Freshwater scientist Dr Ian Kusabs. Photo / Supplied
Freshwater scientist Dr Ian Kusabs. Photo / Supplied
Kōura will have a new safe haven at Rotorua's lakefront thanks to a purpose-built habitat as part of the Rotorua Lakefront redevelopment project.
It is hoped that baby kōura, which are the most vulnerable to predators, will flourish in their new habitat, which has large rocks and stones for them to hide from predators.
The lakefront boardwalk will also provide essential shade.
"The lakefront redevelopment project provides an opportunity to significantly improve the kōura habitat, and it's well timed because catfish, which prey on kōura, are now in Lake Rotorua," freshwater scientist Dr Ian Kusabs said.
"This kaupapa is expected to enhance habitat quality and help the protected species to thrive in this area once again."
Kusabs said from the beginning, the Rotorua Lakes Council lakefront redevelopment, which has had investment from the Provincial Development Unit, has included planning and monitoring of any negative impact on protected species including kōura, the native scaup (diving duck), bullies, swan and kākahi (freshwater mussel).
With the improvement in Lake Rotorua's water quality in recent years, kōura have returned to the lakefront, mainly where rocks and stones are present.
Kusabs said kōura were a good indicator of ecosystem health, because they need well-oxygenated water and substrate free of silt.
Te Arawa Lakes Trust biosecurity manager William Anaru said kōura were highly valued by Māori and were considered a taonga species by Te Arawa.
"They are hugely significant culturally – back in the day, your whānau or hapu mana was determined by how much kai you could provide your manuhiri," he said.
"Unfortunately kōura numbers have declined due to catfish and other predators, but the new lakefront development has contingencies in place to enhance their habitat."
The Te Arawa Lakes (fisheries) Bylaw 2020 also protected kōura, with new rules and restrictions for collecting taonga ika (native fish species), allowing taonga species to regenerate for the benefit of future generations.
Anaru said it's still "not a good idea" to harvest and eat kōura from the Lake Rotorua lakefront, because of high levels of naturally occurring mercury and arsenic from Sulphur Pt, he hoped manuhiri would enjoy watching them in their new habitat.
Before construction starting at the lakefront in October 2019, the kōura were moved to the other side of Lake Rotorua.
They will be returned to the lakefront in May with a ceremonial release.
A long-term monitoring programme of the kōura and kākahi populations at the lakefront will start when the redevelopment is complete.
