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Hutholders salmon suspects BY SUSAN SANDYS
SUSAN.S@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Two Ashburton Lakes bachholders are responsible for the illegal introduction of salmon into Lake Camp, the Guardian understands. “It was a good gesture by two chaps,” said an Ashburton fisherman and hutholder who yesterday admitted he knew the pair. The information has perplexed Central South Island Fish and Game, which has been investigating the illegal introduction, but is no closer to finding the culprits. The fisherman who spoke to
the Guardian said the two men who were responsible for the release of the salmon, believed to number in their hundreds, were fishermen who owned baches at nearby Lake Clearwater. They undertook the release, estimated to be one year to 18 months ago, because they wanted to improve the Lake Camp fishery. They knew the salmon would be landlocked so would eventually die out and could therefore not see there would be any longterm negative effects. “There’s nothing wrong with it, there’s not one harm they can do,” the man said.
He said there were already landlocked salmon in nearby Lake Heron, existing in the lake naturally as a leftover to a natural spawning and sea-run process happening from the lake’s Mellish Stream tributary. Lake Camp was full of perch which competed for food with the trout in the lake, but were so small they were just a “damn nuisance” to anglers, while the salmon introduction had improved the fishery. Another hutholder from Ashburton told the Guardian he did not know who introduced the salmon to Lake Camp, however the majority of hutholders be-
lieved it was a good thing. He said about 12 years ago some hutholders had unsuccessfully requested that Fish and Game release salmon into the lake to improve the fishery. “We think it’s great the kids have got something to catch,” he said. Central South Island Fish and Game manager Jay Graybill said whoever was reporting such information to the media “should front up and bring that information to Fish and Game”. “It’s an irresponsible act that we take an extremely dim view on and if anyone has any information that can lead us in the
right direction we would sincerely like to hear from them,” Mr Graybill said. The Conservation Act, s.26ZM, prohibits “transfer or release of live aquatic life” without prior approval and the penalty for not complying is imprisonment for a term not exceeding a year or a fine not exceeding $10,000. Fish and Game last month discovered the salmon were living in the lake when staff undertook a netting operation following reports from fishers. Anyone with information is asked to phone Mr Graybill on 03 615-8400.
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