Eel Action

Hello Readers,

The last couple of weeks we have been working on an action to help eels. Xhin, Savanna and I decided to send a letter to the Meridian Company about dams and that eels can not get over them on there way to Tonga to breed and that baby eels can not get back over the dams. We sent the letter and it is on this blog post.











And here is their reply... 

Thank you for your email. 

Meridian Energy operates hydroelectric schemes in two catchments in New Zealand; the Manapouri scheme in the Waiau catchment in Southland and the Waitaki scheme the Waitaki catchment.

Dams (and other structures) in waterways do impact on the migration of eels and other freshwater fish.  As you have said the adult eels need to get out to sea to have their babies, also the babies need to get back from the sea to freshwater to grow in to adults.

In both the Waitaki and Waiau catchments Meridian employs people to use traps to catch and then transfer the adult eels downstream and the baby eels upstream of the dams or structures.  This approach has been found to be more effective than the use of fish ladders or passes which were initially installed at some of these structures.

If you are interested, Meridian publishes an integrated report each year to outline the Company’s financial and sustainability performance, a web-link to that report is attached. https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/assets/Investors/Reports-and-presentations/Annual-results-and-reports/2018/95098799a5/Meridian-Energy-Integrated-Report-for-the-year-ended-30-June-2018.pdf  There is information on page 41 of the report about the eel trap and transfer programme.

All the best for your continued interest in the natural world and for your learning.

Regards

Hamish Cuthbert

Thanks for reading,

Milan😄😄😄