NIWA is leading a new six-year research project that seeks to increase our understanding of piharau/kanakana/lamprey utilising Mātauranga Māori, social science and biophysical science approaches.

Even though lamprey comprise an important customary fishery, very little is known about their biology and this research seeks to address a number of key knowledge gaps. The objectives of this research include: 

• increasing our understanding of the historical abundance, distribution, timing of spawning migrations and the location of spawning and rearing areas
• determining when spawning migrations currently occur, the location of spawning sites, and the habitat associated with various freshwater life stages
• evaluating whether pheromones can be used to identify lamprey populations and spawning streams, and the ability of pheromones to attract lamprey to areas with depleted populations
• developing technologies to improve the upstream passage of adult lamprey
• providing options to restore and enhance lamprey populations in Aotearoa. 

The Problem

Piharau/kanakana are an important taonga species and a prized delicacy for many Māori communities. In the past, lamprey were seasonally abundant in many New Zealand rivers and were at times taken in huge quantities. Very little scientific information has been collected across Aotearoa, partially because of the rarity and secretive nature of adults, as well as the lack of projects targeting this species.

Although adult lamprey spend extended periods of time in freshwater (up to 16 months) during their upstream migration to spawning grounds, lampreys are rarely seen, except where their migration is hindered or prevented by barriers. Little is known about the cues lamprey use for migration, and the habitats used during this extended period in freshwater. 

It is anticipated that this research will investigate mātauranga Māori to identify historical baselines and the aspirations of Māori for the potential restoration of lamprey fisheries in Aotearoa. 

Background

Unique lifecycle

Lamprey have a unique lifecycle and there are large gaps in our understanding about what they do at certain stages of it. If we want to restore and appropriately manage this fishery, we need to address these critical knowledge deficiencies.

Juvenile lamprey spend several years in freshwater before metamorphosing (changing colour and form) and migrating to sea. They come back into our freshwaters as adults and migrate upstream to particular areas to spawn, where the larvae hatch and grow into juvenile lamprey and the cycle continues (more information on each of these life stages can be seen in the "Fast Facts" tab).

Where do the adults go to spawn?

Although adult lamprey spend extended periods of time in freshwater (up to 16 months) during their upstream migration to spawning grounds, lampreys are rarely seen, except where their migration is hindered or prevented at obstructions. Little is known about the cues lamprey use for migration, and the habitats utilised during this extended period in freshwater.

The spawning grounds of Northern Hemisphere lamprey and their associated nests have been located and described, often with the help of telemetry (tag and track) studies. Telemetry studies, using externally mounted radio tags, have been used in New Zealand to monitor the movements of lamprey in two South Island streams in the late 1990s. However, the maximum amount of time the tags were retained for was 56 days, which was not long enough to determine spawning sites.

This study will build on earlier telemetry work done by Dr Don Jellyman to increase our understanding of the behaviour of pre-spawning adults in freshwater, and hopefully locate spawning sites. This research will provide insight into the habitat requirements of Aotearoa lamprey (both juveniles and spawning adults), which can be used for protect important areas and restore populations. 

The Solution

Could we use their amazing sense of smell?

In the Northern hemisphere, adult lamprey have been shown to select spawning streams based on a migratory pheromone mixture released by larvae living upstream. In addition, mature female lampreys will also select streams based on the sex pheromone released by mature males.

Dr Cindy Baker has shown that certain pheromones are released by New Zealand larval lamprey and has been developing a method for finding some of these compounds in stream water, with the aim of providing a tool in the future that can identify streams with high numbers of larval lamprey. Future research will also see if we can use pheromones to attract adult lamprey back to specific areas. 

Customary fishers

NIWA would greatly appreciate the involvement of Māori piharau/kanakana fishers to interview and gain a better understanding of this important customary fishery. With the permission of interviewees, we will use the information to build a picture of the  abundance (past and present) and distribution of this taonga species. All interviews will be recorded, transcribed and then returned to the person who contributed it. This information will be collated into a report for all of the contributors. Any information collected from these interviews will be used for the purposes of this kaupapa only, and will not be identifiable by person's name (unless people would like to be identified).

In future we may seek permission from each contributor to present and/or publish this important information: please be assured that this will not occur without interviewees' knowledge and expressed permission. If you would like to be involved and be interviewed as part of this kaupapa, please contact Mr Weno Iti or Mrs Mandy Home. If you wouldn't like to be involved, but would like to be informed of the outcomes of this research as they occur please contact Weno or Mandy and they will add you to our contacts list. 

The Result

Please check back regularly - news of the outcomes of our research will be made available here.

