Thread: mallard releases

Permits to release captive-reared waterfowl are the responsibility of the Department of Conservation, and thus there is no statutory requirement for Fish & Game to be involved with or even notified of any such releases. 8.1 Future management options for Fish & Game 1 Fish & Game should support the banding of captive reared birds by offering to band all captive reared ducks at no cost. In future year’s survival and harvest rates information can be used to draw sound conclusions surrounding the effectiveness of such programmes which can help determine future management actions. At this juncture large scale releases of captive-reared mallards into the wild do not appear to be a cost effective tool for increasing hunter harvest. 
Issue - Rearing and releasing programmes


8.1 Introduction aw f and g
Rearing and releasing programmes are often viewed as a quick fix solution to creating more ducks.
To date, both internationally and in the Waikato results have been mixed. In general harvest rates
are low for captive-reared ducks released into the wild. In the Waikato results have varied from less
than 1% in a wetland area to 22% on Matingarahi Station where a concerted effort was made to
feed the birds and control predators. In addition, captive-reared mallards have typically been shot
on the property where they were released, and thus the returns are highly localised.
Releasing programmes have been controversial in North America and the latest review conducted by
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advocates for a tightening of conditions around the release of captive
reared mallards in the U.S. The major concerns in the review relates to the potential for disease
transmission, genetic introgression and compliance with harvest regulations. However, the wider
issues pertaining to the release of captive-reared mallards are beyond the scope of this discussion
paper

One-hundred-and-seventeenth meeting of the
New Zealand Fish and Game Council
CQ Hotel, Wellington
Friday 25 & Saturday 26 September 2015
Commencing 9.45 am
Andy Garrick (Eastern) has met with Hamilton DOC about irregularities with permits for releasing mallards. The DOC permitting committee see no reason for permitting not to be given to Fish and Game. Discussion remains ongoing]

eastern and hawkes bay this is getting all a bit incestuos given the stock birds originate in hb.
nz gamebirds hb is the only one licenced to do so according to doc.
supply mallards that is with the oversight of f&g
presumembly hb f&g ??seems a bit convenient.