Community-based monitoring for whitebait spawning sites
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Item Open Access Case Study: Takamatua Enhancement and Kaitiakitanga (TEK)(2023) Orchard, ShaneThe Takamatua Enhancement and Kaitiakitanga (TEK) group is part of the Takamatua Ratepayers Association. The group has established a restoration project in Takamatua Stream with a focus on enhancing the īnanga spawning grounds and increasing community ownership and awareness of the stream and surrounding area. There has been a considerable level of engagement with other stakeholders such as Christchurch City Council (CCC), Ngāi Tahu and Environment Canterbury around activities such as riparian planting and whitebait spawning habitat conservation. Council reserves provide access to the lower section of the stream and this area is regularly fished by whitebaiters. The whitebaiting community have a strong interest in stream health and engaging with them is part of the project. Many of the known īnanga spawning sites coincide with good spots for whitebait fishing which is done a few months before each īnanga spawning season. This demonstrates dual use of the same piece of ground by people and the fish they are looking to catch there!Item Open Access Case Study: Steam Wharf Stream Group(2023) Orchard, ShaneThe Steam Wharf Stream Group is one of several independent community groups in the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network in Ōtautahi Christchurch. The group’s goals include restoring the riparian zone of the stream and to increase community ownership and awareness of the stream environment. Monitoring and protecting the known īnanga spawning grounds contribute to both of these goals.Item Open Access Spawning survey field sheet(2023) Orchard, ShaneItem Open Access Īnanga spawning zone in tidal rivers(2023) Orchard, ShaneItem Open Access Egg search equipment list(Marine Ecology Research Group, 2023) Orchard, ShaneItem Open Access Salt water limit survey equipment list(Marine Ecology Research Group, 2023) Orchard, ShaneItem Open Access Safety checklist for īnanga spawning surveys(Marine Ecology Research Group, 2023) Orchard, ShaneItem Open Access A community guide to finding īnanga spawning sites(Marine Ecology Research Group, 2022) Orchard, ShaneIn recent years there has been an increasing focus on the recovery of whitebait species and sustainability of whitebait fisheries in Aotearoa New Zealand. At the same time, kaitiaki and rivercare groups have established many on-the-ground initiatives to help address these needs through monitoring, education and restoration. This guide has been funded by the Department of Conservation (DOC) Community Fund to support these collective efforts with a focus on community efforts and volunteers. It complements the original guide prepared by Charlie Mitchell and Tony Eldon over 30 years ago1 and includes some new information on where spawning sites are likely to be found in a variety of waterway types. The guide describes a core set of field surveys that are useful for finding spawning sites and step-by-step instructions for making measurements in the field. Part 3 discusses options for storing and sharing spawning site information which is becoming increasingly important (and useful!) for identifying sites for protection. This section includes instructions for the Whitebait Watch project on iNaturalist which provides a database and data entry functions that are easy to use. All of the methods are relatively simple and are well suited to being done by community groups with a similar level of accuracy to that of professional scientists. They are also suitable for a wide range of survey formats including educational field trips, baseline surveys and regular monitoring in local waterways. The core set of measurements can also be used as a component of more detailed surveys. This project has progressed in tandem with a more detailed set of guidelines for a technical science audience to support more complex measurements. Future updates to both sets of guidelines will be available through the DOC website.