Southland duck ponds are proving to be a safe haven for some of the country's most endangered eels.

Southland Fish & Game research has revealed how important hunter-created wetlands are for native fish species. A survey conducted last summer in 46 duck ponds across the region showed some ponds supported more than 100 eels and on average, each duck pond supported 16 shortfin eel weighing 10 kilograms and 10 longfin eel weighing more than nine kilograms.

The survey aimed to estimate both the number and biomass (kilograms) of eels supported by Southland duck ponds and highlight the value of hunter-created duck ponds as habitat for the native shortfin eel and endangered and endemic longfin eel. The endemic longfin eel is struggling nationally because of habitat loss and overexploitation.

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Southland Fish and Game estimates that there are around 7600 duck ponds in Southland, and when you extrapolate the numbers, Southland duck ponds support upwards of 120,000 shortfin eel and 80,000 longfin eel collectively weighing over 150,000kg.

When doing the eel surveys, Southland Fish and Game Field officer Cohen Stewart said it was incredible to see how many eels called Southland duck ponds home.

"As we lifted our nets in some ponds, they were literally teaming with eels," he said.

"The results of our work clearly highlight that hunters really are conservationists, not just of waterfowl, but our native fish as well."

Fish & Game Officer Cohen Stewart weighs a bucket of eels after an overnight set in a Tokanui wetland. PHOTO: Supplied

"If it were not for these hunter-created wetlands, there would be far less habitat available for our native eels".

Game bird hunters pay $4 of their hunting licence specifically to the Game Bird Habitat Trust (GBHT) which undertakes wetland restoration projects across the country. Wetland conservation work by Fish & Game and the GBHT nationwide in places like Takitakitoa (near Mosgiel) and Para wetland (near Blenheim), has restored hectares of wetland that had been lost as habitat.