Pāua management project

Project objectives

• To interview Tangata Tiaki/Kaitiaki and document traditional reseeding and monitoring methods for pāua.

• To work with the Taiāpure Committee and scientists to prepare a pāua restoration programme for the Akaroa Taiāpure .
• Apply the traditional monitoring and reseeding methods, along with contemporary methods, to reseed pāua within the Akaroa Taiāpure in order to compare traditional methods with the contemporary methods.

The need for this research

The Akaroa Taiāpure was gazetted in February 2006. The Taiāpure Management Committee has representation from the many fisheries stakeholders involved in the management of Akaroa Harbour’s fisheries.

The vision for the Taiāpure as set out in the draft Taiāpure Management Plan is:

“A world class community-based fisheries management model that actively enhances a sustainable fishery in Akaroa Harbour.”

 The Management Committee has also drafted a number of objectives, including:

• To ensure customary, recreational and commercial fishers have access to and use of abundant supplies of fisheries resources.
• To actively promote the use of traditional tikanga (customs) and kawa (protocol) such as temporary closures within the management of the Taiāpure (using ‘lore’ to create the ‘law’).

Pursuant to these objectives the Management Committee wish to initiate active reseeding or translocations programmes within the Taiāpure (including pāua, mussels and scallops).

Research team

To assist the Taiāpure Management Committee with this programme, Ōnuku Rūnanga and Wairewa Rūnanga will work collaboratively with Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai.  The scientific aspects of this study will be led by John Pirker, University of Canterbury and member of the Akaroa Taiāpure’s scientific advisory group.  Mātauranga Māori will be gathered by Simon Lambert (Manaaki Whenua).

Research Methods

The methodology for the project would be:

1. Interview Tangata Tiaki/Kaitiaki with mātauranga of traditional reseeding and monitoring methods for pāua: The Tangata Tiaki/Kaitiaki for Ōnuku Rūnanga and Wairewa Rūnanga will be interviewed and the methodologies will be documented.
2. Work with the Taiāpure Committee and expert scientists to develop a pāua restoration programme for the Akaroa Taiāpure : a mixture of hui, smaller focus group discussions and written peer review of draft plans will be used to develop a programme that meets the tikanga and goals of the Taiāpure and involves the Taiāpure Committee and local users to the maximum degree in deciding what to do, where and when.
3. Putting the plan into practice:
1. Identify suitable reef areas within the Akaroa Taiāpure for reseeding: Suitable reefs within the Taiāpure will be identified for reseeding using traditional and contemporary methods, and appropriate reference (not re-seeded) areas designated for monitoring.
2. Conduct baseline population surveys of the existing pāua populations on these reefs:  Baseline population surveys will be conducted on the chosen reefs using standard stratified/random transect survey methods to measure abundance, size frequency distributions and micro-distribution of pāua, but also monitored by the less formal traditional methods identified by the interviews.
3. Conduct reseeding of pāua in the selected reefs using mātauranga-based and contemporary methods: Pāua will be reseeded using traditional and contemporary methods on the separate reefs.  The exact study design will depend on the number and different ways to reseed pāua gleaned from the mātauranga surveys and assessment of the available habitat space.  Preliminary discussions with Tangata Tiaki/Kaitiaki have indicated the potential usefulness of different deliver mechanisms such as pōhā (kelp bags).   At least 3 reefs with each treatment method (traditional, contemporary, reference) will be monitored.
4. Evaluation of effectiveness of reseeding methods: Follow-up population survey on the chosen reefs to assess the success of each methodology. The release of massive amounts of uniformly sized immature pāua will allow assessment of the effectiveness of reseeding by a cohort analysis, especially when compared with changes in the number and size frequencies on comparable areas where reseeding has not occurred. A preliminary assessment of survival will be possible within the first year of funding from Ministry of Fisheries (and will be reported by 30 June 2008 along with the study design), but full evaluation of the effectiveness of the methods will require repeated resurvey of the selected reefs over the next 2 years will be needed to fully assess the restoration success.  The subsequent monitoring will become part of the regular Taiāpure monitoring programme done as much as is practicable by the Taiāpure Management Committee and local users.  Final collation and evaluation of the trial will be guided by Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai team working with the local participants.