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Eels Swimming Cross-Country

Hi everyone

It is widely believed that eels can cross land between water bodies however little is understood as to how or why.

This rare footage captured by Tim Olley shows a medium-sized NZ Longfin eel taking advantage of a flood event to migrate upstream across what is normally dry land.

Much is known and documented about juvenile eel migration, but less so for adults.

Note how the eel is using burst swimming between long rest periods as they do in natural settings.

Less vegetation and an unnatural stream bed means that eels have to work harder when migrating in such situations.

Also, due to a lack of cover, eels are very susceptible to predation from birds at these times, as we have witnessed.

Do older shortfin eels have this upstream migratory urge like longfins?

Enjoy:)

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Pongakawa Wetland Reconnection

Hi all,

Some of the Fish Passage Action Team were recently involved in a very satisfying restoration project.

It is rare that we get the opportunity to completely remove culverts in an effort to restore fish passage so we wanted to share this with you.

See what two workers and a small excavator can manage in a day.

Alex put together this short “Glide-Show” so you can scroll through it at your own pace.

Click Here
https://spark.adobe.com/page/PXhOPliyaGp7o/
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Access to Spawning Sites

Hi everyone

Fish need to have access to spawning sites.

Here is a link to a really nice video showing stage-one of a manmade spawning and nurturing site for inanga (galaxiid maculatus) though many other species with make this place home.

The pools will soon be planted and connected to the main canals leading to the Little Waihi estuary.

Twice daily tides will flush the ponds and provide the potential for spawning each autumn. 

This project is being led and funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Enjoy
 
Pukehina/Pongakawa, Bay of Plenty NZ