Here's how you can help
Whitebait species are in decline. Mostly, this is due to a lack of clean, healthy rivers and streams for the adult fish. Barriers also block migrating whitebait from reaching the clean streams that remain, and introduced fish and waterweeds compete with our native species and alter their habitat.
Planting turns your streamside from an
eroded, bare bank (left side), to a place
that provides food, shelter and shade for
whitebait (right side)
-
Follow the whitebait fishing regulations. These are in place to safeguard the future of whitebait species and, therefore, the future of whitebaiting.
-
Fence and plant your local stream. Fencing waterways stops stock from trampling the plants and banks where fish take cover, and from crushing whitebait eggs.
-
Report any overhanging culverts, weirs and floodgates to your local Department of Conservation or Regional Council office. These can be altered or removed to allow young whitebait to reach adult habitat, increasing the number that develop to breeding age.
-
Ensure that culverts, weirs, dams and floodgates on your land are properly installed and maintained to be fish-friendly.
-
Keep streams free from pest plants and fish. Introduced fish, such as gambusia and trout, compete for habitat and prey on our native species, and introduced plants clog up the places where whitebait live.
-
Return species that are not whitebait to the river. If you keep your whitebait catch in a bucket, after a few minutes you will see smelt sink to the bottom as they struggle for air. Whitebait species other than inanga will try to climb out of the bucket. You can choose to return these other species to the river, retaining only the more plentiful inanga.
-
Keep your catch small and only take what you need. More adult galaxiids means more whitebait.
Culvert with fish ladder
Check, Clean, Dry - Stop the spread of didymo and other freshwater pests
Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) is an exotic alga that invades waterways. To prevent the spread of freshwater pests such as didymo, always Check, Clean, Dry all footwear (including waders), vehicles, fishing equipment and other items before entering, and when
moving between, waterways.
For more information and specific cleaning guidelines, go to:
back to top