Salmon farm on Rakaia supported

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 6

Salmon farm on Rakaia supported

Plans for a big salmon-farming industry on the Rakaia River moved ahead last evening with official approval from the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.

A society resolution sup-1 ported the “ocean ranching”; scheme proposed by Mr A.! W. Crowe, the owner of the South Pacific Salmon ComRany. Representatives of the linistry of Fisheries and the New Zealand Salmon Anglers’ Association also supported the venture. Tile company hopes to start work in September, subject to water rights, a | fish farm licence, and approval for the taking of salmon eggs from the Rakaia River With support from the groups representing salmon anglers, the fish farm proposal has overcome a big hurdle. The anglers have previously been hostile to “pan-rearing” schemes, which do not release fish Into the rivers. In a letter to the society,! Mr Crowe said that he regretted “speculation and wild rumours” about his plans. Four water-races will be built in old fish ponds built by the Ministry of Energy, on the western bank of the Rakaia River, below the Lake Coleridge powerhouse. About 43,000 cu m of tailrace water from the powerhouse would be diverted into the races each day. In the scheme’outlined to the society by Mr Crowe, salmon fry would be collected from the river, held in the raceways, and fed until they reached a weight of lOg". The salmon would be released into the sea between December and March. “I am only a caretaker for little fish,” said Mr Crowe. The salmon mature at sea for nbout three years, before returning to the river to spawn. Dnly fish which returned to the raceways would be col-

ilected and fishermen would [have “first chance” to hook | the returning stock,” he said. Because of the high death rate of fry in the wild, the venture should increase the quantity of salmon in the Rakaia 10-fold, said Mr Crowe. Only 2.5 per cent of the fish reared in the raceways need return for collection to . make the scheme viable, he said. But he hoped for a return of at least 5 per cent. Two items of concern emerged when society members questioned Mr Crowe. The scheme would use existing ponds, built in compensation to anglers for the diversion of the Wilberforce River. Mr K. Hopkins, the leader of the Salmon Development Group of the Ministry of 'Fisheries, gave an assurance that the proposed fish-farm would produce “far more” fish than the original scheme for rearing salmon in the ponds. He said that if the venture failed, the Ministry would provide an alternative scheme for anglers. The second concern .was raised by Mr G. Mugford, who wanted the society to seek a written guarantee that the company would not attempt to move down-stream if the original proposal was financially unsuccessful. Mr Crowe replied that he had already. given such a guarantee in writing to the society; and it would also be contained in the licence needed for the fish-farm. A society member. Dr I. Blair, said that in supporting [ the venture, the society could still object later to any de-| velopments. The society had; “enough clout” to stop any- 1

thing about the scheme it did not like, he said.

It is now up to the South Island Salmon Committee, which represents all acclimatisation societies in the South Island and the Ministry’ of Fisheries, to decide whether 250,000 eggs could be taken from the Rakaia to initially stock the scheme. The committee will meet on August 4. The secretary of the New Zealand Salmon Angler’s Association (Mr R. W. Woolley) said that the proposed fishfarm complied with the views of his organisation. Anglers would welcome the scheme, which could only improve salmon stocks in the Rakaia, he said. Mr Crowe said the venture had substantial export potential, as well as cutting into the local market which imports S4M of salmon annually. Because it would take at least two years before any fish could be harvested there was plenty of time to “size up” markets, he said. Mr Rowe said that the fish would be processed to suit the market. A Christchurch company, Independent Fisheries, Ltd, could process the salmon, either fresh or smoked. No processing would be done at the raceways, he said. An. application to lease 4.5 ha (11 acres) for the fishfarm from the Ministry of Energy is not yet completed. Mr Crowe intends to live on the site in a caravan. Rearing the young fish; would be a full-time job for] I six months. The first two; [years, while the company: ; was showing no return, would [ !be “pretty tough,” he said. |