An investigation into the impact of the Geoffrey Blundell Barrage Gates on tuna (eel) migration in and out of Lake Wairarapa
Part 1: Introduction Kia Ora. My name is David Famularo and these are the Geoffrey Blundell Barrage Gates. Photo: Greater Wellington Regional Council The gates are located in what used to be a stretch of the Ruamahanga River, where it used to leave Lake Wairarapa and flow into Lake Onoke further downstream. Map: Greater Wellington Regional Council So what is this investigation all about? For some years I have been concerned about the survival of the Long Fin Eel - tuna kuwharuwharu, which is classified as “declining/at risk” by the Department of Conservation and which I will refer to as tuna, although there is a more common short fin variety as well. Photo: Jason Gunn Burton Tuna can live up to 80 or more years, and only breed once, at the end of their life, migrating down t...
