Canterbury waterways dried up, trout disappearing

A fisherman on the Waimakariri River (Thomas Mead)
A fisherman on the Waimakariri River (Thomas Mead)

Fish numbers are falling in the south and plans to end trout fishing have anglers angry.

North Canterbury Fish & Game will be meeting with community members who have signed a petition to stop the closing of waterways east of State Highway 1 from the Waiau River down to the Rakaia River.

The number of trout has dwindled to an "emergency" point and Fish & Game plans to regulate and stop winter trout fishing come May 1.

"[Trout] come into feed out of the sea and it's no trouble for someone to catch two or three fish in an evening's fishing," chair of Fish & Game north Canterbury Trevor Isitt says.

"This year they just weren't there."

Mr Isitt has been fishing in the area since he was eight years old.

"A lot of these streams that were traditionally famous trout fishing streams have either gone or they don't support fish the way they use to," he says.

"We've slowly fished the numbers down to a point where they are in a bit of a crisis and if we don't act now we might end up with no fish at all."

Irrigation and drought is also thought to have caused low or no water in waterways where fish spawn.

"The horse has already bolted on that one. All we can do is try to mitigate the effects now," Mr Issitt says.

He realised anglers would be disappointed and says Fish & Game is supportive of providing fishing opportunities, but sustainability is an "overriding factor".

Matthew Easton has fished in the area two or three times a week in the last month.

"There are a lot of people that come down here, it's a great recreational resource," he says.

He thought Fish & Game did a wonderful job of increasing the numbers and the waterways shouldn't be closed.

"I think it's a load of rubbish."

"Yes, it does get used but I don't think it's abused so [the closure] needs to be carefully considered."

However, Mr Isitt says increased pressure of winter fishing on the river might just spell the end of trout fishing.

Fish & Game will have to get Minister approval to close the waterway. Fish & Game would evaluate at the end of the season whether trout numbers increase.

"It's not going to be a quick fix," Mr Isitt says.

He is hoping anglers will be supportive once they realise why they want to close it.

Newshub.