TAUPO FISHERY RESEARCH

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 78, 15 July 1953, Page 4

TAUPO FISHERY RESEARCH

IHE annual Conference of delegates from angling bodies, and Departmental representatives, held at . Turangi 011 July 4th, the fourth to be held, was made memorable by the presentation of Mr D. F. Hobbs' report on the three year research project carriecl out in the Taupo Fishery District. The project was initiated early in 1950, when the Hon. W. A. Bodkin. Minister of Intemal Affairs, directed Mr Hobbs, as Senior Fisheries Officer oi the Marine Department, to enquire into matters affecting the Fishery and especially into the condition of the rainbow trout. Evei since the first period when a niarked decline in averagre size and condition became apparent, over thirty-five years ago, the need for reseai ch on a scientific basis had been urged on many occasions on the Govemments of the day, by cleputations and by articles in the press, as weli as by individual anglers. Among* anglers who had fished the Taupo waters fiom the early days of the Fishery were many who had devoted much obseivation and thought to the prohlems presented by the cbanges in the condition of the fish, and many well argued views were brought forward from time to time. Unfortunately, it often seemed that the number of solutions offeied varied proportionately with the number of opinions expressed. The fact was, of course, that no satisfactory picture of the problenl and no sound conclusion in regard to it, could be drawn by any individual anglei . Apart from the need for trained biolog'ical knowledge, and techniques of observation and enquiry, no single angler could hope to devote suificient time to enable him to make a really comprebensive and thorough study of conditions over the many varying areas comprising the Fishery District. The present research project is the first major scientific im estigation into the Taupo Fishery, and also the bigg^est research job yet undertaken in New Zealand into any fresh-water fishery problem. That it was not undertaken much earlier can probably be put down to the fact that dilfei ent Gov ernments could not be convinced that the financial outlay was warranted. Today, with fishing licences totalling some fifteen thousand a year, and general recognition that the Fishery has become a major national holiday attraction, its obvious importance is such that financial provision for research should not in future be withheld. There has, perhaps, in the past, been a tendency on the part of some anglers to think that scientific research might turn out to be rather too ? ^theoretical" to accord with the views of the "practical" man who had had years of experience as a fisheinian. This idea has found expression occasionally, despite the lack, already referred to, of any generally agreed conclusion or set of conclusions on Fishery problems. There is no doubt. hovever that the contents of Mr Robbs, Report, and in particular the way in which Mr Hobbs discussed the whole matter at the Conference, have shov n that scientific apprcach exemplified in his work is an essentially practical and cummon-sense one. Mr Hobbs emphasised that the research project had been a co-operative job, in which many Departmental men, both in the field and in offices, had woiked with enthusiasm, and had received much help from many anglers. He also stressed that the work was an integral part of a research programme dealing with freshwater fishery problems covering the whole country, and that the programme was a continuing one. And finally he pointed out that the keeping of angling diaries by practical fisheimen, and making them available to the Department, was something* that v/as of invaluable help to the research man. The leseaich pioject and the report made on it marks an historic milestone in the history of the Fishery. It is to be hoped that the work already done by Mr Hobbs and his staff will be enabled to continue, and that the anglers will at all times be ready and willing, in any representations they may make, to allow the last word on Fishery problems to- be spoken b> Hobbs as the Depaitment s biological adviser. He has shown verv plainly that that word will always be a practical one, and that it will give tullest weight to the fact that the Fishery exists for the pleasure of the fisherman. Finally, it is to be hoped that a larg*e number of regular anglers will make it a part of their fishing activities to keep angling diaries whose value Mr Hobbs has so strongly stressed. If these hopes are lealised theie can be no doubt that, as the years pass, the administration of the Fishery will be found to have benefited fundamentally from the research project initiated under Mr Hobbs' Supervision.