Plans To Improve Salmon Fisheries

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 22

Plans To Improve Salmon Fisheries

Proposals on the management of salmon in east coast South Island rivers were made by Mr D. J. Hughey to the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last evening.

The council decided to send the proposals to the South Island Salmon Committee, on which Mr Hughey represents the society.

Stocks in the east coast salmon rivers were well below the peak. Mr Hughey said in his report. “I believe this decline has now been halted by the policy of abolishing the marketing of salmon together with the limitation of fishing in the upper waters of all rivers.

“But we have very close to nothing of a scientific nature. We have visual surveys undertaken over different water areas by different staff at different times and water conditions. It is valueless.

Trap In Waimakariri “The first step is a controlled trap. This should be in a stable stream of the Waimakariri, and that points to the only good spawning area, Winding creek. “The next step is after the proposed eel sampling survey this season. If there proves to be a moderate eel population, all eels should be removed from Winding creek. Slovens creek, and Cora Lynn creek.” Since the removal of eels from the South branch of the Waimakariri, survival of trout up to one year had been increased by 15 times, Mr Hughey said. This could be repeated in salmon streams. "The Marine Department should be complimented on the work done on eels so far, and we should back this up by unrelenting action on a fishery that to short of good spawning, by increasing its efficiency. “The next step is stream improvement by all means known, and the most suitable water to start with is Low Farm creek.” he said. “After stream improvement comes artificial stocking of these waters.

“No effort should be spared to improve the access of salmon in their run to the spawning grounds,” he said. “A ‘pot hunter’s’ paradise exists in the Rangitata Gorge above the diversion intake, where hundreds of salmon are caught each season while held up by a partial obstruction. This should be removed. “I believe the Hakataramea river should be a salmon nursery only. “Consideration should be given to substantially increasing penalties for taking fish from spawning areas. Too much of our staff’s time is taken up in police work, which a few good fines would cut down considerably. “Could we agree to a 10year collective budget of a portion of each South Island society’s expenditure and Fisheries Pool Fund assistance to allow us to employ a full-time officer to carry out work and research as

directed by the South Island Salmon Committee?

“This is the only fishery of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and its possibilities as a tourist attraction are immense,” said Mr Hughey, who added that the suggested policy was not meant to replace the original Waimakariri improvement scheme, but as an extension to cover all rivers containing salmon.

Dr. D. McK. Dickson suggested that a contract should be sought with the Ministry of Works to carry spawning salmon above the dams in the Clutha and Waitaki. Mr Hughey said he would be glad to add this to his proposals.