Fish habitat fund
The Fish Habitat Fund in New Zealand helps protect native freshwater fish at risk from habitat loss and potential barriers. With a funding pool of $100,000 in 2024, it supports projects for habitat restoration and fish passage improvements.
New Zealand has over 50 species of native freshwater fish, many of which are threatened or at risk of extinction.
Some of the biggest threats facing our native freshwater fish are:
- loss of habitat, degraded water quality,
- predation by exotic fish species,
- and barriers (such as road culverts and dams) preventing fish from moving up and downstream which many need to do during their lifecycles.
The 2024 financial year funding pool of $100,000 enables funding for projects that contribute to the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) and water zone committee goals.
These projects include habitat restoration, barrier remediations, and catchment investigations aimed at enhancing and protecting critical habitats, such as the Dunsandle kōwaro water race project and the Middle Creek fish ramp.
Projects achieved through funding
Six projects are completed and three are ongoing.