Spring at the Hatchery

There is no let up for the happy campers who run the hatchery after the winter chills with a sustained period of growth for the new fish approaching.
The rising 3 year olds (brood stock for 2023) are growing well and should be of a good size when it comes around to spawning time in April/May next year. The fish kept back for the following year have been thinned out with a number released back into McKinnons creek. This year group are also growing well. It is a challenge keeping back a few brood stock as a back up for returning fish due lack of space to keep them. We manage however but could certainly do with another tank.
Some of the fry that started in the shed, have been transferred to the south raceway outside and the remainder spread around the inside tanks. Soon all of last years fry (around 90,000) will be in the outside raceway. This make their management much easier as the grow to release weight. 

New fish food has recently been purchased for our growing fish and this has put a sizeable dent in our finances. We have been very lucky in the past with donations from other hatcheries and this has helped.

A few of the "babies"

Transferring fish, in this end.

Out this end.

Our next van will need floats!