All over bar the picking.

The 2023 spawning season at the hatchery is now officially over. 
Approx 30 fish, returnees to the hatchery, and 20 fish from our Land based broodstock were processed to produce a little over 100,000 fertilized eggs. These are now all under incubation. Egg picking (removal of dead eggs) will commence in the next week. Strict protocols have been observed and each batch of eggs have been recorded in terms of their breeding group. This ensures that the only fish used as future broodstock are derived from wild stock.

This year we were happy to help the Otago Harbour hatchery get back on its feet by supplying them with approx 50,000 eggs and milt. This transfer was organized by the respective Fish and Game organizations. 

​All adult fish that were not required have been returned to McKinnons Creek.
We are still holding 37,000 rising one year old fish that will soon be fin clipped and released back into the River.
All in all it has been a very satisfying year and a massive thanks must go out to all those who have helped in any shape or form. From our growing number of volunteers to those who generously donate and also our many supporters. The environment around the hatchery is now looking better than ever with the thousands of native plants that have been planted, and the willows and scrub removed. We have had visits from ECan, DOC, local Iwi, and various other groups who have all been impressed with the hatchery and the environmental improvement. Click on photos to enlarge.

We were very sad to loose one of our stalwarts from our team late last month. Tim Wakefield was a volunteer in our group whose contribution to the hatchery will be sorely missed. RIP Tim. 

Katri Laike and Roger Bartlet from Otago Harbour hatchery with a transfer of eggs.

Thank you for your donation! Milt harvesting.

Out this end!

Fish prior to egg removal.

Fish return pipe to creek. In this end.

The happy catching crew.