November 7, 2007

GO FISH
Reeling in all the news you need to know

Frigate scuttling - positive impacts for local community

Last Saturday the frigate ex-HMNZS
Canterbury-Waitaha F421 was
scuttled at Manawahuna Cove in
the Bay of Islands and will now
become an artificial reef that will
serve several purposes for local
hapu, community and wider users
of the marine environment.

The scuttling was the first move

in implementation of fisheries
plans for Ngati Kuta and Patukeha
hapu from Te Rawhiti in the Bay
of Islands.

The Canterbury-Waitaha reef will

serve as a source of kaimoana for
customary use, a dive attraction
and a location for research projects
in Manawahuna.
The reef will also be used to
promote environmental manage-
ment and it is hoped divers and
fishermen will support the eventual
surrounding of the sunken frigate
with a mahinga mātaitai (seafood
gathering area).
Aims of the mahinga mātaitai
will be to provide protection for
crayfish, oyster, tāheke, snapper,
flora and fauna and reseeding of
scallops.
Above: The frigate being scuttled at Manawahuna Cove
Work on the plan started in response
to a rohe moana proposal mooted in
2001.
Ngati Kuta submitters argued for a
hapu-oriented plan to be developed
initially. First drafts were completed
by Ngati Kuta hapu member Natasha
Clarke then further developed by
hapu members.
Returned and Services’ Association
members who had a connection
with the frigate when it was based
in Malaysia.
Pou Takawaenga Tracey Kingi said
it was a beautiful day and the hapu
were immensely proud of the efforts
that had gone into organising the
event.

Over time a measure of kina control
is also expected to be exerted by
large individuals of these species.
The area was traditionally used
by Ngati Kuta and Patukeha for
mahinga mātaitai but certain
species have been depleted and
kina barrens are now prolific in
Manawahuna.
Pou Takawaenga Tracey Kingi and MFish has been working closely
Pou Hononga George Riley have with both hapu for more than two
been leading the MFish effort years to implement their rohe moana
alongside Ngati Kuta and Patukeha. management plan and the
Canterbury scuttling is an
The ceremony was attended by opportunity to grow kaimoana and
Fisheries Operations National offer economic opportunities for
Manager Jonathan Peacey, MFish hapu and the wider community.
staff, local hapu and community
members and New Zealand

integrity - respect - constructive relationships - achieving results - continual improvement

A promising future for
koura farming?
Fisheries Analyst Steve Pullan provides a low-down on
the up-and-coming industry of koura farming.

During my visits to land-based fish farms, I am always

impressed with the level of kiwi ingenuity that goes
into the operation of these farms; Pieter and Coreen
Wilhelmus of Ormond Aquaculture are no exception.

They run a fish farm in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough,

Female koura with young attached to the tail. These are held in
where they farm chinook salmon and koura (northern
battery cages (background) so the young are separated from
species). the adults when they detach.

Not only have they designed and produced a lot of the

equipment used on their farm, the Wilhelmus’s also
prepare their own feeds for the salmon and koura and
even produce their own bio-fuels using old oil from local
food outlets.

Senior policy analyst Jonathan Rudge, fisheries adviser

Katrina Bonnington and I recently visited this farm
to see first-hand how koura farms operate.

The economics of koura farming is perceived as marginal

as koura are slow-growing and cannibalistic. However,
with some ingenuity, Pieter and Coreen are showing
that koura farming has an exciting future; so much so
that in their view, it is better than farming salmon. Katrina and Jonathan listen to Pieter’s ideas on farming koura.

It has taken some effort, but they report achieving

production rates of three tonne per hectare, which is
close to that achieved on Australian crayfish farms.

Through a combination of optimum stocking rates, pond

and tank designs and husbandry, cannibalism is almost
non-existent.

Pieter gets $66 per kg after costs, and his markets are
mainly up-market restaurants in the major cities. Some
koura are even sold in pet shops where they fetch $80
each!

Ormond Aquaculture receives frequent enquiries from Three year old koura ready for market
overseas buyers, but at this stage, it is not in a position
to supply a huge export demand.

It is fair to say Ormond Aquaculture is a pioneer in

farming koura and is now looking at developing a red
and blue strain of koura.

Pieter is also helping other koura farmers set up their

farms and, with the assistance of Massey University,
he is planning to undertake research to produce koura
more suited to fish farming.

There’s still a lot of work to do to get koura farming

going in a big way (not the least of which is the red
tape), but I have no doubt koura farming has a
promising future. Pond containing broodstock koura, it’s divided to segregate the
sexes so they put on growth rather than chase each other!

integrity - respect - constructive relationships - achieving results - continual improvement

 d C h at National MFish graduates
Hello!

A big thanks to all of you at Congratulations to the following MFish staff who
Fish an

s
head office who responded
to my call for potential blood
donors.
It looks like we will be able
to get the NZ Blood Service
to come to us three or four
times a year from next year.
This will be great as I know a lot of you are keen to give
blood but find it too time consuming when it’s off-site.
graduate at one of Learning State’s 2007 graduations
this week and next - well done!
The first graduation took place in Wellington today at
the St James Theatre while the Auckland graduation is
next Tuesday at the Ellerslie Event Centre.
The following people will graduate with a national
Certificate in First Line Management:
Barney Anderson >> Hamilton

Giving blood is such a Mokohiti Brown >> Tauranga

simple thing to do and so
many people will benefit Wayne Ormsby >> Napier
from it, including people
we know and love. So thanks, you guys rock! Rawiri Richmond >> Petone

Other offices may wish to organise something similar, George Riley >> Kaitaia
check out the New Zealand Blood website to find out
more: http://www.nzblood.co.nz/?t=3 Samuel Tamarapa >> New Plymouth

I have some SPARC packs here for anyone who wants
one to help get motivated into walking, running or any
type of exercise.
Each pack has a month planner and pen and a list of dif-
ferent ways you can exercise. My husband has grabbed
some to take to his work and his fellow employees are
most impressed and are having little mini competitions
– good on them.
Poor ol’ Scott Williamson (Fish Ops, Nelson) has been
in the wars.
He had a car crash last week but fortunately was not
seriously injured. His car is a total write-off though, and
no, he was not at fault. Good to see that he wasn’t badly
hurt and back on the job after a couple days off.
Joseph Wakefield >> Christchurch
MFish Staff Photography Competition
MFish staff also have a chance to enter their best
snaps!
Following the launch of the Ministry’s nationwide
photography competition last week a separate
competition for staff is now open.
Staff and contractors can enter their images by emailing
their photo to me with their name, image name and
details of where the photo was taken.
There are four categories you enter (one entry per
person please):

Until next week, Tracey AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS – best shot of an underwater

ecosystem

MFish Job Line CUSTOMARY – best shot of tangata whenua gathering

You can find out more about each position on
Rockpool by going to the ‘Hot Links’ section located at
the top left-hand corner of the page then by choosing
‘Jobline’.
>> Senior Economist
>> Administration Support Officer, Auckland
>> HR Business Analyst, Fisheries Compliance,
Wellington
>> Policy Manager, Fisheries Policy - 12 month term,
Wellington
or harvesting kaimoana, kaimoana being prepared for a
customary gathering
RECREATIONAL – best shot of person(s) fishing for
food or fun
COMMERCIAL – best shot of commercial fishing in
action
Judging will take place February 2008 and the best
image(s) in each category will win a small prize.
We’ll feature some of the entries in Go Fish as they
come in and winners will be announced after judging.
Happy snapping!

integrity - respect - constructive relationships - achieving results - continual improvement