DoC freshwater biosecurity co-ordinator Kerry Bodmin says the four-year project will go beyond the work programmes DoC and the council have in place for koi carp management.
"This integrated project is focused on learning by management; the removal of fish from waterways using traditional and new methods, and filling knowledge gaps to assist in managing koi numbers," Bodmin says.
"Our goals for this project include reducing the rate of spread of koi by prioritising the installation of barriers, and supporting two community-led koi removal projects.
"Partnering with mana whenua, through Te Riu o Waikato, is vital to this project and we'll be working with them on trialling ways we can remove the koi from the waterways using long nets and disposing of the fish carcasses."
Koi will also be removed from known spawning sites, and access to those sites will be restricted to hamper reproduction of the fish.
Another important aspect of the project is biomass counts – how the koi population can be measured.
Te Riu o Waikato Chair Tawera Nikau says Waikato-Tainui have an important connection to the Waikato River and mana whenua are enthusiastic about partnering in the project to curb the pests.
"Koi are a real challenge across our rohe, and this trial also presents us with some employment and economic opportunities for iwi, hapu and whanau.
"We're excited to be part of it and welcome the long-term commitment of funding to learn more about how we can control these fish and reduce them in our awa."
Council spokesman Cr Stu Husband says the organisation works collaboratively with DoC and other key stakeholders to manage and reduce the impact of pest fish – including koi – in freshwater systems at high-value biodiversity sites in the region.
"We've contributed $250,000 for the 2022 financial year to efforts to manage koi carp – an investment we're proud to make."
The council also provides landowners with advice and information on the threats posed by freshwater pests.
The Waikato River Authority is one of the largest funders of environmental restoration projects in the Waikato and Waipā catchments.
In 10 years, the authority has funded more than $50 million to more than 300 projects that will help restore and protect the Waikato and Waipā rivers.
The authority supports a collaborative and co-ordinated approach to the restoration of the catchment.
Te Ture Whaimana (Vision & Strategy for the Waikato River) is the primary environmental direction-setting document for the Waikato River catchment. The Waikato River Authority is the guardian of Te Ture Whaimana
