Disastrous return to Hatchery.

As most of our readers will already know, the 2017/18 season for returning adult Salmon to the hatchery was nothing short of a disaster. Only 3 confirmed fish returned and these were let to spawn naturally in McKinnon's creek. There is evidence of at least 2 salmon reds in the stream. Reasons are unclear as to the poor return but it appears it is common to all rivers on the East coast of the South Island. The good  news is that following on from the Salmon Symposium in Ashburton, a sea run Salmon committee has been set up under Martin Taylor (new CEO of Fish & Game) and includes our own Alan Brooks and Mathew Hall. Already a number of decisions have been made and we will keep up with them when they filter down. What pleases us is the high level decision and agreement that the Salmon fishery is in crisis and that doing nothing is not an option. Watch this space!
Latest info from Fish & Game is that about 500 Salmon reds have been counted in the Rangitata headwaters. Not great numbers especially when one realizes that the majority of resulting smolt will end up in the RDR system.

This is where they go. The intake of the RDR. No wonder the fishery is in dire straights.