Christchurch City Council rangers are encouraging whitebaiters in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Area (OARC) to adopt a ‘leave no trace’ approach to fishing this season. Whitebait season, which began on Sunday, September 1, will run until October 30.
Rupert Bool, Head of Parks, said the OARC is a popular spot for whitebaiting, with many families bringing their equipment to their favourite locations, especially on weekends.
“Overall, whitebaiters and the public are very positive towards our initiatives to make the area safe for everyone. We are having lots of great conversations with the public, and they have been very receptive to us looking to improve the whitebait habitat and ensuring the environment is being cared for,” he said.
However, Bool pointed out that in recent seasons, rangers have observed damage to the environment and conflicts among whitebaiters due to the actions of a few individuals.
“We’ve seen damage to the riverside environment that supports whitebait and inanga populations by providing habitat to spawn in. This includes established native grasses and rushes, as well as areas that have recently been planted for ecological restoration,” said Bool.
Previous seasons have seen whitebaiters set up camps in the OARC or surrounding areas, leading to vandalism, cars being burnt out on the street and litter dispersing into the area.
He said this damage often occurs when whitebaiters trample or dig out areas to stand on or build structures at the water’s edge, which kills vegetation and leads to increased bank erosion.
In past seasons, some whitebaiters have set up camps in the OARC or nearby areas, leading to incidents of vandalism, cars being burnt out on the streets, and littering.
Bool reminded the public that leaving property in the park overnight or causing environmental damage breaches the Parks and Reserves Bylaw (2016).
The Council has the authority to remove or seize any property that violates these regulations.
The presence of camps has also attracted freedom campers, contributing to further issues in the area.
“We want to remind whitebaiters to enjoy themselves within the parameters of the bylaws that are in place to ensure sustainable use of parks. We are keen for a positive whitebait season for everyone and would like people to adopt a ‘leave no trace’ approach to their fishing,” Mr Bool added.
