Salmon farm re-established in Ohau canal

Anglers will benefit from the re-establishment of a salmon farm in the Ohau canal near Twizel.

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon and the Central South Island Fish and Game Council have released 45,000 smolt, to reinstate the salmon fishery in the canal.

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon chief executive Geoff Matthews yesterday said the release followed hatchery trials in the former Ohau canal salmon farm base building, which successfully raised more than 45,000 smolt during the past year.

In the coming year, the hatchery would be established permanently. It would eventually supply Mt Cook Alpine Salmon with all its smolt requirements.

"When the farm reaches maximum consented tonnage, the hatchery will be producing around 650,000 smolt every year," Mr Matthews said.

The company decided to support Central South Island Fish and Game and the local fishery by offering smolt from the hatchery each year for release.

Meridian Energy, owner and operator of the Ohau canal, was supporting the project.

Having well stocked local rivers, canals and lakes was of benefit to the whole community, Meridian general manager markets and production Neal Barclay said.

"It's certainly a boon for local anglers and visitors to the region to have a hatchery in the catchment. We also understand the re-establishment of a farm on the Ohau canal will help ensure the fish are kept in optimum condition," he said.

Chinook salmon were stocked in the Ohau canal in the early 1990s when Southern Sockeye Salmon Ltd established its pioneering salmon farm, Mt Cook Alpine Salmon asset manager Rick Ramsay said.

In 1995, the farm moved to the Tekapo canal and the salmon fishery in the Ohau canal declined to virtual extinction.

The Tekapo salmon farm created a fishery in the canal renowned for trophy-sized fish.

"We expect the same will occur over time on the Ohau canal," he said.

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