TRM invite your comments about Genesis’ decision to suddenly now restore the Tongariro River back to "normal" (?). We are all so confused now we don’t know what normal is any longer. At supposedly full natural flow over January the flow varied daily from 22 m3/sec. to 50 m3/sec. during an abnormally dry January when the rainfall was minimal. So "normal natural flow" became irregular and hopelessly unpredictable. Even TRM suffered when several Australian guests planning a fortnight’s fishing in March changed their bookings to the South Island after hearing the river would be flooded for March. Horrors! Of course we understand the greater public need for power generation, to keep your office air conditioned, is more important than any fishing plans or Tongariro trout survival requirements. So we will sulk in silence until our next hook up and then all will be well again.
Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People
February 2 is World Wetlands Day 2008
Each year World Wetlands Day is acknowledged with a host of events throughout the country when Fish & Game NZ and the Department of Conservation lead a range of organisations in creating varied wetland experiences around that year’s WWD theme, chosen to highlight an issue facing wetlands internationally.
This year’s theme of ‘Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People’ emphasises the strong relationship between maintaining functioning wetland ecosystems and human health, and the necessity for management strategies that support this.
Wetlands perform a vital function in filtering and purifying freshwater, removing nutrients and preventing eutrophication in surface and ground waters. This cleansing role of wetlands protects downstream environments, especially urban and rural communities relying on streams and rivers for drinking water.
Good quality water is also important for maintaining fish stocks, both native fish as well as New Zealand’s internationally renowned sports fishery for trout and salmon. Fishing, whitebaiting, boating, swimming, duck shooting and bird watching are all recreational activities associated with wetlands.
It has long been known that physical activity positively affects both physical and psychological well-being. Recent research is showing that there is also a synergistic effect of physical activity in natural environments – what is being called ‘green exercise’ – on an individual’s sense of well-being.
But apart from physical exercise, there is something about water that engenders an inner sense of calm and relaxation – maybe it’s the beauty, the tranquility, the enduring power of nature or simply the recognition that water is an essential life force.
Wetlands are disappearing worldwide, despite the fact that they are amongst the most important ecosystems on the planet. According to the United Nations, last century 50% of the world’s remaining wetlands were destroyed, while other wetlands have been significantly modified to fragment and alter water flow in 60% of the world’s largest rivers, compromising many valuable ecosystem functions.
The organizations participating in its celebration throughout New Zealand include Fish & Game NZ, the Department of Conservation, the National Wetland Trust, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Mighty River Power, Iwi, and Regional and District Councils (& TRM).
To see the events to celebrate World Wetlands Day 2008 on or around 2 February go to www.doc.govt.nz
Loss of Wetlands
One of New Zealand’s most important environmental habitats has almost been wiped out in the last 200 years through agricultural and commercial development. Since European settlement 90 percent of wetlands have been drained or reclaimed for farming, housing and commercial developments. Fish and Game believe that there are less than 10 percent of wetlands remaining.
Wetlands, including rivers and lakes, are less than 2% of the total New Zealand land area. Between 1954 and 1976, 12,000 hectares of wetlands were being lost each year. A total of 263,999 hectares. (Wildlife Service surveys) New Zealand’s original freshwater wetlands have declined from 672,000 hectares to 100,000 hectares in the mid 1970s (Landcare Research) There has been further destruction of wetlands since the 1970s. For example, in Northland between 1978 and 1983 a further 15 percent or (3,175) hectares were drained (State of the Environment report). Until the mid 1980s farmers were encouraged to drain wetlands by Government subsidies. It is estimated that there are less than 10 percent of wetlands left.
Ecological Value of Wetlands
Some economists believe that wetlands are the most valuable ecosystems on earth, with their services worth more than US$14.9 trillion. This is not unrealistic when you consider what they do:
* Store and purify water
* Provide flood water control, stabilize shorelines and protect against storms
* Replenish groundwater
* Provide nurseries for freshwater and marine fish
* Store carbon
* Retain nutrients and sediments
* Support biological diversity
* Mitigate climate change
* Create recreation and tourism opportunities
* Provide water transport
Wetlands are very important and dynamic ecosytems. They can be fresh, brackish or salty. Wetlands are more than just swamps. They can vary from large lakes to ponds, swamps, peat lands and bogs, slow streams, lagoons and estuaries. They also include ditches, water races, mining pits and hydro lakes.
Wetlands are home to more bird, animal and plant species than any other type of habitat. Wetlands are home to rare and endangered animals and birds such as the Australasian bittern, brown teal, ferns and mosses.
They provide secure nesting and brood rearing areas as well as safe feeding areas. Wetlands are a valuable recreational resource for bird watchers, walkers, photographers fishermen and hunters. Wetlands reduce erosion and run-off and reduce peak water levels during flooding.
Our wetlands play an important international environmental role. Many migrating birds seek visit wetlands. Arctic waders and terns migrate south after breeding during winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Thousands of godwits and sandpipers visit New Zealand wetlands annually.
Wetlands are very sensitive ecosystems. Unlike forests you cannot just put a fence around them and leave them to look after themselves. From the day they are created they start to die. They are always in the process of evolving towards dry land. The introduction of invasive plant species has made the problem worse.
New Zealanders Are Complacent About Wetlands
Despite the decimation of these important ecosystems, New Zealanders remain largely complacent. A survey by Lincoln University in 2001 of the “Perception of the State of New Zealand’s Environment†found that Kiwis generally believe the quality or conditions of wetlands is adequate to good, and that we have a moderate area of wetlands. Management of wetlands is also seen to be adequate. These are surprising results as New Zealand wetlands have been hugely reduced over former times. It indicates the challenge environmental agencies face in educate the public the crisis facing wetlands.
TRM’s Report
TRM thank you for taking the time to consider the importance of wetlands as they are of critical importance to all fresh water anglers. i.e. Have you ever wondered where all the whitebait – a primary fo
od source for trout – went? The Waikato River used to have whitebait canning factories but as modern farming methods (subsidised by Governments) drained the Waikato basin the breeding grounds for the whitebait – the wetlands – disappeared. No whitebait – no trout. It is as simple as that. So TRM believe it is time Government introduced whitebait farms to restore the remaining wetlands and supplement the lost food source. If the balance at the bottom of the food chain is corrected then all other life forms will benefit. Whitebait will bring the smaller fish species followed by mullet and flounder, followed by MONSTER trout…etc. back into rivers and estuaries….
Even the remaining Tongariro River wetlands are under threat. Every now and then we hear murmurs and rumblings about marinas being proposed and planned on the delta or at Tokaanu. Heaven help us. Such a development would destroy the valuable wetlands habitat around Stump Bay. Under the Resource Management Act – supposedly designed to protect the natural resources – it should be impossible to consider. But other marina developments prove that the commercial interests with the biggest cheque book usually wins and the natural environment loses.
2008 is election year… Can someone out there please take John Key fly fishing…