No tourism impact expected from bacteria in Mataura

The discovery of a bacteria affecting kanakana (lamprey) in the Mataura River and trout in a hatchery should not harm New Zealand's clean, green image when it comes to fishing enthusiasts making their annual pilgrimage to Eastern and Northern Southland, those in the industry say.

Hokonui runanga chairman Rewi Anglem last month noticed the unusual appearance of some kanakana in the Mataura River.

Tests revealed the kanakana were infected with Aeromonas salmonicida bacteria.

Trout in poor condition at the Otago Fish and Game Macraes hatchery in North Otago were last week found to have the disease.

Venture Southland tourism and marketing manager Meryl Jupp said fly-fishing was one of Southland's most successful tourist attractions.

Ms Jupp said there had been a lot of bookings for this season and there had not been any impact on those bookings at this stage.

If the disease did start to have an impact, Venture Southland would work closely with other biodiversity agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Fish and Game and the Department of Conservation to protect fisheries and rivers, she said.

She compared the situation to that the region faced when didymo was discovered.

Southland Fish and Game senior officer Zane Moss said the discovery of the disease should not affect the number of overseas fishing enthusiasts coming to fish southern waters.

The trout found to have the disease were in a hatchery, where they were more likely to contract diseases as they were housed in close proximity to each other.

Trout living in the wild were less likely to be infected, Mr Moss said.

It was worth noting the disease was widespread throughout the world. Australia had one strain of the disease present in its waters, he said.

"It's not as dramatic as people fear,'' he said.

Tuturau-based fishing guide David Murray-Orr said the impact of the disease on fishing tourism might depend on how much publicity the disease attracted. However, he had a "lot'' of bookings for this season, which boded well.

Otago Fish and Game chief executive Niall Watson said it was not known how widespread the disease was, or its strain.

`It appeared to be affecting fish that were sick or in poor condition so it could be a secondary infection, he said.

Maf biosecurity response manager Glen Neal said it could take several months to determine the exact strain of the bacteria causing the fish illness.

It was not harmful to humans but people were advised not to eat sick-looking fish.

- Margaret Phillips, The Ensign

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