Thousands of wetland birds have been killed by the latest outbreak of botulism. Photo / Fish and Game NZ
A lethal outbreak of avian botulism in Waikato’s Whangamarino Wetland has killed 1000’s of birds, together with some uncommon indigenous species.
Fish and Game New Zealand say it’s “yet another wake-up call for urgent action” to be taken by the Waikato Regional Council.
“The latest outbreak of the deadly bacteria, which produces a toxin that can paralyse and kill birds, follows multiple and increasing outbreaks during summers in and around the Waikato region over the past decade,” Fish and Game New Zealand stated in a press release on its website.
Poor water high quality and adjustments to water flows because of human actions contribute to low oxygen ranges, creating the right rising circumstances for this micro organism.
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“This results in fish dying, followed by birds before the botulism spreads to other surrounding wetland environments,” Fish and Game New Zealand stated, calling it “yet another wake-up call for urgent action”.
The Whangamarino Wetland is the second-largest freshwater wetland within the North Island, protecting almost 7000 hectares in Waikato, and was chosen as certainly one of three nationally-significant wetland websites within the Department of Conservation’s Arawai Kākāriki wetlands restoration programme.
Fish and Game New Zealand chief govt Corina Jordan says the outbreak is an appalling scenario and has had an enormous affect on fish and hen populations in these wetlands.
“Parts of this wetland have been without oxygen for the best part of three months, leading to massive aquatic deaths of even the hardiest freshwater species such as eels. This isn’t normal in healthy freshwater wetland systems,” Jordan stated.
Jordan says the Waikato Regional Council must take a tough take a look at how the system is managed and restrict discharges into these waterways to assist lower the probability and severity of those incidents persevering with to happen sooner or later
“There have been long-term systemic failures in freshwater policies and a lack of implementation that has caused severe degradation in our freshwater ecosystems. Lake Waikare, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most polluted lakes, has also been diverted into the wetland as part of the flood control scheme, which is adding even more nutrients to the wetland,” she stated.
Degradation of waterways and related environments, coupled with predictions of longer hotter summers, means a lot of these botulism outbreaks are more likely to change into extra frequent, Jordan stated.
Fish and Game New Zealand’s southern recreation hen supervisor for the Auckland and Waikato area, David Klee, says the scenario is grim.
“Botulism is symptomatic of severely degraded ecosystems and this area is being adversely impacted by human activity to the point where its resilience is severely compromised,” Klee stated.
“Fish and Game, the Department of Conservation, Mana Whenua, and hunter volunteers, in conjunction with contractors, have recovered close to 1,500 dead birds and rescued hundreds of sick ones from the wetland, an important step in trying to minimise the size and scale of the outbreak.”
Klee says Fish and Game NZ is doing every part it might probably with the restricted assets obtainable, nonetheless, many components of the wetland space, protecting 7000ha, are inaccessible.
“It is an appalling situation both in terms of animal welfare and the environmental impact,” he stated.
Ngāti Naho Trust CEO Haydn Solomon has been aiding within the clean-up operations and is worried by the dearth of motion being taken.
“Our whānau want answers from authorities, not excuses. We are tired of the hui with consultants that lack follow-through, or hollow speeches from our leaders or mayors that go nowhere. Our waterways are getting hammered,” Solomon stated.
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“Our wetlands, lakes, rivers and springs are at breaking point, yet nothing substantive and meaningful is done.”
