learnt case studies• Collation good practice DOC • Whitebait activity sheet

National guidelines

• Structures <4m

• Implementation 2018National workshopMfE regional workshopsStormwater Conference

Protocol, app & structures database

• Funded by an Envirolink Tools grant• NIWA, with support from NZFPAG• Collating all instream structures data • Development begun, including steering group, specialist

workshops, determining key fields & some field testing

Research strategy

Development of a national research strategy Key themes identified from workshop 2013NZFPAG expanded further creating a list of topics/ priorities

Key themes:Understanding the fishUnderstanding instream structuresUnderstanding remediation solutions

Large Dams

Establishing a team to begin looking at the key research gaps & how we can better manage large dams in NZ to provide and consider fish passage.

Providing submissions to a variety of national initiatives

Advocacy

Future – many gaps still to fill…• Flood/tide gates• Large dams• Water intakes/screening• Built barriers• Monitoring• Case studies• Relevance to engineers• New remediation tools & knowledge• Improved knowledge of species needs

World Fish Migration Day21 April 2018

A global event to create awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish

Join the fun & create an event to celebrate this great cause

https://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/

Any questions?

Thank you to all the NZFPAG, wider interest group & everyone with an interest in

helping our fish