Chemical Residue In Rotorua Trout

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 14

Chemical Residue In Rotorua Trout

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter)

r WELLINGTON, July 2. -The quantity of insecticide and agricultural chemical residue found in trout taken froth Lake Rotorua is causing the Internal Affairs Department serious concern.

In its annual report to Parliament, the department says the concentration of 0.81 parts a million found in a sample of trout, and in eggs, is one third of the amount sufficient to cause heavy fry mortality.

“Further studies will be made in conjunction with the Agricultural Chemicals Board, the Marine Department and the Agriculture Department,” it says. The department says there is growing concern about the extent to which wildlife habitat is disappearing in the face of farm development and residential and industrial expansion. “The economic necessity of some development schemes affecting wildlife habitat is unquestioned. But the department considers that often more heed should be given to the interests of wildlife by people planning and executing such schemes, especially the drainage of wetlands,” says the report. A wildlife survey was made of the shores of the Kawhia harbour because consideration was being given to using the ironsand there. In addition, the effects on wildlife of residential development on beaches of the Coromandel peninsula were assessed. The protection of wildlife in neither

case appeared to call for special action, the report says. Dealing with Tongariro power development, the report says the department is closely watching the interests of anglers by keeping close liaison with engineers and contractors. “Already prompt action by officers of the department has prevented serious silt pollution of the spawning grounds in the Tokaanu stream, although not before some damage had been done. “Losses of fry for the season were made good by the subsequent release of hatcheryreared marked fry. Remedial measures, however, are not always practicable.” The report says that where economically practicable, shingle extraction is being planned -to improve angling in the rivers.