Episode Structure

"Examining a complex legacy, balancing recreational significance against ecological impacts on native species. This episode explores how New Zealand's beloved trout fishing tradition intersects with native biodiversity conservation, revealing unexpected opportunities for collaboration across cultural and conservation boundaries."

Contributing experts from Fish Futures:

• Jane Kitson - Researcher, company director (Kitson Consulting Ltd), co-author of relational values research on introduced trout

• Calum MacNeil - Freshwater and invasion ecologist

• Robin Holmes - Freshwater ecologist

References:

• Jellyman, P.G. et al. (2018). The Effects of Brown Trout on the Trophic Webs of New Zealand Streams. In: Brown Trout: Biology, Ecology and Management. Chapter 22.

• Tadaki, M. et al. (2022). Understanding divergent perspectives on introduced trout in Aotearoa: a relational values approach. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 17:4, 461-478.

Introduction:

Journey to the Headwaters

Setting the Scene:

• Jamie (series presenter) driving through Canterbury's braided river landscape toward the Southern Alps foothills

• Aerial shots of pristine headwater streams where crystal-clear water flows over golden stones

• Jamie meeting local contacts at a riverside café in a small high-country town, discussing the day's fishing and filming plans

Context Setting:

• Voice-over explaining New Zealand's unique position: world-renowned trout fishing destination built on introduced species in a land of ancient native fish

• Brief statistics: 110,000 fishing licenses sold annually, $2.4 billion tourism industry, but 76% of native freshwater fish species threatened or at risk

• Jamie's reflection: "Today we're exploring one of New Zealand's most complex conservation stories - where recreational passion meets ecological responsibility"

The Journey Begins:

• Jamie gearing up with waders and camera equipment

• Walking through regenerating native bush toward a remote stream

• First glimpse of large brown trout in their crystal-clear habitat

Act 1:

Discovery & Connection (Shared Human Stories)

Opening: The Universal Language of Fishing

• Jamie (series presenter) exploring a pristine trout stream with local angler/guide

• Childhood Connections: "Most of our interviewees pinpointed experiences with fish and fishing in childhood as playing important roles in fostering their connection to freshwater ecosystems"

• Māori and Pākehā both sharing memories of childhood fishing experiences (some alongside traditional practices), recalling early fishing lessons and family traditions

The Arrival Story: 1867 to Today

• How trout arrived and became "the jewel in the crown" of New Zealand's fisheries

• New Zealand's international reputation as world-class trout destination

• How trout fishing is "highly valued and woven into the fabric of New Zealand life"

Declining Participation and Shared Loss

• The Concerning Trend: Fewer people fishing now than in previous generations - empty riverbanks where crowds once gathered

• Shared Human Experience: Stories of loss and wonder that transcend cultural boundaries, showing how fishing connects people to nature and each other

• Intergenerational Knowledge at Risk: Traditional skills and environmental awareness being lost as fewer young people take up fishing

Interview Questions for Act 1:

• Childhood Fishing Guide/Elder (Female): "What are your earliest memories of fishing? How has participation changed over the decades?"

• Māori Knowledge Holder: "How did traditional fishing practices influence your relationship with introduced trout?"

• Angling Tourism Operator: "What makes New Zealand's trout fishing special on the world stage?"

Act 2:

Challenge & Change (The Complex Ecological Reality)

Variable Impacts Across Landscapes

• Context Matters: "Trout impacts vary significantly between waterbodies" - discussing how rare galaxiids in Otago face severe threats while other systems tell different stories

• Sometimes Trout Help: Discussion of Central North Island lakes where trout control smelt populations, protecting native species

• Stabilizing Effects: Examples of trout suppressing more harmful introduced species like gambusia and goldfish

The Management Debate

• Growing Awareness: "Much greater awareness of the influence of trout on freshwater ecosystems, at least among sports fishery managers"

• Urban Restoration Lessons: Learning from trout removal projects in urban ecosystems (covered through interview with b-roll footage)

• The Real Problems: How "widespread declines in freshwater ecosystem quality" from agricultural intensification and urbanization are the bigger threats

Innovation & Technology

• Brief coverage of genetic tools, fish passage technology, and monitoring advances (interview content with b-roll)

Three Ways to Define a Healthy Ecosystem

1. Pre-human naturalness - where trout don't belong

2. Sustaining valued species and processes - where trout can potentially fit

3. Supporting valued human-environment relationships - where benefits must be accessible and fairly distributed

Diverse Māori Experiences

• Variable Impacts: For some iwi, trout displaced traditional fisheries and prevented knowledge transfer; for others like Tūwharetoa, they became a valuable new resource

• The Key Insight: "I don't have a problem with trout; I have a problem with management"

Interview Questions for Act 2:

• Native Fish Ecologist: "How do trout impacts vary across different waterways? What does the latest research tell us?"

