But Greenpeace claims the river is under pressure due to extraction for intensive dairying.
They said irrigation has reduced river flows, increased temperatures and raised sediment levels, leaving the river unable to sustain the salmon populations of the past.
“There’s plenty of fish in the sea ... but not in the Rakaia river,” said Greenpeace Aotearoa freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe.
“Rakaia’s famous salmon fishing competition is set to take place in two weeks, but for the first time, it won’t involve any actual fishing.
“The blame for that sits squarely with the dirty dairy industry.
“New Zealand has so many cows that there isn’t enough grass to feed them, so the dirty dairy industry relies on irrigation systems to cheat the process and grow more grass.
“Fonterra’s oversized dairy herd has been draining rivers like the Rakaia dry for the sake of their fat bottom line – and now the famous Rakaia salmon are dying out because of it, making the yearly fishing competition a thing of the past.
“To protect the Rakaia – and all the other rivers like it – we must stop dairy expansion now and reduce herd sizes back to safe ecological limits.”
Federated Farmers has been approached for comment.
It is the second time Greenpeace has carried out a similar protest.
Last year, the organisation altered the trout statue in Gore.
At the time, Greenpeace told RNZ the protest was intended to highlight Gore’s drinking water crisis.
The Rakaia salmon statue had only recently been returned to its position after undergoing restoration work.
The refurbishment was carried out by its creator, Christchurch-based artist Phil Price.
Price was commissioned to create the 11m sculpture in 1990, and it has since been viewed by millions of people.
Often referred to locally as the “fish on a stick”, the sculpture was commissioned by the local Lions Club after residents decided the town needed a distinctive landmark.
A giant salmon was chosen to honour the nearby river and its once world-class salmon fishery.
