News

2011 Season

Our full quota of brood fish were obtained, mostly in the latter stages of the angling season,
and these were all held without problem into December.

The first fish was stripped on the 22nd December with a water temperature of 2.0oC and below
zero air temperature. During the very cold period the fish became almost comatose, but within
a day or two of a rise in the water temperature they stripped easily.

A total of 66,600 eggs were obtained, with excellent fertilization, and only about 2,500 were
lost prior to hatching commencing on the 22nd February (giving an average water temperature
of 7.3oC during the period).
Some aelvin losses were experienced prior to swim-up stage being reached, but overall
survival to that stage was approaching 83%.

Some 18,500 fry were stocked at swim-up stage, with the remainder being reared on. Regular
treatment with Pyces and salt ensured that losses remained small, less than 2,000, and the fry
were ready for stocking in late July.
At this time a further 34,000 were stocked, bringing the total to 52,650 representing an egg to
stocked fry survival of 79%.

The hatchery is now considered to be operating at its’ optimum level, and it is hoped that this
year’s performance can be sustained in future seasons.

 

2010 Breeding Performance

The year has seen a stocking of approaching 44,000 fry to the river from some 53,500 ova, a success rate of over 80%. This is a major advance on 2009 when in the region of 25,000-26,000 fry were stocked.

 

May to early September 2010

22,700 reared on fry stocked to river, predominantly to good upper reach habitats.

 

April 2010

21,000 swim up fry stocked to the river.

Remaining fry split between two tanks commenced feeding. Treatment with Pyces on a regular basis kept fry losses to a minimum

 

March 2010

Hatching concluded by early March, aelvins feeding off their egg sacs for the first month.

 

February 2010

Hatching commenced on the 9th February and increased rapidly during the month, average hatching time being 65 days, suggesting a water temperature of 6.9degreeC despite the long period of cold weather.

 

18th February 2010

The hatching period seems to be stretching out a bit, probably due to fluctuations in water temperature but most of the first tray has hatched now. Nothing happening with the next trays due to hatch but the weather has turned much colder and this will set things back.

 

It is always fascinating to see something visibly alive and wriggling emerge - a pink shrimp-like creature with little black eyes. The aelvins will live off the egg sack to which they are still attached until they develop into fry and will then need to be fed.

 

8th February 2010

The first tray of eggs deposited has now begun to hatch into aelvins.

 

5th February 2010

At the instigation of the South West Rivers Association and Westcountry Rivers Trust, a group of people who are involved in hatcheries here in the South West got together and formed "The Westcountry Rivers Hatchery Forum". Its main purpose is to share knowledge, experience and information and to create a common voice when dealing with government bodies such as the Environment Agency.

 

Monday, 25th January 2010

A very successful morning. The last hen was stripped and our eggs now total 53,500 which is about double the amount we had last year.  A few photos (click for larger images).

 

   

 

Paul who stripped the fish this morning can be seen in the background and Arthur is now calculating the number of eggs which needs to be done very precisely.

 

Thursday, 21st January 2010

Today we successfully stripped two of our three remaining hens adding approximately 16,000 eggs to our total. Hopefully the last hen will strip next week. The two stripped hens are being treated for another three days and when fully recovered will be returned to the river and with luck will return another year.

 

Tuesday, 12th January 2010

 As of today we have 31,000 eggs from five of our hen salmon and we have three left to strip. The cold weather and low temperatures have not helped but we hope to finish up with between 40,000 and 50,000 eggs. It is snowing heavily as I write this... so fingers crossed the weather will improve soon.