Waituna Lagoon

The Waituna Lagoon is on the southern coastline of the South Island of New Zealand. It forms part of the Awarua Wetland, a Ramsar site that was established in 1976. It gives it name to waituna, a type of ephemeral coastal lake.[1]

Waituna Lagoon
Location of Waituna Lagoon in the South Island of New Zealand.
Location of Waituna Lagoon in the South Island of New Zealand.
Waituna Lagoon
Waituna Lagoon in the South Island to the south-east of Invercargill.
LocationSouth Island of New Zealand
Coordinates46.5662°S 168.5904°E / -46.5662; 168.5904
Typelagoon

The lagoon is an important habitat for resident and migratory birds with seventy three different species being recorded. The expansion in the area of Leptocarpus rushes that has been observed over a 47-year period in the lagoon have been attributed to artificial openings of the lagoon to the sea, and the increase in sedimentation.[2]

The lagoon is largely unmodified by human activity but there are elevated nutrient levels and sedimentation with a fear that it may lead to eutrophication.[3]

Recreational use

Waituna Lagoon is a common fishing and game bird hunting spot. There is a good supply of brown trout in the lake/lagoon and its tributaries with a daily limit of two trout per person per day.[4] The fishing season runs from 1 October until 30 April.

There is a good range of game bird species, with mallard ducks being the primarily hunted species. Other game bird species hunted during the season include the shoveler/spoonbill, Canada geese (now classified as a pest species), paradise ducks and the black swan (not often targeted by hunters). Many families traditionally hunt the lake, such as the Carleen, Hourston, Lawson, McNaughton,[5] Perriam, Thomas, Owen, Carston and Waghorn families who either have camps or live in the area.

See also

References
  1. Single, M.B. and Hemmingson, M.A. (2001). "Mixed sand and gravel barrier beaches of South Canterbury, New Zealand". Ecology and Geomorphology of Coastal Shingle.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Thompson, R. M. C; Ryder, G. R. (2003). Waituna Lagoon : summary of existing knowledge and identification of knowledge gaps. Wellington, N.Z.: Dept. of Conservation. ISBN 9780478223590.
  3. Robertson, Barry; et al. (26 May 2011). Interim recommendations to reduce the risk of Waituna Lagoon from flipping to an algae-dominated state (PDF). Lagoon Technical Group.
  4. "Local Fishing Regulations | Southland". Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  5. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Duck Hunting at Waituna Lagoon - Opening Season 2009. YouTube.
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