Banded kokopu spawning in Pipers Park
08/08/2018 1:28am
Work to improve fish habitat in our urban streams is paying dividends, with the first record of banded kokopu eggs found in Pipers Park Reserve, a tributary of the Maitai catchment.
The spawning record is particularly exciting because it occurred within Nelson City, in a creek where fish passage and riparian planting work was undertaken in 2015 to improve fish habitat.
The eggs were found during a survey for koaro and banded kokopu spawning sites. Banded kokopu favour shady, grassy banks alongside the stream for spawning.
The banded kokopu is one of five whitebait species that occurs in the Nelson Region. All the whitebait species have limited distribution in the Region due to habitat loss.
Council’s freshwater and biodiversity programmes – Healthy Streams and Nelson Nature – are seeking to further restore habitat through fish passage and water quality improvements and riparian planting.
