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Post by fish on Dec 10, 2023 10:04:13 GMT 12
Cancel Summer - there is an invasive species somewhere in the country: Freshwater gold clam fears for Northland’s busiest tourist lake The spectre of freshwater gold clams looms over Northland's Lake Taharoa as the busy summer tourist season looms. The clams are New Zealand's first invasive freshwater pest shellfish.The spectre of freshwater gold clams looms over Northland's Lake Taharoa as the busy summer tourist season looms. The clams are New Zealand's first invasive freshwater pest shellfish. Photo: Supplied / MPI The boat ramp at Northland's most popular recreational lake will remain open to boaties this summer despite fears about a new invasive freshwater gold clam. The ramp is used by thousands of people to access Kai Iwi Lakes' Lake Taharoa, one of the largest and deepest dune lakes in the world. Authorities are worried about its open access hastening the arrival of freshwater gold clams from Waikato. The new shellfish have not arrived in Lake Taharoa yet, but about 75,000 people are expected to flock to the tourist mecca over summer, raising the risk of spread. An NRC staff report recommended immediately closing the Lake Taharoa boat ramp this summer because of the freshwater gold clam - until October 2024.However, Kaipara District Council (KDC) voted in late November to keep the boat ramp open and focus on education instead. About 20,000 campers stay at the council's Lake Taharoa campgrounds at Kai Iwi Lakes each year, where boating and water sports are popular.
Another up to 80,000 day trippers will visit the lake just north of Dargaville too.The clam has been identified along 225km of Waikato River, stretching most of its length from almost at its Lake Taupō start to its Port Waikato end. NRC pou tiaki taiao group manager environmental services Ruben Wylie said the situation was urgent. Wylie said there was a risk of boats and gear being used in the large gold clam-affected section of Waikato River then being brought to Lake Taharoa, four hours' drive north. NRC recommended the boat ramp's temporary closure to a 29 November KDC meeting - where the district council instead decided in a five to four vote, to keep the ramp open.
This move came in spite of KDC's co-governed council/Te Roroa/Te Kuihi Taharoa domain governance committee also wanting the ramp to temporarily close, in line with NRC."It is recommended that the Taharoa Domain governance committee closes the boat ramp as a means of reducing the risk of the clam becoming established at Lake Taharoa this summer," the NRC report said. NRC leads a Taharoa lake protection staff group also including KDC, Te Roroa and Te Kuihi plus the Department of Conservation. The regional council has just put $300,000 towards preparations for an emergency freshwater gold clam response ahead of any potential Lake Taharoa arrival. KDC's Lake Taharoa campgrounds are full for the summer peak. KDC general manager customer experience Hayley Worthington said the council would have to refund $58,000 to campers if the boat ramp closure happened.The closure would also mean $100,000 in extra council costs - for a full-time person employed to monitor the boat ramp and do accompanying education. There would also be the cost of a physical boat ramp barrier, signage and communication.www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/504354/freshwater-gold-clam-fears-for-northland-s-busiest-tourist-lake |
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Post by harrytom on Dec 10, 2023 10:13:24 GMT 12
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Post by sabre on Dec 10, 2023 10:14:30 GMT 12
Cancel Summer - there is an invasive species somewhere in the country: Freshwater gold clam fears for Northland’s busiest tourist lake The spectre of freshwater gold clams looms over Northland's Lake Taharoa as the busy summer tourist season looms. The clams are New Zealand's first invasive freshwater pest shellfish.The spectre of freshwater gold clams looms over Northland's Lake Taharoa as the busy summer tourist season looms. The clams are New Zealand's first invasive freshwater pest shellfish. Photo: Supplied / MPI The boat ramp at Northland's most popular recreational lake will remain open to boaties this summer despite fears about a new invasive freshwater gold clam. The ramp is used by thousands of people to access Kai Iwi Lakes' Lake Taharoa, one of the largest and deepest dune lakes in the world. Authorities are worried about its open access hastening the arrival of freshwater gold clams from Waikato. The new shellfish have not arrived in Lake Taharoa yet, but about 75,000 people are expected to flock to the tourist mecca over summer, raising the risk of spread. An NRC staff report recommended immediately closing the Lake Taharoa boat ramp this summer because of the freshwater gold clam - until October 2024.However, Kaipara District Council (KDC) voted in late November to keep the boat ramp open and focus on education instead. About 20,000 campers stay at the council's Lake Taharoa campgrounds at Kai Iwi Lakes each year, where boating and water sports are popular.
