Fishing for answers on weed-eaters

By: MATT BOWEN - Eastern Courier

Illegal fishing may be responsible for the "disgusting" state of Lloyd Elsmore Park's stormwater pond.

The 30 grass carp released into it last December by Manukau City Council should have chewed their way through most of the oxygen weed by now.

But it remains clogged and unsightly.

The logical conclusion, says park ranger Michael Ngatai, is that people are catching and eating them.

"The weed growth has gone crazy here," he says.

"We haven’t had any reports of dead carp at this site and there’s no way they can escape."

It’s also very accessible and shallow, making it an obvious target for people with a taste for the exotic fish.

The release is part of a city-wide effort to clean up spots that are choking on aquatic weed.

After a "particularly effective" trial at two sites in 2005 and getting the okay from the Conservation Department in 2007 the project was extended to 15 sites in 2008.

"There were some particularly good results in some high profile ponds like this one that were thick with weed," Mr Ngatai says.

"In a 12 to 18-month period we reduced it down to nothing."

The carp method of weed control is relatively cheap and easily managed long term.

So the fishing development is "very annoying".

Mr Ngatai says ideally there would be no aquatic weeds in the water because it has a negative environmental effect.

When plant material dies it decomposes in the water and uses up oxygen which can suffocate other life, he says.

"In this situation it’s also the aesthetics of the park – it’s not a particularly pleasant experience looking at a disgusting, choked-up pond."

Monitoring the site 24/7 is not an option so members of the public are urged to contact the council if they see anyone fishing or using nets at the site by the swimming pools.

Anyone caught taking grass carp faces a fine of up to $250.