|
|
| Post Number: 1
|
Chris Dore 
Play hard!
Group: Members
Posts: 3879
Joined: Jul. 2005
|
 |
Posted on: Dec. 31 2005,08:57 |
|
   |
didymo has been confirmed in the whitestone river in southland, up at glen echo, directly downstream of a p[opular anglers access.
also confirmed in deans bank on upper clutha. previously it was only downstream of albert town.
dire and dissappointing news. obviously, whilst most anglers like you and I are doing our part, the odd one is not, resulting in this algaes spread.
chris
--------------
FFF Certified Casting Instructor
SCOTT Pro Staff
www.CHRISDORE.com
|
 |
|
|
| Post Number: 2
|
scottrods
Group: Members
Posts: 2760
Joined: Dec. 2005
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 01 2006,11:37 |
|
 |
I sent this email to the editor of "the press" and to editor of F&G magazine yesterday
"Dear Editor,
I note with concern the article regarding the spread of the bio weed “Didymo” in the Clutha River, in the Saturday 31/12/05 issue of The Press. However it does not surprise me that this infestation is continuing to spread. What does surprise me is so far the spread has been minimal.
What does concern me is that campaigns by Fish & Game and Bio-Security NZ have not been effectively distributed. To the effect that many members of the public and casual river users are totally unaware of (a) Didymo, (b) its effect on New Zealand’s precious resources and © prevention of its spread.
On a recent trip to the Rakaia this week I observed only a small sign attached to the usual Fish & Game Angler notice at an access point not far from the town. Yet within the space of 1 hour the spot I had chosen was used by 1 ATV user, 1 couple with their dogs and 1 campervan family splashing around to cool off. None of these users had taken precautions prior to or after using the river. Their response was “it doesn’t affect me, only fishermen”, or “who wants to rinse off their dog in detergent after splashing in the water?”
This then is my point of irritation. Only regular users such as local fishermen are aware of the problem and take precautions. As a member of a responsible local fishing club we have been informed by Fish & Game as to what precautions to utilise to prevent spreading Didymo, but it is the informal river users who present the greater risk. I myself have a container mixed to the required specifications of dishwashing liquid which I use to clean my waders, net and fly line if my gear is wet between trips, otherwise I try to ensure prolonged drying of at least a couple of days.
Why can’t the bodies’ responsible place huge 2mx2m signs at all water access points? If this was foot & mouth we would see better preventative measures. We need to see more public awareness of the problem and its prevention, otherwise we might as well sit back, let it spread and then watch the huge tourist $ drop out of the national economy. Meanwhile it is the fishing fraternity who will informally carry the burden for looking after this precious resource for the rest of the country.
Jonathan Scott"
While fishing the rakaia on Fri evening I confronted a couple of the casual users, one bloke told me to f$$k off back to where I came from (Im' from northern Ireland originally) if I didn't like it. He was racing his ATV through the braided gravel. This other couple walking their dog's really wound me up. I was just sitting there tying on a couple of new flies to try out and they came racing down in their car, let out the dogs into the pool I was going to fish and started throwing sticks in for the dogs to fetch. Of course it spoiled any opportunity to cast a line there so I let them have a double barrelled Didymo and fishermen's access salvo. 
--------------
Jonathan
www.overland.co.nz 4x4 hire 4 NZ
><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>¸.
•´¯`•.¸. , . ><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 3
|
Steve
Group: Administrator
Posts: 1223
Joined: Jul. 2005
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 01 2006,14:12 |
|
|
Hi Jonathan,
Yes the response is a joke, there are so many people out there that don't know, don't care, and diymo is going to continue to be spread. I think the response from F&G and BNZ is very poor. It's a stick your head in the sand approach, fiddle around pretending to address it while all the time it's obvious that the response is miles off the mark.
And it's not the public's fault, they are just doing what they normally do as you'd expect. And what would a 4x4 driver care about spreading an alga, if they are so environmentally unaware to be using a river as a play ground in the first place.
BNZ in my opinion made a big blue by not making it a legal requirement for all river users to clean their gear, at least that would be a starting point and most people would obey it without any policing, particularly if a decent size fine was the result of not complying.
It's a big shame, hopefully the impact will be lesser rather than greater, but i hate this do next to nothing, see what happens approach.
Good on you for writing to the press
--------------
Steve Gerard
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 4
|
Johnno
Group: Members
Posts: 3385
Joined: Jul. 2005
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 01 2006,15:00 |
|
|
Some fishers are also to blame...
I was speaking to an overseas tourist a couple of days ago. He had fished the Buller on one day, then the Motueka the next. He didn't clean or dry anything. When I pointed the finger he just shrugged. "I didn't know" was his response.
He had told me me where he fished the Buller and I know for a fact there was a little didymo sign at that access point. The snot was in that vicinity too.
He just shrugged his shoulders and carried on his way hopefully back to his rental, but I suspect he went on fishing.
Sorry Jonathon but.....he was Irish BTW
It is only a matter of time. The Motueka is probably infected.. (before this bloke ) and if the Mot is so are a number of other waters locally and not so locally.
We have to face it. The days of freshwater fishing in various areas of NZ are pretty much numbered.
--------------
"I never understood the appeal of flyfishing Jim. It's too much like masturbation for me, without the payoff".
( Gabriel Shear - Swordfish )
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 5
|
scottrods
Group: Members
Posts: 2760
Joined: Dec. 2005
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 01 2006,16:48 |
|
|
sadly, it's man who is destroying nature as per usual. However, nature has a way of fighting back and usually drastically. I wouldn't be surprised if it got really bad over the country and then we had a big environmental event which cleared it, such as an extremely wet winter and summer which washed it away.
When foot and mouth hit the uk couple of years ago, the rivers and lakes were over fished and some places suffered from nitrates polution, cattle damage etc. It took the major impact of F&M to give these places a break of 2 years. Suddenly fish were found, waters were cleaner.
--------------
Jonathan
www.overland.co.nz 4x4 hire 4 NZ
><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>¸.
•´¯`•.¸. , . ><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 6
|
scottrods
Group: Members
Posts: 2760
Joined: Dec. 2005
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 01 2006,22:44 |
|
|
The editor of F&G will publish my letter in next edition. I had an email from him today.
--------------
Jonathan
www.overland.co.nz 4x4 hire 4 NZ
><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>¸.
•´¯`•.¸. , . ><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 7
|
Johnno
Group: Members
Posts: 3385
Joined: Jul. 2005
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 02 2006,10:59 |
|
|
Good for you!
You have set an example that all of us should follow. I too shall pen a letter. The more that get sent to F and G and BIO NZ, the Papers, you local MPs etc, then hopefully pples will start to notice.
--------------
"I never understood the appeal of flyfishing Jim. It's too much like masturbation for me, without the payoff".
( Gabriel Shear - Swordfish )
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 8
|
scottrods
Group: Members
Posts: 2760
Joined: Dec. 2005
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 06 2006,18:41 |
|
|
I think that now that the electricity generating companies are going to worry about Didymo's effects blocking intakes to the generation areas, we will see the Govt sit up and take notice.
If they can't generate because of it, the back pocket is going to be hit.
--------------
Jonathan
www.overland.co.nz 4x4 hire 4 NZ
><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>¸.
•´¯`•.¸. , . ><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
