Salmon trapping in the Hakataramea River, in South Canterbury, is a no-go again this year.
Fish and Game spokesman Graeme Hughes said plans to trap salmon in the Waitaki River's main spawning tributary had come to nothing for the second year running because of low flows.
Fish and Game was keen to
start a $180,000 project financed by Meridian Energy to release salmon into the Waitaki over three years to study the viability of stocking the river.
It aimed to get 100,000 eggs in the first season, which meant trapping at least 20 females and six males.
They were to be taken to the Waitaki Hatchery at Ikawai, 26km southwest of Waimate, to have their eggs stripped.
Salmon raised from the eggs would be released into the Waitaki 15 months later.
Despite the low flows, anglers had caught more salmon in the last fortnight than earlier in the season, mostly in the mid to lower Waitaki, said Mr Hughes. The fish were in excellent condition.
nzherald.co.nz/environment
