Reworking translocation processes to enhance freshwater futures

Abstract

In Aotearoa (New Zealand) and globally, freshwater fish and waterways are in peril. Diverse collectives, including Indigenous Peoples, local communities, researchers, government and non-governmental organisations, are mobilising to care for these species and places, including through active interventions such as conservation translocations (i.e, movement of a species for conservation purposes). Translocations have a long history in Aotearoa, as part of Indigenous processes and practices, and more recently as a formal conservation strategy, most notably for birds on offshore islands. There is a timely opportunity to revitalise and strengthen this process for freshwater fish and invertebrates too; however, growing interest in freshwater translocations interfaces with fragmented and unjust freshwater management regimes. In this paper, we explore how freshwater translocations are currently envisaged, enacted, and governed in Aotearoa. We use two case studies to illustrate some challenges of – and identify opportunities for – building more just and holistic freshwater translocation processes in Aotearoa.