Dead eels spoil pit-stop at Tutira

SHOCKED: Kev Gilbert and Hareena Prasad were disturbed to find dead eels lining the shore of Lake Tutira this week. Photo: Kev Gilbert.

A family was shocked this week after they pulled over at Lake Tutira to see scores of dead eels on the lake's shore.

Wairoa residents Kev Gilbert and Hareena Prasad were travelling to Omahu Marae in Hastings for a family reunion when they parked up at Lake Tutira to give their five children a chance to stretch their legs.

"We thought it was a good place to park up and eat, but the whole outer part of the lake was covered with dead eels. They were floating upside down and there was a sort of powdery colouring on the edge of the water," she said.

Initially Ms Prasad thought the eels were small pieces of wood but upon closer inspection was alarmed to find out they were dead eels.

Ms Prasad reported a "fishy rubbish" smell at the lake, and said she was lucky to see a sign post warning visitors not to touch the water before she let her children out of her van.

"It's not a good look for Tutira," Ms Prasad said.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) reported sending samples of dead eels and water to Cawthron Institute for autopsy and lab analysis.

HBRC environmental scientist Dr Andy Hicks investigated the lake and observed dead or dying fish at various locations.

An "extreme" pH level of 9.4 was also recorded at the lake's boat ramp.

Mr Gilbert took photos and video at the scene and posted them to Facebook on Tuesday afternoon with the caption reading 'I knew Tutira was polluted ... but I didn't think it was this bad".

Ms Prasad was worried about the environment.

"It's got to be something hazardous to kill so many eels. It was alarming too, because the kids started asking why the eels weren't swimming. The kids are used to seeing eels along the Wairoa river," she said.

"I'm now quite concerned about what is going on in the water there," she said.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council spokesman Drew Broadley said he too was concerned about the lake's condition, particularly with two large fish kills in two consecutive years.

A similar incident occurred on New Year's Day this year, with a strong blue-green algal bloom two weeks later and a further widespread fish kill towards the end of January.

In both years, a background bloom of non-toxic algae, Ceratium, had been present and the pH level was recorded at a high level.

Dr Hicks warned lake visitors to avoid handling any dead fish, saying they were "definitely not safe" for consumption by humans or family pets.