Ecology – Aotea Green – Page 2 – Great Barrier Island News

Massive Mussel Drop Targets Hauraki Gulf Restoration

Over time, the gulf was dredged of green-lipped mussels, leading to their complete disappearance. Photo / NIWA / Rebekah Parsons-King Seven million kūtai (green-lipped mussels) will be deployed into the Hauraki Gulf, Te Moananui-ā-Toi, Tīkapa Moana to reverse the impacts…

Surf's Up Again? Famous Whangapoua Surf Bar Could Make a Comeback. Photo / Auckland Council

Local Surfer Spearheads Effort to Restore Iconic Whangapoua Surf Bar

The once-thriving surf bar at Whangapoua, famous for its powerful waves and uncrowded breaks, has vanished, leaving local surfers longing for the good old days. But David Speir, a local veteran surfer, believes there’s hope to bring back the iconic…

Snapper showing signs of Milky White Flesh Syndrome, a condition linked to climate change and food scarcity in the Hauraki Gulf. Photo / Fishing NZ

Climate Change to Blame for Malnourished Snapper – NIWA

Fisheries New Zealand has pinpointed a combination of climate-related factors as the likely cause of Milky White Flesh Syndrome in snapper, according to a new report. Skinny snapper with mushy, white flesh instead of the usual firm and translucent texture…

25 Years of Windy Hill. Photo / AoteaGBI.news

Windy Hill’s 25-Year Journey: From Humble Beginnings to Island Haven

Each month, Judy Gilbert, founding Trustee and voluntary manager of the Windy Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, shares a summary of the latest happenings and conservation efforts at the Sanctuary. Stay updated on the sanctuary’s progress and exciting wildlife discoveries with ‘What’s…

A school of parore fish swim alongside mussels growing at a farm in New Zealand Photo / Lucy Underwood / University of Auckland

Mussel and Seaweed Farming in Hauraki Gulf Boosts Fish Populations, Study Shows

Mussel and seaweed farming in the Hauraki Gulf can increase wild fish populations and boost diversity, according to new research. A project by the University of Auckland, and the University of New England assessed the diversity and abundance of wild…

Extinct Duck’s DNA Reveals Epic Flight to New Zealand

Photo / Boston Public Library / Unsplash By Nic Rawlence, University of Otago and Alexander Verry, University of Otago Ask a bird lover if they have heard of the extinct giant moa or its ancient predator, Haast’s eagle, and the…

Insects are packing up for autumn – how we can help them through the cold

Buzz Off, Summer: NZ’s Insects Are Autumn-Bound, and Your Garden’s Their Haven. Photo / Andy Murray By Janice Lord, University of Otago and Connal McLean, Te Papa Tongarewa Chillier mornings and higher heating bills aren’t the only signs of the…

Lost at Sea The Kermadec Sanctuary’s Missed Economic Opportunity

Sir John Key's ambitious vision for a sweeping ocean sanctuary enveloping the Kermadec Islands has been definitively quashed, as the coalition government ceases all efforts toward its legislation. Unveiled in 2015 by the then-Prime Minister amidst widespread global applause, the…

8 ways that stopping overfishing will promote biodiversity and help address climate change

By Rashid Sumaila, University of British Columbia Amid the escalating threats of a warming world, and with the latest annual United Nations global climate conference (COP28) behind us, there is one critical message that’s often left out of the climate…

The main Antipodes Island. Photo / Claire Concannon / RNZ

Subantarctic Islands’ Wildlife Thrives After Million Dollar Mouse Project

These subantarctic islands are wild and remote – some 860km southeast of Rakiura Stewart Island. Their isolation, in a far-flung corner of the South Pacific, means they’re some of the most untouched islands in the world.