Due to lower returns to the Hatchery last season, only 50,000 eggs were placed in remote incubators in 2016. 20,000 went to 3 Springs stream on the Opihi and 30,000 went to Rangitata South Spawning race.
The remaining eggs, approx. 110,000, were hatched in the Hatching shed at McKinnons Creek. These will be kept mainly for brood stock to be released back into the Rangitata in July 2017. Some will also be released at a later date to other South Canterbury rivers.
There have been excellent hatch rates from the remote incubators this year with the 3 Springs incubator achieving around 95% hatch rate, Rangitata South also achieved good results.
The remaining eggs, approx. 110,000, were hatched in the Hatching shed at McKinnons Creek. These will be kept mainly for brood stock to be released back into the Rangitata in July 2017. Some will also be released at a later date to other South Canterbury rivers.
There have been excellent hatch rates from the remote incubators this year with the 3 Springs incubator achieving around 95% hatch rate, Rangitata South also achieved good results.
Some of the "babies" in Rangitata South incubator.