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Summary
The Protected Species Tissue Archive (Fishes and Turtles) has been held at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum since 2021. It ensures appropriate curation of tissue samples obtained from these species, improved visibility of and access to samples by researchers and mana whenua, and is used to track the fate of samples, and scientific research outputs.
A total of 699 samples from 166 individuals of protected fishes and reptiles were curated in the tissue archive during the project (December 2021 – June 2024; Figure 1; Appendix A). Only 16 samples from six individuals were collected by the fisheries observer program. The Department of Conservation is currently working to give fishers authority to collect tissue samples from deceased specimens of fishes and reptiles, for vessels where no observers are onboard, and by doing so hope to significantly increase the sampling effort over time. As a result of the low numbers of samples initially received in this project, a decision was made by the Museum and the DOC Marine Species Manager to instead focus on existing samples held by the Department of Conservation and from Massey University.
During this project two loan requests have been completed in consultation with the DOC Marine Species Manager. One of tissue samples from sharks and rays (3 subsamples) to The University of Otago and the second of leatherback turtles (4 subsamples) to the Australian Museum.
The initial 3-years of the program has been a success over all resulting in 699 tissue vials from 166 individuals. The Archive acts as a central repository for samples and their data that is managed into the long-term. The Protected Species Tissue Archive is an essential tool for ongoing protected species management in both NZ and Internationally. Museums are ideal places for tissue archives, providing greater stability in the long-term care and management of collections. The Archive holds great potential to be expanded to other species groups such as protected and threatened fauna.
Recommendations include continuing and expanding the tissue archive, consolidating all tissue samples currently held by various locations by DOC, and provide for fishers to collect tissue samples from deceased specimens of bycatch protected fishes and reptiles.
Publication information
Bray, R. 2024. Final report - Collection and curation of tissue samples from protected fishes and turtles (2021-2024). INT2021-04 final report prepared for Conservation Services Programme, Department of Conservation. 33 p.