This was the first release from the Waitaki Riparian Enhancement Society's rearing race at Bell's Pond, Ikawai, on the north side of the river - a project started from meetings in 2010 which discussed how to reverse declining salmon numbers.
The salmon smolt were hatched and raised from eggs from adult salmon trapped in the Hakataramea River last year.
About 40 people were at the release, which society secretary Lin Koevoet said was a lot, considering it was mid-week.
About 2000 salmon were released from the rearing race into the Waitaki River and about 150 were transported to Welcome Stream on the south side.
The smolt were about 185gm in weight and 20cm in length on average.
"This is substantially larger than the wild smolt currently going out to sea, which appear to be about 100gm in weight.
"It is hoped the larger size will result in a greater survival rate than the wild fish, as they undergo the transition from fresh water to salt water," he said.
Some of the release may return to the Waitaki river in the 2014 salmon season and would be identifiable from a clipped adipose (posterior dorsal) fin.
This year, the Hakataramea salmon trap was used again and adult salmon yielding 88,000 eggs were delivered to McKinnons Creek hatchery.
A further 32,000 eggs were still required and Mr Koevoet hoped to have them by tomorrow, after which the trap at Hakataramea could be decommissioned.
"The first year of operation has been completed.
"It has been an invaluable year, as our members have learnt a lot on the operation and running of a salmon hatchery with only a small number of trial fish.
"We are planning to raise 70,000 smolt for the forthcoming year."
While the eggs were being incubated, society volunteers would be working at Bell's Pond raceway site constructing a gallery intake to reduce the amount of didymo entering the raceway and also increasing the height of the rearing raceway sides, so fish capacity was increased.
