Factors regulating the downstream migration of mature eels (<i>Anguilla</i>spp.) at Aniwhenua Dam, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Boubee, J; Mitchell, C. P.; Chisnall, Benjamin L.; West, Dave W.; Bowman, Eddie J.; Haro, Alex

doi:10.1080/00288330.2001.9516982

Cited by 50 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Targeting night periods for flow releases and excluding times when water temperatures are below 10°C would reduce potential generation losses, but unlike other catchments (e.g. Boubée et al, 2001;Watene & Boubée, 2005;Boubée & Williams, 2006), we found few occasions when migrations in Lake Manapouri were clearly triggered by rainfall (inflow) events, although eel activity did increase when lake levels rose. Additional data gathering (existing transponder batteries are due to expire around July 2006), including the tagging and tracking of silver eels from Lake Te Anau, is in progress to determine if other environmental factors, either singly or in combination (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…After several decades in fresh water (up to 60 years for shortfins and 100 years for longfins), eels mature and migrate downstream to spawn at sea. This downstream migration mainly occurs in autumn (Cairns, 1941;Hobbs, 1947;Todd, 1981a;Boubée et al, 2001), but some migrations have been recorded in spring and summer (Burnet, 1969;Todd, 1981a;Boubée et al, 2001;Watene et al, 2003). Although a small estuarine and marine fishery exists for shortfins, longfins have only occasionally been recorded at sea.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Eel protection measures within the Manapouri hydro-electric power scheme, South Island, New Zealand

Boubee

Jellyman

Sinclair³

2008

Hydrobiologia

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Freshwater eels are in decline worldwide. In New Zealand, although longfin eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and shortfin eels (A. australis) are still amongst the most common freshwater fish species, there are concerns about the scarcity of large specimens. There are also indications that recruitment, especially of the endemic longfins, is declining. To protect stocks of this species, a series of mitigation measures have been implemented at the Manapouri Power Scheme (South Island, New Zealand). These include the release of compensation flows, the reconstruction of a fish pass and a catch and transfer programme for upstream migrating juveniles and adult downstream migrants (silver eels). Acoustic telemetry studies aimed at evaluating and improving interception and/or passage for silver eels show that eels were most active when lake levels were rising. Extended searching behaviour was exhibited, especially near the natural lake outlet, and silver eels appeared reluctant to travel to the opposite side of the lake where the hydropower station is located. Overall, just over half of the 31 silver eels tagged were able to find the natural outlet, and means of improving safe passage, including targeted flow releases and more effective methods of capturing the eels in the lake for transfer downstream, are being considered.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Eel protection measures within the Manapouri hydro-electric power scheme, South Island, New Zealand

Boubee

Jellyman

Sinclair³

2008

Hydrobiologia

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“…Allowing downstream migration to occur is essential for protecting diadromous species (e.g. eels, lamprey, whitebait species) that go to sea to complete their life cycle because this is the brood stock that will be maintaining the future fishery (Boube´e et al 2001). In Ireland, McCarthy et al (2008) showed that escapement rates for seaward migrating eels could be significantly increased by trapping eels above dams and transporting them downstream.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The role of dams in altering freshwater fish communities in New Zealand

Jellyman

Harding

2012

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

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Dams are important structures for generating electricity and irrigation, but they often severely modify river hydrology and geomorphology and thus impact freshwater communities. These effects are broadly predictable and therefore, at a catchment scale, biological communities should respond in some predictable manner. We interrogated the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database to determine whether dams have predictable catchment-scale effects on fish assemblages. Seven selection criteria were applied to over 2000 dams, resulting in 30 dams being considered suitable for analysis. Comparisons were made above and below dams and with data from undammed sites which showed that community composition was significantly different above and below dams. Sites above dams had lower species richness, a lower percentage of diadromous species and a higher percentage of exotic species compared to below dams. None of these differences were present at undammed sites. In summary, dams restrict the movement of diadromous fish generally resulting in their reduction or loss from above-dam habitats and also create artificial lentic ecosystems that exotic species can successively exploit. These changes to fish communities were found across New Zealand and should be viewed as a general consequence of any new dam construction unless fish management and conservation measures are undertaken.

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“…Rather, it appears that the proximate cues for migration of barramundi from freshwater are complex (McDowall 1988) or are linked to rare climatic events. Rainfall, temperature, moon phase, olfaction and fish condition have all been identified as important cues for migration of many freshwater and marine fishes (McDowall 1988, Naslund et al 1993, Boubee et al 2001, Hodgson & Quinn 2002, Okamura et al 2002. Similar cues are probably involved in barramundi migration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement patterns of barramundi Lates calcarifer, inferred from 87Sr/86Sr and Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths, indicate non-participation in spawning

Milton¹,

Chenery²

2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The migration patterns of the large catadromous fish, barramundi Lates calcarifer in southern Papua New Guinea were examined by analysing 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and Sr/Ca ratios by MC-LA-ICPMS and LA-ICPMS, respectively. Individual migration histories between coastal and riverine habitats could be inferred from the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios. These were used to calibrate the Sr/Ca ratios from a larger sample of fish and identify periods when the fish were resident in freshwater. The largest freshwater population of barramundi occurs in the middle reaches of the Fly River. We found that most adult barramundi from this population do not migrate annually to spawn on the coast. Fish vary in the age that they first enter freshwater, and most have arrived by sexual maturity (4 yr). We estimate that only half the adult fish in the Fly and nearby Kikori rivers have ever migrated back to the coast during their lifetime. This implies that many barramundi do not participate in spawning. Fish examined from the spawning ground were mostly marine residents, and some had spent short periods in rivers adjacent to their spawning ground. Tagging and scale chemistry studies from northern Australia have also found little evidence of movement of freshwater resident barramundi back to the sea. This implies that the phenomenon of non-participation in spawning may be widespread in this species. Our results suggest that freshwater fisheries for barramundi may have less effect on the spawning population than those in coastal regions and thus be able to sustainably remove a greater proportion of the population.

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Factors regulating the downstream migration of mature eels (Anguillaspp.) at Aniwhenua Dam, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Cited by 50 publications

References 30 publications

Eel protection measures within the Manapouri hydro-electric power scheme, South Island, New Zealand

Eel protection measures within the Manapouri hydro-electric power scheme, South Island, New Zealand

The role of dams in altering freshwater fish communities in New Zealand

Movement patterns of barramundi Lates calcarifer, inferred from 87Sr/86Sr and Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths, indicate non-participation in spawning

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