Another up to 80,000 day trippers will visit the lake just north of Dargaville too.The clam has been identified along 225km of Waikato River, stretching most of its length from almost at its Lake Taupō start to its Port Waikato end. NRC pou tiaki taiao group manager environmental services Ruben Wylie said the situation was urgent. Wylie said there was a risk of boats and gear being used in the large gold clam-affected section of Waikato River then being brought to Lake Taharoa, four hours' drive north. NRC recommended the boat ramp's temporary closure to a 29 November KDC meeting - where the district council instead decided in a five to four vote, to keep the ramp open.
This move came in spite of KDC's co-governed council/Te Roroa/Te Kuihi Taharoa domain governance committee also wanting the ramp to temporarily close, in line with NRC."It is recommended that the Taharoa Domain governance committee closes the boat ramp as a means of reducing the risk of the clam becoming established at Lake Taharoa this summer," the NRC report said. NRC leads a Taharoa lake protection staff group also including KDC, Te Roroa and Te Kuihi plus the Department of Conservation. The regional council has just put $300,000 towards preparations for an emergency freshwater gold clam response ahead of any potential Lake Taharoa arrival. KDC's Lake Taharoa campgrounds are full for the summer peak. KDC general manager customer experience Hayley Worthington said the council would have to refund $58,000 to campers if the boat ramp closure happened.The closure would also mean $100,000 in extra council costs - for a full-time person employed to monitor the boat ramp and do accompanying education. There would also be the cost of a physical boat ramp barrier, signage and communication.www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/504354/freshwater-gold-clam-fears-for-northland-s-busiest-tourist-lakeIts the way of the world these days. We should all live in irrational fear of things that haven't happened. There seems to be a real pattern emerging where the beaurecrats shut down large chunks of public land based on illogical and irrational "expert" advice. |
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Post by fish on Dec 10, 2023 10:45:39 GMT 12
That article is very telling for what it doesn't say.
The recommendations from Council officers didn't mention education or other controls.
KDC have 20,000 people staying at their camp grounds. So by definition they have their contact details. Very easy to send them all an email communication the risk of gold clams and what they can do about it.
Rotorua Lakes Council already have a system for checking and cleaning boats and reporting this via a form that is deposited in a box at all the boat ramps around the Rotorua Lakes.
It would be incredibly simple for KDC and NRC to set up a "check and clean" requirement / process. They have a captive audience with all the campers. Wouldn't take much more effort or cost to communicate to day visitors "check and clean you gear". Social media, signage, Kaumatua at the boat ramps (if Iwi are serious about doing something, or just want some money handed out).
If they wanted to take it seriously, they could ban wake boats, or any vessel with internal ballast. Either that or require independent inspection of gear for anyone that has been in the Waikato.
99% of punters will be keen to help, if they know what they need to do. Just closing the lakes is a nonsense idea. There would be riots I'd think. Most boaties already know there are so many different invasive species they need to check and clean their trailer and boat between any and every body of water they go to. Wouldn't be hard to help them with that. Social media campaign, you-tube on how to check your trailer etc. There are so many fisho video bloggers around, and all the FB fishing groups, it wouldn't take long to get the message out if the Council officers gave it a moments thought and moved on from the idea of cancelling summer for shits and giggles.
