Freshwater fish

More information about our online freshwater databases.

A list all of New Zealand's freshwater fish species.

We have prepared a breakdown of the different guidelines that are available for sampling freshwater fisheries. The overview provides links to key documents that explain what should be considered when designing fish monitoring studies and how to implement the various sampling techniques.

Learn how to use the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database (NZFFD)

Banded kōkopu juveniles are very good climbers and will try to escape from buckets by clinging to and wriggling up the sides.

The largest member of the Galaxiidae family.

Inanga are the predominant species in the modern whitebait fishery.

Grey mullet have a worldwide distribution and Aotearoa is at the southern limit of their range.

Kōaro are excellent climbers and like clear, swiftly flowing, forested streams.

Has a receding lower jaw and black spots behind the head.

Smelt have a distinctly forked tail and a strong cucumber smell.

Our biosecurity management tools include: assessment models, field surveys, management advice and the testing of control methods.