The project offers an added bonus in that it uses
the koi to make fertiliser, which in turn helps grow
native seedlings for river catchment planting.
The project involves trapping large numbers of koi
in cages. Once the fish are humanely destroyed
they are fed into a bio-digester and broken down.
The resulting material is then dried and available
to be used as a plant fertiliser.
If you search for ‘giant koi carp harvest’ on YouTube
you will be able to view a 47 second video showing
one of the first carp harvests underway.
TVNZ’s One News also captured action on the day.
The koi carp trap and digester are located on one
of the water channels leading to and from Lake
Waikare near Te Kauwhata.
Koi carp are regarded as an environmental pest
and compete with native fish species in the
lower Waikato River. While it is now regarded as
impossible to eradicate koi from the Waikato River
catchment, the Waikato Regional Council pilot
project is hoping to prove the koi can be controlled
and put to good use at the same time.
The impressive progress made with the Waikato
River Trails over the last few years is due to a very
successful programme of community engagement.
Waikato River Trails construction began back
in 2003 and now has a 100 kilometre stretch
from Atiamuri to the upper end of Lake Karapio.
In recent years there has been a focus on track
improvements and riparian planting. In the past
12 months the Waikato River Trails has overseen
a riparian management project of more than
18,000 plants along the 100 kilometres,
including 12,000 provided by the Waikato
River Authority and co-funders the Waikato
Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust and
South Waikato Environmental Initiatives Fund.
A key to the planting has been the involvement
of corporate and community groups. Last
month 250 staff from DairyNZ took part in a
weeding and planting day along the trail.
The Waikato River Trails project provides
access to the river for people to walk, cycle
and tramp who might not otherwise get to
experience and appreciate the Waikato River.
The Waikato River Authority has been an
important funder of the Waikato River Trails
Trust in 2011 and 2012.
The Waikato River
Trails project
provides access to
the river for people
to walk, cycle and
tramp who might
not otherwise get
to experience and
appreciate the
Waikato River.
Controlling
koi carp
The Waikato Regional Council
is leading an Authority funded
project which aims to help
control the number of koi carp
in the lower Waikato River.
Community focus a big part
of the River Trails project
www.
waikatoriver
.org.nz
Diane Young, DairyNZ
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