A flash of bright blue in the Waimakariri River gave Environment Canterbury staff a rare glimpse of one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most ancient and mysterious native fish.<\/p>\n
While carrying out routine water quality monitoring, Environmental Monitoring Technician Anna Casey spotted a kanakana (lamprey) still showing the silver-blue colouring it carries at sea.<\/p>\n
The sighting was unusual because kanakana usually turn brown within days of entering freshwater, meaning this one had only recently left the ocean and was beginning its upstream journey to spawn.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Kanakana have existed for more than \u00a0360 million years, long before dinosaurs walked the Earth, but their future in New Zealand’s rivers is far less certain.<\/p>\n
Despite often being mistaken for eels, kanakana are more closely related to sharks and stingrays. With their eel-like bodies, suction-cup mouths and ancient appearance, they’re one of New Zealand’s most unusual native fish.<\/p>\n
Once common in rivers across Aotearoa New Zealand and an important taonga and mahinga kai species, kanakana are now classified as Threatened \u2013 Nationally Vulnerable.<\/p>\n
They face growing pressures from habitat loss, declining water quality and barriers that make it harder to migrate between freshwater and the sea.<\/p>\n
Kanakana spend most of their lives at sea, where their silver-blue colouring helps camouflage them in the open ocean.<\/p>\n
When it’s time to breed, they return to freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. Spotting one that was still blue offered a rare glimpse of the very beginning of that remarkable migration.<\/p>\n
For Anna, the sighting was a career highlight.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs someone who spends a lot of time out in Canterbury\u2019s waterways, finding a kanakana is very exciting,\u2019\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n
Since starting at ECan Anna had been hoping to catch a glimpse of one, but \u201cI never thought I would see one that is still blue\u201d.<\/p>\n
She says the\u00a0discovery is a reminder about the importance of protecting waterways so people \u201cnow and in the future\u00a0get to experience seeing these awesome fish in their natural environment like I did\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cA decline in the health of our waterways doesn’t just affect us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt affects the species that call them home. Looking after and improving these environments helps ensure our native fish have the habitat they need to live and thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
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