11 November 2005

As another whitebaiting season draws to a close, whitebaiters may take comfort from knowing that there is a group devoted to caring for the fish that escaped the nets. Department of Conservation Freshwater specialist, Jane Goodman is leader of the Large Galaxiid Recovery Group – she describes the elusive fish and a plan to care for the various species known to most New Zealanders as whitebait.

Have you ever wondered what becomes of a whitebait when its life isn't frittered away?

Whitebait are the offspring of five of New Zealand's native freshwater fish – inanga, koaro, banded kokopu, shortjaw kokopu and giant kokopu. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has recently published a threatened species recovery plan for four of the whitebait species collectively known as “the large galaxiids” - giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, banded kokopu and koaro.

The adults of the five whitebait species can be found in a wide variety of freshwater habitats including small creeks and streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes. Some species also live in estuaries and the marine environment during their life-cycle.

Once whitebait enter freshwater and start to feed and grow it becomes easier for the untrained eye to distinguish between species. Inanga commonly grow to 8 to 10 centimetres and are amber to olive with greenish grey patterning; koaro commonly grow to 16 to 18 centimetres and can be distinguished by their mottled greenish-brown appearance; banded kokopu often grow up to 10 centimetres, but may reach 26 centimetres, and have pale vertical bands across their sides; the largest shortjaw kokopu found was 35 centimetres, however they are more commonly 15 to 20 centimetres long.

By far the grandest of them all is the giant kokopu which commonly grows to 30 to 40 centimetres and has been known to reach 58 centimetres and weigh 2.8 kilograms. Unfortunately for anyone imagining colossal whitebait fritters, the adults are very different to their young and are not great eating.

New Zealand's native freshwater fish face a variety of threats, including destruction of habitat, barriers to migration and competition with introduced species. The New Zealand Large Galaxiid Recovery Plan provides a co-ordinated approach to monitoring and protecting the various species on a national scale. Not only DOC staff, but people throughout New Zealand can contribute to protecting freshwater fish. Landowners and community groups can improve freshwater habitat by keeping waterways fenced and free of pollution and by planting streamside vegetation.

Whitebaiters contribute to the future of the fishery by observing the Whitebait Fishing Regulations. The regulations were put in place to allow some whitebait to migrate upstream to feed, grow and reproduce, thus keeping the fishery sustainable. A summary of the regulations can be obtained from DOC offices and some sports shops. The full Whitebait Fishing Regulations can be purchased from bookshops.

With the exception of Bay of Plenty whitebaiters, reports from most places around the country have been that the 2005 season has been “pretty good” with one person claiming it was the best for fifteen years. Caring for the waterways that sustain native fish is a vital way of ensuring that future whitebaiters will enjoy great fishing for years to come, so the next time you bite into a whitebait fritter spare a few thoughts for the ones that got away.

Find out more about whitebait biology.