Here are some photos from the successful Tasman Bay Guardians snorkelling event held with Motueka Catchment Collective at McLeans Reserve on the Motueka River on Sunday 11 February.
A Tasman District Council stand promoted the “Clean, Check, Dry” message and procedures to prevent the spread of didymo, and a Motueka Catchment Collective stand had traps and plants and other information about promoting the health of the catchment.
Participants enjoyed getting in the water and seeing what lives in there, and learning safe snorkelling practices while floating downstream, in the hands of experienced Tasman Bay Guardians guides.
Edward and his friend Archie, both 9 (below left), did the snorkel and said he got a bit cold, but that it “was awesome”. The instructor they were with saw a trout.
Tasman Bay Guardians also had a stand to talk in more detail about what lives in the river, including looking at some of the macro-invertebrates (bugs) and seeing what finding different bugs means for our river health.
If the waterway has mayflies, caddisflies and stone flies, water quality is good as these critters require good water quality to survive. Here’s a more scientific explanation of this from NZ Landcare Research – https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/freshwater-invertebrates-guide/indicator-species/