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Post by harrytom on Dec 10, 2023 11:25:06 GMT 12
The BIG question is how the fuck did they get through border control??
I believe that in Rotorua you have take your trailer boat to a car wash place.Hmm prove that I havent? Be better to have a place near ramp to wash down so any debris can go back to lake?
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Post by fish on Dec 10, 2023 11:35:16 GMT 12
The BIG question is how the fuck did they get through border control?? I believe that in Rotorua you have take your trailer boat to a car wash place.Hmm prove that I havent? Be better to have a place near ramp to wash down so any debris can go back to lake? That is just for one particular lake. Some special one. The carwash is in town, and the lake is no-where near town. The other rule was that you were only allowed to go fishing on weekends... Not really workable. But the point is, there are a number of ways to manage the risk. The iwi could set up a boat wash and charge as much as they want. They'd make some money and they'd protect the Kai Iwi Lakes. There are so many better ways to manage it than just cancelling summer. Noting that KDC have set aside / budgeted $300k to manage an outbreak. Imagine if they spent a fraction of that with a cleaning and education programme to stop it getting in? |
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Post by fish on Dec 12, 2023 13:07:11 GMT 12
This is what happens when you give control of our lakes, national parks etc to unelected race based groups. Powerboat racing banned on Lake Taupo because of the clam. Trust boss rues powerboat ban but says iwi must eliminate clam risk Earlier this month, the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board cancelled all commercial boating events on Lake Taupō to help stop the spread of invasive freshwater gold clams. The ban will see two power-boating events, Hydro Thunder and the NZ Powerboat Nationals, both set down for the weekend of January 27-28, cancelled by the trust - which is the legal owner and kaitiaki (guardian) of the lake. “We are not into luck, and if this clam gets established here, that’s it for the lake,” said Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board chief executive Rakeipoho Taiaroa. While NZ Offshore president Paul Greenfield said his organisation had received little clarification of the ban from the iwi or BNZ, they were willing to work with them to get their events back on the water. Greenfield said he knew the risks surrounding gold clams but most of the boats raced on Lake Taupō were only used six to eight times a year and the Taupō leg was the first and only round of races being held inland on freshwater this season. “We have run this event for a long, long time and it’s frustrating being told just a couple of months out that it’s been cancelled.” Greenfield said his group was in conversation with Tūwharetoa and was “trialling a scheme or a solution” to make sure the boats would not transfer gold clams into the lake. “All of the other races this season are on salt water, so we can’t really understand why they want to ban this one.”
Greenfield said racers brought economic benefits to the district and provided locals with an exciting event on the lake. He said powerboats were not like wake boats and do not carry ballast on board. “All we have been told is ‘no’,” he said. www.waikatotimes.co.nz/a/nz-news/350128953/trust-boss-rues-powerboat-ban-says-iwi-must-eliminate-clam-risk?utm_source=stuff_website&utm_medium=stuff_referral&utm_campaign=mh_skybox&utm_id=mh_skybox |
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Post by DuckMaster on Dec 12, 2023 16:05:04 GMT 12
This is what happens when you give control of our lakes, national parks etc to unelected race based groups. Amazing work by the trust. Established in 1926, took control of Lake Taupo in 1992. For nearly 100 years they have been working to protect resources for future kiwi generations. For over 30 years they have been the legal guardians of Lake Taupo. Great to see them doing what they are supposed to do. |
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Post by harrytom on Dec 12, 2023 16:50:25 GMT 12
Ban of power boat racing? Hmm just ban all boating the lake as same risk regardless of what type of vessel uses it. Bet they dont ban commercial trout charter vessels.$$$
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Post by ComfortZone on Dec 27, 2023 12:17:15 GMT 12
So today had the first encounter with bureaucracy re the Caulerpa at Gt Barrier. Young guy in a very new looking Stabicraft with MNZ number on it pulls up alongside us, we are anchored just inside Governor's Pass.
