Tongariro River images

IMG_3366An inmate recently requested some fishy river images from TRM’s library of the Tongariro River – they looked so perfect that SWMBO wanted to share them with you…

IMG_3662If you look carefully you can smell the trout waiting for you.  Can you pick the pools?

IMG_3368After silver trout escaped or were released into rivers that were originally similar to this in USA and Australia their rivers ended up polluted and looking like sewers…  NZ cannot afford to take that risk.

Our freshwater is our greatest natural asset.  It MUST be protected. 

That is why TRM inmates are soooo concerned and protesting about the Carp Farm proposal at Taupo.  It is lunacy to support such a risky development with so many precedents world wide to confirm the risks – of where carp have escaped or been released from such farms.

IMG_3668The developers – Golden Harvest Holdings – advise detailed research on the species has been undertaken by NIWA that proves Grass Carp and Silver Carp cannot breed in the wild in New Zealand conditions.  They claim New Zealand rivers do not meet the temperature, flow rates and length required for reproduction.  As both Grass Carp and Silver Carp can only breed in a controlled laboratory, the breeding for the Taupō farm will be done at the Mahurangi Technical Institute in Auckland.  Yeah right…  But the ideal breeding conditions need a water temperature of 22-23 deg C.  There are several thermal streams entering Taupo (e.g. Tokaanu) that could
easily support this temperature requirement.  OK?  So they lied…

IMG_3331TRM have had so many calls of support against this carp farm proposal.  One wise inmate who knows a lot more about the dangers suggested what is urgently needed is FACTUAL $ EVIDENCE to indicate how much it has cost in other countries – particularly Australia and USA – to deal with their problem when rivers were ruined by carp.  i.e. Just the $$$Millions spent on trying to save the Murray River should convince the politicians.  If anyone has that info ? or if anyone has the time to do some internet research to analyse the potential costs of dealing with a carp problem, then all NZ would be grateful.

IMG_3335For more information on the dangers of silver carp check out these links;