Science & Research Series N0.15 Fishes of the Te Arai River

The distribution of fishes at ten sites in the Te Arai River, a tributary of the lower Waipaoa River, is described and the impact on fishes of water abstraction for the Gisborne city supply is examined. The most widely distributed fish species was Cran's bully (Gobiomorphus basalis) which was found at all sites, followed by longfinned eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii) at 8 sites and shortfinned eels (A. australis) at 5 sites. Common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) were found at two sites and inanga (Galaxias maculatus), smelt (Retropinna retropinna) and torrent fish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri) were found at one site. Cran's bullies were most numerous in runs and in the tails of pools, where water depth was 25 to 65 cm and current velocity was less than about 25 cm.s. Densities of eels and Cran's bully were lower above and immediately below the water supply intake than at a third site one kilometre downstream, below the confluences of two small streams where flow is permanent.