Pest Plant Surveillance

As recommended by NIWA, ongoing pest plant surveillance was carried out at eight at-risk, high priority lakes in the region during 2008-09.

In May 2009, grass carp were released into Lake Swan on the Pouto peninsula. These fish eat the pest plant Hornwort and it is hoped they will help to eradicate this pest species from the lake. Lake Swan is the only lake on the Pouto peninsula to have this pest plant and so it is vital to control this species before it spreads to other neighbouring, high value lakes.

Photo: Children help to release grass carp at Lake Swan. The local iwi and school attended the release of 850 of the fish.