The new whitebait season opens on Friday and DOC is reminding whitebaiters to assist with habitat protection while hunting the small fish.

The Department of Conservation is managing the fishery on behalf of New Zealanders and is promoting measures to sustain whitebait populations.

Whitebait season begins on Friday.

'Four out of five major whitebait species are now classified as in decline, including inanga, the most commonly caught species,” says Tauranga Services Ranger Dan Rapson.

'The decline in whitebait species is mostly due to the lack of clean, healthy rivers and wetlands for adult native fish. We'd encourage keen whitebaiters to assist with habitat protection to help maintain healthy fish populations, so the kiwi tradition of whitebaiting can be enjoyed into the future.

'There are plenty of local projects you can join which are protecting stream habitats or wetlands.”

The whitebait season runs from August 15 to November 30 over most of New Zealand apart from the West Coast of the South Island.

DOC produces a guide for whitebaiters explaining the legal regulations, the guide is available from the local office or online at www.doc.govt.nz/whitebait.

DOC Rangers will be patrolling waterways to check whitebaiters are sticking to the regulations. If the public sees anyone breaking the rules, they are asked to report it to the DOC HOTline (0800 362 468).