Science work out on the lake

Finally got out to the lake for the first time on a beautiful calm Rotorua afternoon. I am beginning to make contacts with many scientists working with Te Arawa Lakes Trust so I should be out of the office and into the mud, sand and freezing water more often very soon. I should have the chance to run my own mini science projects as well. Shane, one scientist running the pest catfish project, is getting some box traps made and is willing to give me some to do some catch rate studies in Lake Rotoiti, the infested lake and on other control lakes whre the catfish are not yet present. I am getting involved with some koura (waikoura - freshwater crtayfish) projects with local scientists and iwi who are looking to increase koura numbers in some lakes and looking at the commercial viability of breeding them as well. The initial research is looking at current koura numbers and also how to protect koura from catfish predation.