April 22nd, 2024

As part of the Winnemem Wintu project to return some salmon eggs from NZ to California, a project has started to check NZ Salmon for pathogens which might be present in any salmon eggs that might be transferred to Salmon species in North America. Fisheries scientists, local Iwi, members of the tribe and Fish and Game have been sampling spent female fish, that have spawned, up in the headwaters of the Rakaia, Rangitata and Waitaki rivers. Volunteers from the hatchery have also been helping with the project. Results will be published once all the data is in. It is unlikely that permission would be granted to transfer eggs should there be even a remote chance that pathogens would be introduced to northern hemisphere salmon. Click images to enlarge.

Getting ready for the sampling near Deep Creek Mesopotamia.

The mobile laboratory.

Taking the samples