Anglers can still fish during canal closure

Anglers will still be able to land prize trophy fish from the Tekapo canal when sections of the waterway close for 14 weeks in the new year.

Genesis Energy will de-water sections of the canal to repair the canal's lining from January 14 to April 12. Although salmon from the Mount Cook Alpine Salmon salmon farm will be removed to another canal, wild trout and salmon will remain in the canal.

Genesis Energy public affairs manager Richard Gordon said the company was working with Fish and Game and Ngai Tahu to ensure

wild fish would be salvaged from the de-watered and closed sections and put back at alternative locations on the 26.5km-long canal.

''When we take water out of each section of the canal there will be a fish salvage operation as the water goes down,'' Mr Gordon said.

''Large sections of the canal will still be open for fishing.

''We know there are a lot of fish in there, both salmon and trout, and we know there are some pretty big fish in there.

''Even though the canal won't have new water flowing into it, we will be monitoring the oxygen levels and water temperature in those other sections of the canal where fish are.''

Mr Gordon advised anglers to check the Genesis Energy website for details about public access while the repair work on sections of the canal was under way.

andrew.ashton@odt.co.nz