Whitebait decline likely overstated, say NZ scientistsMark Yungnickel Whitebaiters at the mouth of the Waitaki River in Otago. * Whitebait species make a comeback at Tawharanui sanctuary* The quest for the perfect whitebait fritter is no easy pathEach adult may spawn several times, but generally die shortly afterwards. Most īnanga die when they are between one and two years old, so to sustain our whitebait populations constant replenishment is required. There is a general belief among scientists and the public that whitebait are not as plentiful as they once were. Cities such as Christchurch have stopped mowing the riparian margin along local rivers, which has resulted in significantly more egg laying by whitebait.

Source: Stuff December 31, 2017 15:56 UTC