Salmon Symposium

The salmon need you! Fish & Game is organising a two-day symposium, Turning the Tide, to discuss the South Island's troubled wild salmon fishery.

The salmon – known as the King, Chinook or Quinnat – is found mainly on the West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Marlborough.

The species spends much of its life at sea and is highly valued by freshwater anglers, who target the fish during its migratory spawning runs up many of the South Island's major rivers.

The salmon season draws anglers from overseas and nationally from all walks of life and all corners of the country.

But in recent years, salmon runs have declined, and Fish & Game has organised the two day public symposium in November to focus on the issue.

Symposium organiser Matthew Hall says declining salmon populations are causing increasing concern among anglers and many have called for a summit meeting.

"As a keen salmon angler myself, I've seen the decline in salmon numbers over the decades.

"Where anglers could once each catch plenty of salmon every season, the runs have dwindled to a shadow of their former glory.

"Everyone with a stake in the fishery should attend the symposium and explore what is contributing to the decline,” Mr Hall says.

The symposium is being organised by Fish & Game's two Canterbury regions, Central South Island and North Canterbury.

The North Canterbury region's chair Trevor Isitt says it will provide a real opportunity for concerned anglers and other stakeholders to have their say.

"There is a real desire by anglers to get to the bottom of what is causing the runs of wild salmon to drop from their historic highs.

"While there is a lot of speculation and a wide range of theories, the exact reasons remain elusive.

"We want the symposium to help develop a solid and realistic action plan which will aim to see the magnificent runs of salmon restored to their past glory,” Mr Isitt says.

Overseas and New Zealand experts such as Tom Quinn, Dave Willis, Rasmus Gabrielsson, Mike Joy, Tony Threadwell, Duncan Grey and Fish & Game staff like Mark Webb, Tony Hawker, Jayde Couper, Dirk Barr and our new Chief Executive Martin Taylor are to speak at the symposium.

There will be workshops for anglers to contribute to formulating the action plan.

Mr Hall says the symposium will bring the strongest focus on the sea-run salmon fishery for some years and the aim is to give provide participants with the opportunity to be part of managing the fishery into the future.

"Having anglers at the symposium is of course vital as their experience and observations are invaluable,” Mr Hall says.

The symposium is being held at the Hotel Ashburton on the weekend of November 11 and 12.

People wanting to attend the symposium will have to register online through the Fish & Game website www.fishandgame.org.nz

Registrations will open in late October.

Come and help turn the tide for a spectacular fish.