MEDIA RELEASE

Monday 14 May 2007

Freshwater mussels unlikely to be used in lakes work

Fresh water mussels (kakahi) are unlikely to be used in the Rotorua lakes to reduce blue-green algae blooms any time soon.

A report presented to Environment Bay of Plenty’s Regulation Monitoring and Investigations Committee last Tuesday said more research was needed before it would be possible to cultivate the mussels.

John McIntosh, Manager of Environmental Investigations, said there was still a lot of research to be done before they could be seen as a tool to improve the lakes’ water quality.

“Although zebra mussels in the American Great Lakes have successfully cleared the lake water, they have had other not so great effects. Because they’ve consumed the base organism in the lakes’ food chain the lake fisheries are collapsing, their shells cut bathers’ feet and masses of them clog water intakes.”

However Mr McIntosh says studies are being done to answer some questions about whether New Zealand’s native kakahi could be used. Kakahi are known to accumulate blue-green algae, however it is not known whether they could affect nutrient levels or other lake species.

“We’re expecting more information to come available over the next few years as two studies into the mussels are completed. Once we have this information it’s likely we’ll look at the issue again.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media