Evidence of Martin Unwin - Environment Canterbury

111979/81 survey report. These were the Mason River (4 respondents);the Hanmer River (6 respondents); and the Percival and DoubtfulRivers (1 respondent each).1994/96 - 2007/08 Surveys: Hurunui River6.9 The Hurunui catchment has consistently been the third most heavilyfished catchment in the North Canterbury region (Table 5), well behindthe Waimakariri and Rakaia catchments but well ahead of the nextthree (Waiau, Ashley, and Selwyn/Ellesmere). Total angling effort in2001/02 was markedly lower than in either 1994/95 and 2007/08,reflecting the unusually poor salmon fishing season in 2002 (Unwin2009, Unwin & Brown 1998, Unwin & Image 2003).6.10 Usage of the Hurunui River main stem has varied almost two-fold overthe period of record, from 17,100 angler days in 1994/95 to 8,380angler days in 2001/02. Usage in 2007/08 was intermediate betweenthese two extremes. The main stem accounted for 90% of the effortexpended within the Hurunui catchment in 1994/95, 82% in 2001/02,and 66% in 2007/08. The relatively low figure for 2007/08 reflects anincrease in the total effort expended elsewhere in the catchment (seeparagraph 6.12), but it is unclear whether this reflects an on-goingtrend or is merely due to annual variability.6.11 The 2001/02 and 2007/08 surveys treated the Hurunui main stem astwo sections, corresponding to the reaches above and below theMandamus confluence (referred to here as the upper and lowerreaches, respectively). Based on the 72% of responses for which thisinformation was available, the upper reaches attracted 40% of theeffort expended on the Hurunui River in 2001/02, and 44% in 2007/08.Almost all of effort spent on the Hurunui River (100% and 98% in2001/02 and 2007/08, respectively) was recorded over the eightmonths from October to May.SJE-388879-28-627-V1:axm