The Otago Fish and Game Council is recommending the closure of part of a Dunedin fishery to protect spawning salmon.
Otago Fish and Game chief executive Niall Watson said at a recent meeting in Roxburgh the council agreed on recommendations to give to Conservation Minister Maggie Barry for consideration.
The council recommended closing the Water of Leith to fishers above the Lindsay Creek confluence, to protect spawning and migrating salmon.
Several submitters asked the council for better protection for salmon in the Dunedin river.
A large number of salmon occasionally accumulated in the river near the Dunedin Botanic Garden and were often caught in shallow water by unethical means, such as foul hooking.
"It's something we want to address.''
Another recommendation was to open Lake Mahinerangi all year. The lake was open at present between October 1 and April 30.
Spawning tributaries to the lake would remain protected during winter, he said.
