"Our main aim is to learn more about the species, how we might grow them and release them back into the lake. We are also giving the lake an eel boost to enable more to grow into larger breeding eels."
Robert Warrington, a key asset to the programme and Lake Horowhenua trustee, said the eels' survival rate was impressive but he was still learning the ropes and was still 'holding his breath'.
"This is our first year at trying to grow the eels. Their survival relies on our adaptive management," he said.
Horowhenua District Mayor Michael Feyen was at the opening and said he was blown away by the partnership between Muaupoko and WFT, and their efforts.
"I really take my hat off to them. Muaupoko and WFT have come together to achieve something awesome.
"I look forward to the day the eels are returned back into the wild," said Mr Feyen.
The Longfin Eel
It takes 40 years for a tuna (longfin eel) to reach maturity before it leaves its fresh water home for a perilous sea journey to Tonga's warmer waters.
Tuna breed only once at the end of their lives, with each female eel producing between one and 20 million eggs.
Mature eels then die, their eggs floating to the surface to hatch into flat, leaf-like larvae that drift along oceanic currents back to New Zealand. On arrival, the larvae change into glass eels, small transparent versions of adult eels that occupy estuaries for their first year.
During this time they develop colouration, becoming elvers, resembling small adult long-fin eels, and migrate upstream to develop into adults and begin the cycle again.
Note to whitebaiters: Please watch your catch carefully, if you catch glass eels among your whitebait please throw them back or pass them onto Foxton Wildlife Trust, 48 Harbour St, Foxton, 06 363-5300. Thank you to those whitebaiters who have been passing their eels on.
