Translocating eels

A concern had been raised that successful establishment of mudfish might not succeed if there was heavy predation by eels. Mudfish have evolved alongside both of our long and shortfin eel species. While the eel population in the main Mangaiti stream is quite healthy, from eDNA testing we suspected that the eel population in the swamp we have identified for the mudfish release was low. We have therefore undertaken a fish survey using Fyke netting at 5 sites along the length of the mudfish release area (site Fyke 1-5, Figure 1). After setting the net 6 times (site 2 was sampled twice) the only fish caught were 4 short fin eels (ranging in size from 700 - 813 mm) and 4 very healthy banded kōkopu (145 - 180 mm long). The kōkopu were all released where they were caught, and the eels were transferred into the upstream tributary of the main Kirikiriroa Stream where there was suitable eel habitat.