We have had 2 fin clipping days so far this year and have clipped around 53,000 out of our estimated 90,000 rising 1 year old fish. Both days have attracted nearly 40 helpers and despite some inclement weather on the first day, all went well. The fish were released into ponds where they could move into McKinnons at their will. They hung around for a while but had mostly all moved out within a week. Fin clipping of juvenile fish is a recognized way of identifying hatchery reared fish.  

Well quite a bit actually!.
Firstly the trap went in January and a steady stream of adult salmon trickled in to be sorted and transferred to the adult pens closer to the hatchery. To date 180 salmon have passed through the trap, some kept for the breeding program and others let through to McKinnon's Creek to do their thing naturally. We have been lucky that a good sized stream from the main river (Rangitata), joined up with the hatchery stream, making it very easy for fish to get into McKinnon's creek, hence the excellent returns this year. The work on clearing broom, gorse and scrub and replanting with native species is progressing well. Offending willows have been removed and more spawning areas have been opened up in the stream.