New Zealand's surf clams- un tapped gold in the sands ?

Recent surveys have found that our coastal waters have a huge biomass of surf clams that may be able to sustain a 400 million dollar a year fishery. Many of these shellfish are relatively unheard of by many New Zealanders but international markets have got their eyes on them. Can they be harvested sustainably with minimal environmental impacts ? I have a large image library of all the main surf clam species, and also of other types of edible shellfish in New Zealand waters. I have also eaten a wide range of shellfish and can advise of their characteristics. Of all the Storm clam is my favourite- unknown to many.... If you require any surf calm images, information or photos of any shellfish occurring in our waters then please email me. I can offer advise and have complete Masters level paper in aquaculture at Canterbury University. Peter Langlands Wild Capture Photography E:langlands@xtra.co.nz

I have a comprehensive image library of accurately identified fish caught in New Zealands' Exclusive Economic Zone such as this Oilfish Ruvettus pretiosus

taken as orange roughy bycatch during exploratory fishing in 1995. Conatct me for a list of available images. Peter Langlands- Wild-Capture Photography - langlands@xtra.co.nz The oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus, is a species of snake mackerel in the family Gempylidae, and the only species in the genus Ruvettus. It is found in the Mediterranean, middle Atlantic and throughout the southern seas, at depths between 100 and 800 m. Its length is between 80 cm and 2 m. The flesh is very oily and although edible, the oil actually consists of wax esters, which are not digested like traditional oil. The flesh has an oil content of around 25%, and with serving sizes of several ounces and upwards commonplace, some people experience a laxative side effect from such a large amount of wax esters. Oilfish is pleasantly rich in taste and can be substantially cheaper than some other fish species, leading to some fish sellers to intentionally mislabel it as butterfish or even codfish, despite the utter lack of relation. This leads the consumer to often eat large servings, as they assume it is a fish with which they are familiar, and then some may experience a laxative effect. Because of this, Japan and Italy have imposed an import ban on oilfish, and Australia has banned oilfish from being sold as food. The US FDA has warned consumers about potential mislabeling of oilfish, but has concluded any laxative side effects that occur are uncomfortable at worst and pose no health risk.[1] See also: Escolar substitution for tuna. Escolar, a relative of oilfish, also has high concentrations of wax esters.

White-eyed duck

Bird sighted today at Kaiapoi Lakes- a vagrant from Australia-closley related to scaup. Adult male bird in stunning plumage

In praise of Raupo

My favourite wetland plant is raupo. With its angular form, water reflections and sonasonal changes in colour it is a constant source of fascination to me from a photographic perspective. Many endangered wetland birds such as bittern and Southern crested grebes use raupo. Eels seek rich feeding grounds and shelter in raupo, as do brown trout and a diversity of native fish. To Maori raupo was significant as a food source (the new shoots) and for making a raupo pollen bread, in addition to being used for the contruction of rafts. Today few large stands of raupo remain in lowland environments.
Wild Capture-
langlands@xtra.co.nz

Outdoor recreation and water safety issues

Photo album being compiled-
Wild Capture photography

The Price of Fishing

Wild capture photos appear in the latest issue of Forest and Bird magazine in the lead story by Jolene Williams " The price of fishing"-
Support Forest and Bird -one of NZ's leading independent conservation organisations

Sadly this shearwater's feet never touched the ocean

A road-killed fledgling Hutton's Shearwater