This year the Otago Fish & Game Council and OceanaGold are celebrating the 20th anniversary of a glittering partnership, which created the Macraes Trout Hatchery.
"It’s an amazing marriage between unlikely bedfellows — a fishing and hunting conservation organisation and a gold mining company," Otago Fish & Game Council chief executive Ian Hadland said in a statement.
"This partnership is advancing Otago sports fisheries for the good of local anglers and the wider community.
"Macraes is the anglers’ gold mine. The Macraes team provided funds and a site for us to build the hatchery and logistical support to construct and run the trout-growing operation.
"The partnership helps every fishing licence dollar go further.
"Without the support of the OceanaGold it’s unlikely we would have a hatchery at all."
Situated at the Macraes Mine, the hatchery is co-ordinated by Otago Fish & Game staff with day-to-day support from Oceana-Gold staff including feeding the fish and managing water quality.
The project’s origins trace back to 2003, when Gregg Caldwell, an angler and Macraes employee, together with Fish & Game staff, presented the concept of a hatchery to the Otago Fish & Game Council and
OceanaGold.
Because of the project, Fish & Game has released 150,000 yearling rainbow trout into put-and-take fisheries over the past 20 years.
OceanaGold’s Macraes Mine manager of environment and social performance Suzanne Watt said she was proud of the role the hatchery had in building a positive legacy for the Macraes team, the Macraes community, and for anglers across the Otago region.
"What started as a small idea, suggested by one of our workers, has transformed into an operation that brings joy to hundreds of local kids and licensed anglers across our region every year."
Mr Hadland said locations for the Otago Fish & Game liberated hatchery fish were carefully chosen to have minimal environmental impact.
"Good fisheries management has come a long way. We do not release trout into rivers; instead, we select isolated waters where there is either no or very little natural spawning.
"Otago put-and-take fisheries are important angling destinations for locals and visitors to the region, so we make sure they’re stocked regularly."
The Macraes Hatchery has also reared about 10,000 2-year-old fish, ready to catch for beginner classes and Take a Kid Fishing events.
About 5600 children have attended these events over the past 14 years.
"By encouraging people to get outdoors, trout fishing is good for wellbeing and provides a source of healthy, sustainable wild food," Mr Hadland said.
— APL
