Requires more to be done after the mass death of eel

The conservation department is asking that it is more done to prevent mass death of thousands of migratory eels on Lake Tea Waihora Ellesmere.

The eels estimated in weighing a total of a ton died in Taumutu last Thursday, during a late hake (migration) of the lake, which is one of the most polluted in the country, with no natural way out of the sea, to the Pacific Ocean to reproduce.

The General Risk Manager at the Canterbury Regional Council, Leigh Griffiths, said that the deaths of Tuna (EEL) were “a natural event that could occur this time of year during the migration of tuna or Heke – when the tuna tries to migrate to the ocean at night.”

The Council used Diggers to create a channel between the lake and the sea at certain times, governed by a 1990 water conservation order and resource consent held in conjunction with te rūnanga the ngāi tahu.

Griffiths said the tuna died in the area where Teo Waihora-Lake Ellesmere could be opened, but the advice “failed to stop the natural events that occur.”

Tea Taumutu Rūnanga, David Perenara O’Connell, who was also on the Regional Board Executive Leadership team, reflected Griffiths’ comments on a video posted on social media.

He said there were about 20 tons of tuna migrating on the night of the chain, with most arriving at sea.

“As we know with tuna heke, it is not always successful. This is Mother Nature – that’s what happened here for generations, to Mai Rānō (since a long time),” he said.

“It’s sad that we know, but that’s exactly what our Taiao (environment) does and the way the circle of life happens.”

Griffiths said the council opened the lake to the sea many times to the migration of fish in the past, but had no legal responsibility to ensure the migration of tuna, suggesting that the Conservation Department (DOC) would be better positioned to comment because of its statutory responsibilities to protect native species.

DOC’s operations manager Andy Thompson said that although he wanted to see more made to avoid more mass eel deaths, the department “is not decision makers at the opening of the lake.”

“I feel that this is an opportunity to talk about doing more proactively to avoid a mass range like this. We will discuss this with local authorities who are interested in the lake, including IWI,” he said.

“It is important that we do our best to help native species and biodiversity.”

He said the doc team visited the site last Saturday to confirm the location and how many tuna were arrested, describing the scene as “very distressing.”

Victoria University scientist Dr. Mike Joy said he was angry with the council response.

“I am disgusted. Trying to blame the eels by a problem that was caused by the failure of [the regional council] The Canterbury environment to protect this lake is the lowest of the downs – I can’t believe it, “he said.

Joy said the lake and surrounding landscape were drastically altered by intensive dairy, swamp drainage and levels reduced to the lake.

“There is nothing natural in this lake now, so if referring to natural events has no meaning.” He said.

“It is loaded with nutrients, the flows have been affected, the watershed is too allocated to irrigation water, which means that the water table is reduced, the level of the lake is changed, the wet areas have disappeared. It is a lake completely modified by humans now.”

Joy said the board was responsible for protecting the navigable roads of the region.

“By not doing your job to protect this lake, the Canterbury environment has done the conditions where something like this is much more likely to happen,” he said.

The NGāi Tahu and the Regional Council signed the shared agreement with the co-government of Te Waihora in 2012. Selwyn District Council, the Christchurch City Council and Doc joined in the following years.

The joint decisions to open the lake were taken by the Regional Council and Ngāi Tahu.

A consulting group, including Waihora Ellesmere Trust, Te Taumutu Rūnanga, Fischermen Commercial Lake Ellesmere, Doc, the advice of Selwyn and Christchurs and fish and games provided advice.

The openings of the lake were temporary – it could close again quickly, even in the next tide if Swell were large enough – and could be expensive, costing between $ 20,000 and $ 150,000.

The regional council said the lake levels were a -chave criterion for successful openings and water was currently only marginally on the level that would allow it to be opened.

Last Sunday, the advice said it was working to decrease the beach crest, at the request of Ngāi Tahu, so the eels had a shorter and less arduous journey to the ocean.

The works were completed on Monday. The advice said it would last until the tile naturally washed the area and filled it again.