The Otago Regional Council (ORC), Otago Fish and Game Council, mana whenua and community groups are working together on a “project-by-project” basis toward protecting numerous galaxiid species across Otago from eventual extinction.

However the ORC and Fish and game assured anglers that protecting galaxiids, which entailed relocation of trout, would “have no effect on the wider trout fishery”.

The dwindling galaxiid populations, especially those fish which are non-migratory and otherwise live entirely in only a few hundred metres of some streams, are most at risk, ORC biodiversity team leader Pete Ravenscroft said.

 “In general, Otago’s galaxiid population are fragmented and declining, and without management intervention their slide into extinction will continue,” he said.

In creating ‘galaxiid protection areas’, four streams or tributaries in Otago now have fish barriers with weirs or culverts in place, with more planned in coming years; albeit developing a programme for the protection areas is “still in its infancy”, Pete said.

Three weirs have been installed in Akatore Creek, Swin Burn and most recently Thomson’s Creek, which was formally opened in early-April. A culvert was installed in a small tributary of the Swin Burn.

The Central Otago roundhead galaxiid is only found in Central Otago and nowhere else in the world

Otago Fish and Game Council chief executive Ian Hadland said his council had made endangered galaxiid protection “a priority and enshrined in policy”.

“We recognise the presence of trout in these remote galaxiid populations is one of a number of factors contributing to their decline, and it’s probably the easiest factor to manage in the short term, while long-term solutions to their survival are being found, including improving their habitat,” he said.

In every instance of trout exclusion, permission and a removal permit is required from Otago Fish and Game, which include a number of permit conditions, including relocation of the fish captured during the removal operation.

Pete and Ian both acknowledged Otago sports fishery is highly valued by both locals and international anglers and that trout anglers would have concerns around the effects of inserting artificial barriers which can interrupt the trouts’ spawning run and undertaking trout removals.

They maintained there was room for both sports and native fish species.

“Otago trout fisheries generally aren’t recruitment short, so the exclusion of spawning trout into these smaller water bodies will have no effect on the wider trout fishery,” Ian said.

ORC chief executive Richard Saunders said such projects often involve a number of interested parties so it’s important that there are opportunities for everyone to be involved.

 Staff would work with mana whenua, communities, landowners, Fish and Game and the Department of Conservation as each galaxiid project took shape, he said.

Otago has 15 non-migratory galaxiid species, of which 14 are threatened; four have a threat status of Nationally Critical (highest threat category); five have a threat status of Nationally Endangered (second highest) and five have a threat status of Nationally Vulnerable (third highest). Eight of these species are endemic to Otago waters.

ORC currently has Fish and Game permits to remove trout from four tributaries of the Kye Burn and two tributaries in the Upper Clutha area.

PHOTOS: Otago Regional Council