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

  • EIFAC 2006: DAMS, WEIRS AND FISH
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Abstract

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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Acknowledgements

This study would not have been possible without the expertise and dedication of Evan Brunton who carried out the majority of the field work. We are also grateful to George Ryan for making the elver catch records available, Alex Haro (USGS, Turners Falls, USA) for the loan of the acoustic receivers and Gerald Hill of the Department of Conservation for assistance with downloading the receivers. Jody Richardson and Peter Todd made valuable contributions to the draft manuscript. This study was funded by Meridian Energy, the Foundation for Science Research and Technology (contract CO1X0211) and the New Zealand Generator Environmental Forum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NIWA, Box 11-115, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Jacques Boubée

  2. NIWA, Box 8602, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Don Jellyman

  3. Meridian Energy, Manapouri, New Zealand

    Colin Sinclair

Authors
  1. Jacques Boubée
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  2. Don Jellyman
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  3. Colin Sinclair
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Correspondence to Jacques Boubée.

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Guest editors: R. L. Welcomme & G. Marmulla

Hydropower, Flood Control and Water Abstraction: Implications for Fish and Fisheries

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Boubée, J., Jellyman, D. & Sinclair, C. Eel protection measures within the Manapouri hydro-electric power scheme, South Island, New Zealand. Hydrobiologia 609, 71–82 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9400-6

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