Several people that live on the gully feed eels in the
stream below their properties. There are two types of eel: the shortfin, which
is more common, and the longfin which has a DOC classification of “at risk –
declining”. Eels have been written about before on this blog site. They have a
remarkably interesting life cycle. The longfin grows up in the streams for 30
to 60 years, after which they leave the stream systems and migrate out to sea, swimming
up to the tropics (around Tonga) to mate, spawn then die. The little glass eels
drift back to NZ and find a stream to migrate up and so the cycle continues,
unless someone fishes them out of the stream, often for no other reason than
for “fun” leaving them to die on the stream bank.
Part of council’s project to develop the Gordonton arm (zone
3) is to cut a track to give access. Unfortunately, this also gave access to
the public, and we have received a number of reports from concerned neighbours
that fishing was going on and they feared for their “pet” eels. Once it was brought
to council’s attention, signs were made and placed along the stream length.
Unfortunately trying to protect our native fauna seems to be
an ongoing battle.
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