• Māori Fisheries Manager: "How has your iwi's relationship with trout evolved over time?"

• Conservation Technology Specialist: "What new tools are helping us better manage freshwater ecosystems?" (b-roll coverage)

• Urban Restoration Manager: "What did trout removal projects teach us about ecosystem restoration?" (b-roll coverage)

Act 3:

Innovation & Hope (Collaborative Solutions in Action)

Angling as Environmental Champions

• Water Quality Advocates: How "angling advocates have generally been at the forefront of efforts to maintain water quality"

• 110,000 Environmental Ambassadors: Annual license holders who become aware of environmental impacts through fishing

• Trout as Indicators: Their sensitivity to water quality makes them valuable for monitoring ecosystem health

Community Innovation in Action

• Collective Accountability: "Farmers, city-dwellers and anglers must all accept responsibility" for freshwater problems

• Economic Innovation: Eco-tourism models where fishing tourism funds conservation efforts

• Community Partnerships: Business models where anglers, farmers, and conservationists share costs and benefits

Three Principles for Moving Forward

1. Treaty Partnership: "Decision-making about freshwater fish and fisheries should be undertaken in Treaty partnership with tangata whenua"

2. Managing Negative Impacts: Fish and Game and others must "understand and mitigate any impacts on native species that they have"

3. Agency Coordination: Fish management agencies working together toward "shared objectives" both nationally and locally

Practical Solutions on the Ground

• Riverscape Approaches: Trout thriving in main river stems while native fish flourish in restored tributaries and wetlands

• Strategic Removals: Targeted trout removal where rare native species are threatened

• Citizen Science: How anglers contribute to fish monitoring and data collection

Future Perspectives (streamlined coverage through interview questions with b-roll):

• Young people combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation science

• Youth involvement in restoration and monitoring programs

Interview Questions for Act 3:

• Fish and Game Regional Manager: "How is your organization evolving to work more collaboratively with iwi and conservation groups?"

• Community Restoration Coordinator: "What practical projects are bringing different groups together around freshwater health?"

• Young Conservation Leader: "What does the future of freshwater management look like to your generation?" (b-roll coverage)

• Treaty Partnership Facilitator: "How can decision-making processes better honor Treaty principles in freshwater management?"

Conclusion:

Shared Waters, Shared Future

Collaborative Success Stories

• Stream Restoration: Community-led riparian planting, wetland restoration, and habitat enhancement projects

• Partnership Examples: Successful collaborations between Fish and Game, Department of Conservation, and iwi

• Fish Rescue Operations: Volunteer efforts to relocate native fish from threatened habitats

Global Context & Knowledge Sharing

• New Zealand as a Model: Collaborative approaches being developed here informing international conservation

• Knowledge Export: New Zealand expertise in freshwater management being shared globally

The Path Forward

• Pete Ravenscroft's Vision: "There's room for everyone – galaxias, trout and landowners – if we can work together on a solution"

• Hope Despite Challenge: While "20 percent of Otago's populations of rare [native] fish have been lost," collaborative, Treaty-based solutions are emerging

• Common Ground: Finding shared values in care for freshwater environments across all communities

Practical Actions for Listeners

• Specific ways to get involved - volunteer opportunities, policy engagement, supporting local restoration

• How anglers, farmers, and urban dwellers can contribute to freshwater health

Final Reflection

• Jamie (series presenter) back at the pristine stream, reflecting on the complex but hopeful story

• Vision: Freshwater management that honors both traditional knowledge and contemporary needs

• Recognition that this is about relationships between people as much as relationships between species

Interview Questions for Conclusion:

• International Freshwater Expert: "What can the world learn from New Zealand's approach to managing introduced species?"

• Community Partnership Success Story: "How has collaboration changed outcomes in your local area?"