Protecting the white gold: Surveys find whitebait spawning in Whakaraupō streams
Whitebait may be a seasonal delicacy for many — with the season now underway — but behind the scenes, efforts are being made to help ensure these taonga (treasured) species are healthy for generations to come.
A recent collaborative survey in Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour has uncovered promising signs of īnanga (īnaka) spawning in local streams — an encouraging step towards protecting the most common and smallest of Aotearoa’s five whitebait species.
The discovery of their tiny eggs, just 1mm in diameter, required sharp eyes and careful searching, highlighting the delicate nature of their lifecycle.
Martin Rutledge, our central team biodiversity advisor, Nadia Green, Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Kaimahi a Taiao, and Brittany Earl from Department of Conservation (DOC), worked together to coordinate the survey.
Īnaka numbers were assessed in the Allandale, Waiake, Te Wharau/Charteris Bay, and Pūrau streams in Whakaraupō.