Harbour anglers’ paradise?

Press, 27 July 1989, Page 7

Harbour anglers’ paradise?

By

PAM MORTON

Lyttelton Harbour could become an anglers’ paradise with the release there of more than 11,500 salmon smolt.

The quinnat salmon were released yesterday as a joint project between MAFFish, the Lyttelton Promotion Council, and several Christchurch stores specialising in sports goods. A technical officer with MAFFish, Mr Ron Dougherty, said it was the first time salmon had been released into the harbour. The smolt, which were raised at the Glenariffe salmon research station, were transported by truck 180 km from the head of the Rakaia river to Lyttelton.

About half the fish have been tagged to provide MAFFish with information regarding their migratory patterns and to test the survival of different batches of fish.

Mr Dougherty said anglers could expect some of the fish to have returned to the area by December or January. The smolt would be nearing two years old and weigh between Ikg and I.7kg,

The release of fish into the area would be a “bonanza” for local anglers, Mr Dougherty said.

“I think it will be a good thing for Lyttelton. It will give local anglers a chance to catch something.”

Salmon released into Otago Harbour three years ago had been a drawcard.

In the last three years between 80,000 and 100,000 salmon smolt have been released into the harbour. “There’s been a lot of interest in the programme in Otago from anglers and locals.” The value of the fish released at Lyttelton is between $5OOO and $6OOO. Mr Dougherty said the cost had been met by MAFFish, with contributions from the other groups involved in the project. “Under user-pays we had to seek outside funding to make it a realistic proposition.” Mr Dougherty said the life cycle of a quinnat salmon was three years. The first salmon were likely to return by the end of the year and the remaining salmon would return to the harbour during the next three years.