Pioneer backs trout-farming

Press, 8 July 1989, Page 3

Pioneer backs trout-farming

PA Nelson A pioneer of salmonfarming, Mr Clive Barker, believes trout-farming has huge potential ant! should be legalised. Mr Barker, who lives in Seddon, set up the country’s first salmon farm, at Pupu Springs in Golden Bay, in 1976. Southern Ocean Salmon subsequently took it over. He said yesterday troutfarming was more costefficient than salmon and there would be ready markets worldwide. "Norway, which produces the most salmon in the world, has increased its trout production and last year sold 4000 tonnes to Japan,” he said. “Japan is right at our back door. But we are selling nothing.” 'f rout-farming should have been introduced years ago, Mr Barker said. He supports the plan of the M.P. for Tasman, Mr Ken Shirley, to introduce a private member’s bill legalising trout-farm-ing. “Fish farming throughout the world is on the increase because we’ve fished out half the seas, so we have to produce more fish if we want to go on eating it,” Mr Barker said. Fears of anglers and acclimatisation societies about the effect on wild trout stocks could be allayed. "I would see the future

of trout farming in seawater operations. You can grow fish in freshwater but seawater farms would be better. There’s plenty of good, seawater around the South Island coast,” he said. Trout could be farmed in sea cages or in landbased ponds, fed by seawater with salinity diluted by intakes from streams, where available. Trout farming could also have a positive spinoff on wild stocks. Trout did not fetch as high a price as the “gourmet species,” salmon, on world markets but exports would still be profitable. Trout farms would also be cheaper to establish than salmon operations, he said. “Trout has quite a big advantage over salmon because you can genetically improve the broodstock. Most trout can spawn for three or five years, whereas salmon spawn once and then die,” he said. “With trout you could take the best fish and know you will get eggs from them for the next four years.” Mr Barker said trout were also a much easier fish to handle. “Their scales are much firmer and they don’t normally lose them as easily as salmon, which have quite deciduous scales.”