"Whitebait are getting fried before they hit the pan, with sunburn killing millions of their eggs, new research shows.
Canterbury University researchers, in a study released today, found that whitebait production was massively reduced because of sun damage to eggs."
More criticism of how we're ruining our environment and the habitats of creatures we value. Dr Mike Hickford, author of the report, blames farming practices and livestock for the damage being done.
Read more from the stuff.co.nz article here.
*Hat-tip Geoff
6 comments:
It's all go on the West Coast today, nets and screens lining the banks, government funded fishermen ready to make their fortune from the annual slaughter!
All's well with the world then Shunda.
Nothin t'see here, movin' right along...
Hes right Farmers are to blame when they clear the streams and creeks where whitebait lay their eggs its going to cause a problem as no murky muddy streams etc equals no whitebait eggs can be laid and this means less and less whitebait There is also others to blame sorry Robert but so is ES and DOC with making top management decision making and little to no consultation with the whitebaiters themselves as to the problems etc. NO quota means is whitebaiters can clean out all the fish in a river where white bathe is, if there is a good run and sale for commercial gain.
A limit to catch is required but DOC, regional councils and possibly govt legislation is required for this to happen
To explain where a problem is done well, in Aitutaki Cook Islands there is a rare fish in their lagoon that is becoming scarce because of locals and visitors alike overfishing this fish. The Govt seeing there was a problem made a QOUTA of what number were allowed etc then set up a special taskfose that was given financial support to police the problem. NEXT and I highlight this because this is extremely important as is common with Cook Island culture the Govt reps held a serious of meetings with locals tourist operators etc, allowing plenty of discussion as is the Cook Island way. To sell to them why there was a need etc to limit catches of this fish. It took awhile old timers took a bit of convincing ...BUT finally now all are on the same band wagon all can see the need to limit the catch of this fish. The environment wins at last!
Great ideas Pauline.
I'm going to bring them up at our next meeting - quota for whitebait sounds reasonable :)
global warming and thos F%$#&%$# famers .. a quinella
If I was a betting man jabba, I'd put my money on you.
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