Virtually all of this year's salmon release for the Waitaki River has been lost, but the Waitaki Riparian Enhancement Society is hoping for better luck this season when it starts trapping fish next month.
After trapping about 10 salmon in the Hakataramea River a year ago, the society hatched between 35,000 and 40,000 fry at its Welcome Stream hatchery, publicity officer Linn Koevoet said yesterday.
However, flooding in Welcome Stream caused problems with the water supply to the hatchery and about 16,300 fry were lost last year.
The rest were transferred to the society's raising pens at Bell's Pond, Ikawai.
The early loss was compounded late last month when the Waitaki River dropped and the alarm system did not activate. Most of the fish, due for release in June, died.
Volunteers faced the very difficult task of removing about 1060kg of dead salmon from the race.
''At the start it was all looking really good, but we have lost virtually everything,'' he said.
On March 2, fins on the remaining 1110 fish were clipped so they could be identified returning to the river, and released in Welcome Stream.
The aim of the release is to have salmon eventually return to Welcome Stream for spawning and capture, rather than have to set up a pen to trap them in the Hakataramea River.
The mouth of the stream with the Waitaki River had been cleared, dramatically improving flow and removing accumulated silt.
Mr Koevoet said the trap to get eggs for this season's hatching would be set in the river on April 26.
It was hoped sufficient salmon could be stripped to result in up to 50,000 fry being hatched.
Volunteers were still needed for the trapping, working 24-hour shifts, staying in a caravan at the site.
''All you have to do is bring your sleeping bag and food. Everything else is provided,'' he said.