Asks if we know about the restrictions and I answer yes, then ask who he works for - says Enviro Kiwi (https://envirokiwi.co.nz/). I ask him what is with all the craypots around Motuhaku Island, he says they will have a permit which says they can lift and drop in the same location, cleaning the pots on the surface. I then ask how come we can't do the same anchoring - no answer. I then ask how come we cannot anchor in the restricted zone at Gt Barrier but you can at Gt Mercury, he was not aware of the different rules in the notice. I then pointed out there seemed to be a double standard running on this and in any event they were kidding themselves if they thought they could eradicate it. Said he was just the messenger and took off.
So MPI don't want to miss their Xmas holidays and have contracted this local crowd, no doubt at a very good daily rate for Enviro Kiwi, to spread the message. Does not say to me they are very serious, just going thru the motions.
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Post by fish on Dec 27, 2023 14:40:39 GMT 12
So today had the first encounter with bureaucracy re the Caulerpa at Gt Barrier. Young guy in a very new looking Stabicraft with MNZ number on it pulls up alongside us, we are anchored just inside Governor's Pass. Asks if we know about the restrictions and I answer yes, then ask who he works for - says Enviro Kiwi (https://envirokiwi.co.nz/). I ask him what is with all the craypots around Motuhaku Island, he says they will have a permit which says they can lift and drop in the same location, cleaning the pots on the surface. I then ask how come we can't do the same anchoring - no answer. I then ask how come we cannot anchor in the restricted zone at Gt Barrier but you can at Gt Mercury, he was not aware of the different rules in the notice. I then pointed out there seemed to be a double standard running on this and in any event they were kidding themselves if they thought they could eradicate it. Said he was just the messenger and took off. So MPI don't want to miss their Xmas holidays and have contracted this local crowd, no doubt at a very good daily rate for Enviro Kiwi, to spread the message. Does not say to me they are very serious, just going thru the motions. Cray pots?!?! So when they say 'no bottom contact fishing' they mean 'No bottom contact fishing by anyone but us'? |
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Post by harrytom on Dec 27, 2023 23:12:43 GMT 12
So today had the first encounter with bureaucracy re the Caulerpa at Gt Barrier. Young guy in a very new looking Stabicraft with MNZ number on it pulls up alongside us, we are anchored just inside Governor's Pass. Asks if we know about the restrictions and I answer yes, then ask who he works for - says Enviro Kiwi (https://envirokiwi.co.nz/). I ask him what is with all the craypots around Motuhaku Island, he says they will have a permit which says they can lift and drop in the same location, cleaning the pots on the surface. I then ask how come we can't do the same anchoring - no answer. I then ask how come we cannot anchor in the restricted zone at Gt Barrier but you can at Gt Mercury, he was not aware of the different rules in the notice. I then pointed out there seemed to be a double standard running on this and in any event they were kidding themselves if they thought they could eradicate it. Said he was just the messenger and took off. So MPI don't want to miss their Xmas holidays and have contracted this local crowd, no doubt at a very good daily rate for Enviro Kiwi, to spread the message. Does not say to me they are very serious, just going thru the motions. Cray pots?!?! So when they say 'no bottom contact fishing' they mean 'No bottom contact fishing by anyone but us'? If memory serves me right. Most of, if not all cray fishing around Gt Barrier is done by the Walker Family which are Iwi. Stand to be corrected though. |
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Post by dutyfree on Dec 28, 2023 5:37:51 GMT 12
Envirokiwi owners run the tip and some up cycling shop on Barrier from google.
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Post by ComfortZone on Dec 28, 2023 7:26:59 GMT 12
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Post by dutyfree on Dec 29, 2023 7:31:27 GMT 12
Saw MPI I assume in action in BOI Some yacht had anchored in the no anchor zone. Seemed to be just getting them to move.
Got checked out at Poor Knights too. They just cruised past slowly probably as we had a rod in the holder from earlier in the day 😂
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