Black mud fish

In December 2023 our Trust submitted an application to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for the translocation of black mudfish into a blind gully swamp in Mangaiti, Hamilton, New Zealand. This was after identifying the location as an ideal natural mudfish habitat and it being highly probable that mudfish would have occupied this location in the past, before European settler land modification. This is also in line with our Trust’s vision: To manage the gully in such a way that native fauna (birds, fish, bats, reptiles & insects) will re-establish, either naturally or by introduction and for this to be sustainable. In March 2025 this year, a permit was granted. Translocating mudfish has historically, not been that successful so there was reluctance by DOC to translocate them from a known stable habitat. However, the Rotokauri urban subdivision is about to commence where 14 sites of mudfish have been identified. These wetland sites, which in most cases are farm drains, will be modified (drained) during the groundwork. Because our permit specifies that they are to be translocated from “at risk” habitats within Hamilton City, this has, in essence, become a rescue mission of an at-risk, declining, indigenous species through habitat loss. Managing the translocation is not that straight forward, and part of the DOC permit requires three years of monitoring and reporting. We are fortunate to have a retired NIWA marine scientist as one of our volunteers who is being the lead on this project. The following Link https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/freshwater-fish/mudfish/black-mudfish/ will take you to a DOC pdf with extra links explaining all about the unique features of this species. Photo: Waikato Regional Council