The Waitaki Riparian Enhancement Society has a salmon hatchery and rearing ponds at Welcome Stream and Bell's Pond on the Waitaki River.
Earlier this week, it released 1000 fish into the Hakataramea River and another 1000 into the stream.
They are expected to start returning to the river as mature adults to spawn in two years, the bulk in three years.
Society secretary Linn Koevoet said this week both releases were part of a project to enhance the salmon fishery in the river by raising smolt from fish returning to spawn and trapped in the Hakataramea River.
The smolt released this week weighed an average 80g.
''This is the first time we have released salmon smolt into the Haka and it goes some way to returning the fish that we have obtained for brood stock,'' Mr Koevoet said.
The society hoped to release smolt into the Hakataramea in ever increasing numbers in the future in a bid to
boost numbers returning to the river and natural regeneration of stocks.
This weekend, the society hopes to put up its salmon trap in the Hakataramea River, an operation delayed by a drought which has caused low flows and restricted access for the fish, in comparison to last year when it had difficulties with too much water.
The trap will be manned by volunteers on 24-hour rosters from 8am each day.
The society's hatchery and rearing ponds have a capacity of up to 50,000 smolt, but in recent years various factors have affected releases.
