Checking out smolt at the Dunedin Community Salmon Hatchery in Sawyers Bay yesterday are Sawyers Bay Primary School pupils (from left) Jack Spence, Summer Coombs (front), Brianna Markham (rear), Mahia Harvey-Knox (front), Khaan Phillips (centre), Sequoia Darling with parent helper Jim Hawkins, hatchery feeding roster co-ordinator Mike McLelland, Holly Mason, Jade Middleditch, Alice Davis, Sonya Frew and teacher Gareth Swete. Photo by Linda Robertson.
They learnt the salmon stay in the hatchery for a year before they are big enough to leave for sea.
The fish return to the harbour when they are between 6kg and 12kg to spawn.
Pupil Kane Wilson (9) said salmon was his favourite fish to catch from the harbour.
"I want to work here [at the hatchery] when I grow up."
