Customary Fisheries
HARBOUR BIODIVERSITY ON THE RISE AND STARFISH POTENTIAL New findings of the mussel restoration project in the Ōhiwa Harbour, Awhi Mai Awhi Atu, show that the mussel spat lines produce positive results beyond their brief – to reinvigorate the harbour’s mussel beds. A recent survey of the four mussel restoration stations in the harbour by project leader Dr Kura Paul-Burke revealed that each mussel on the line is home to an average of 128 individual small species. Given that there are 2,000 mussels on each line on average this makes for a great biodiversity and helps rebuild what is called a mid-water community of sorts. Compared to the sea floor where small sediment cores have identified an average 6587 individuals/m², about 70x more microorganisms are found on the lines. These initial findings suggest the mussel lines
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TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI AWA | 2021 Annual Report
may be a potential nursery habitat for a range of species. Juvenile snapper, parore and other fish were sighted in the mussel area. The lines also appear to contribute to mid-water biodiversity and estuarine foodwebs in the harbour, particularly when they are out of reach of starfish! Starfish are still present in the harbour, including in the last original mussel bed. A newly funded project is tackling the problem. Pātangaroa hua rau: investigating the economic potential of collagen and bioactive compounds which could be extracted from starfish. If this was found to be commercially viable, harvesting could help to manage over population in Ōhiwa Harbour. The project is funded by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, National Science Challenge Sustainable Seas Innovation Fund. It is based on a collaboration of Te Rōpū Kairangahau (representatives from Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and Te Upokorehe), Cawthron Institute, Waikato University, and Plant and Food Research. The project compliments the Awhi Mai Awhi Atu project. Any financial returns of a potential product are intended to be returned to the harbour to help manage the long-term management of pātangaroa/seastars.
PĀTAKA IKA: DEEPWATER PĀTAKA Prior to COVID-19 the pātaka system was a way to utilise commercial vessels for customary catch, transferring it to freezers in order to provide for tangihanga and large hui when the need arose. When the country went into lockdown and people were confined to their homes, pātaka ika quickly became an important resource for Iwi and Hapū collectives around the motu, as they mobilised to support whānau in their communities. It was an unprecedented situation with some of the strictest regulations we’re likely to see in our lifetime and yet in seems the pātaka system was designed for this unusual environment. In the COVID-19 lockdown last year Ngāti Awa set about obtaining pātaka ika to distribute to Kaumātua. This was followed up during the Whakaari incident where pātaka ika was accessed to help feed our manuhiri and whānau. “In the old days people would take several days off to go fishing to supply the tangi, but people just don’t have the time anymore”. Whether it’s a change in people’s lifestyles, the weather or emergency situations like COVID-19, pātaka ika provides another means to ensure access to Kaimoana in times of need.
