1000 new trout introduced to Lake Rotoiti (+video)

A year after poachers decimated a tributary of Lake Rotoiti, Fish & Game staff have returned to the area with a special release of young trout.

The fingerlings have been raised in the Eastern Region Fish & Game hatchery at Ngongotaha, with staff carefully calculating the impact of the poaching by releasing 1000 15-month-old fish.

Fish & Game trout release from Dscribe Media Services on Vimeo.

Eastern Region manager Andy Garrick said he had high hopes for the fish released.

"We're really hoping to see them thrive in the lake environment and become someone's trophy catch, or perhaps a keen young kid's first fish.

"We're also hoping many will make it to maturity and go back into the streams and spawn themselves."