Nō reira tēnā koutou katoa

Thank you for taking the time to read about this research 

Contacts

Weno Iti

Manager, Māori Environmental Research

NIWA, Hamilton

Phone: 07 856 7026 

w.iti@niwa.co.nz

Mandy Waaka-Home

Māori Development Advisor, Māori Environmental Research

NIWA, Christchurch

Phone: 03 348 3876 

m.home@niwa.co.nz

Further Reading

Empson, P. W., Meredith, A. S. (1987). Downstream migration of Geotria australis juveniles in the lower Waikato River (Note). New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 21: 643-644. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/publications/journals/nzjm/1987/078/

James, A. (2008). Ecology of the New Zealand Lamprey (Geotria australis): A literature review. Department of Conservation, Whanganui: 28 p. http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/conservation/land-and-freshwater/fre...

Jellyman, D. J. (2009). A review of radio and acoustic telemetry studies of freshwater fish in New Zealand. Marine and Freshwater Research 60: 321-327. http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MF08112

Jellyman, D. J., Baker, C. F. (2006). Lampreys run at Monowai. Water & Atmosphere 14(4): 4. http://www.niwa.co.nz/news-and-publications/publications/all/wa/14-4/news1

Jellyman, D., Robertson, M. (1997). Lampreys on the move. Water & Atmosphere 5(4): 5.

Jellyman, D. J., Glova, G. J. (2002). Habitat use by juvenile lampreys (Geotria australis) in a large New Zealand river. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 503-510. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/publications/journals/nzjm/2002/040/

Jellyman, D. J., Glova, G. J., Sykes, J. R. E. (2002). Movements and habitats of adult lamprey (Geotria australis) in two New Zealand waterways. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 53-65. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/publications/journals/nzjm/2002/005/

Kelso, J. R. M., Glova, G. J. (1993). Distribution, upstream migration and habitat selection of maturing lampreys, Geotria australis, in Pigeon Bay Stream, New Zealand. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 44: 749-759. http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MF9930749

Kelso, J. R. M., Todd, P. R. (1993). Instream size segregation and density of Geotria australis ammocoetes in two New Zealand streams. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2: 108-115. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0633.1993.tb00090.x/ab...

McDowall, R. M. (2011). Ikawai: Freshwater fishes in Māori culture and economy. Christchurch, N.Z., Canterbury University Press. 872 p. http://www.cup.canterbury.ac.nz/catalogue/ikawai.shtml

Stewart, M., Baker, C., Cooney, T. (2010). The development of a high sensitive and selective method for detection of Lamprey Migratory Pheromones in rivers. Presented to " Freshwater Solutions: Going beyond the problem", New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society Annual Conference. 22-26 November 2010, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Todd, P. R., Kelso, J. R. M. (1993). Distribution, growth and transformation timing of larval Geotria australis in New Zealand. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2: 99-107. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0633.1993.tb00089.x/ab...

Other links

Sciblogs: http://sciblogs.co.nz/guestwork/2011/01/20/lamprey-the-vampire-of-the-sea/

NIWA Fish Atlas: http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/fishatlas/species/lam...

Kaitiaki Tools: http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/kaitiaki_tools/specie...

Te Ara: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/te-hopu-tuna-eeling/6 

Fast Facts

Below are some of the known facts about each part of the lifecycle of a lamprey.  To the right, click to enlarge the numbered images to see examples of each of these stages, and additional information.

1. Ammocoetes - Larval/juvenile lamprey

Length: up to about 80-100 mm (smallest found to date were 11 mm long).

Colour: brown-grey.

Key features: no eyes yet, and a hood over the mouth.

Kai: filter algae and small bits and pieces from the water.

Live in: freshwater. They burrow into the mud or sand in shallo water (less than 0.3 m deep) in places with overhead shade. Ammocoetes hide during the day, and possibly come out at night.  This stage of the lifecycle lasts about 3-5 years.

2. Macrophthalmia - Luvenile lamprey

Length: while juveniles in freshwater, about 80-120 mm long.

Colour: brilliant silver-blue.

Key features: this stage is silver with thin blue stripes along the back and large silver eyes. The fins get larger and teeth develop.

Kai: juvenile lamprey are parasitic. When they reach the ocean, they latch on to fish with their sucker-like mouths, and feed off the fish.

Live in: as they change colour from brown to blue, they move downstream in July and August to the ocean.  They spend about 3-5 years there, feeding and growing to about 450-750 mm long.

3. Adult lamprey, fresh sea run

Lenth: about 450-750 mm long.

Colour: silver-blue when first arrive in ocean waters from freshwater.

Key features: have two 'eletric' blue-green bands along the side of their body.

Kai: the adults stop feeding once they come back into freshwater.

Live in: after about 3-5 years in the ocean, adult lamprey enter freshwaters during winter and spring. They move upstream at night, hiding during the day. At this stage their gonads (reproductive organs) are undeveloped.

4. Mature adult lamprey

Lenth: about 600 mm long.

Colour: brown

Key features: males grow a pouch behind the mouth. They lose weight and get shorter as they get older.

Kai: Adults stop eating once they return to freshwater. They use their reserves of fat for energy.

Live in: freshwater. Although it has never been observed, they are likely to spawn into small forested streams with gravel and overhead cover. Adults die after spawning.