Salmon in the Lpper Rakaia

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34087, 26 February 1976, Page 10

Salmon in the Lpper Rakaia

Environmental factors, such as floods and 1 droughts are the main cause significant fluctuations in the numbers of fish in the Rakaia River upstream from the Lake Coleridge power; house. This reply has been given; iby the secretary of the', North Canterbury Acclimati-i sation Society (Mr .1. M. Checketts) to F. D. Richards,' the writer of a letter to; “The Press.” who asked if the North Canterbury and Ashburton Acclimatisation; Societies realised how many; salmon were being caught in the Lipper Rakaia just below i the Glenariffe and Hydra; spawning streams. Mr Richards also asked why the situation was; allowed to continue and why! fishing for slamon was allowed at all above the markers at the Lake Cole-i ridge power station.

Mr Checketts said that salmon fishing in the Rakaia River upstream from the power house during March and April was prohibited. Data from the Fisheries Research Division salmon trap at Glenariffe showed that, under existing angling pressure, it was highly unlikely that the numbers of salmon caught by fishermen would in the future cause a decline in the size of salmon runs entering the Rakaia River. The North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, in conjunction with the salmon; committee of the Council of South Island Acclimatisation Societies, regularly reviewed the regulations governing the taking of salmon, Mr! Checketts said. However, for strictly eth-j ical reasons, the matter raised by Mr Richards would) be considered at an early I meeting of the society's fish'

; management committee, he Isaid. The secretary of the Ash- ; burton Acclimatisation, .Society (Mr T. Robertson)' said that it was aware of a considerable amount of successful fishing for quinnat salmon in the Upper Rakaia. River before the season for; the area closed at the end of February. The boundaries and dates of closing of . waters such as these were ; regularly reviewed by the i society, in consultation with I the salmon committee of the ’ Council of South Island Ac- • climatisation Societies. I It was at present considered that the main run of ' salmon did not reach the area before the end of February. and that any danger to the populations was not too great. Mr Robertson said. This must be considered in relation to providing! the greatest reasonable, quantity of angling consistent with maintaining, stocks.