West Coast Aquatic, through the Barkley Salmon Committee, has stocked three net pens with 100,000 Chinook fry in the Alberni Harbour.
This year’s project follows a pilot completed last year with a test pen and 10,000 fish.
Two 50-foot-square pens, frames and floats donated by Mainstream Canada have been stocked with 45,000 fry each near Somass mill. A smaller test pen with 10,000 fry is located right at Harbour Quay.
“In three, four and five years, these fish will return as adults to the upper inlet and hang around where they were released until ready to head up-river and spawn,” Bob Cole noted in a press release.
The test pen off the side of Centennial Pier is visible to the public. Volunteers ask that people respect the “no trespassing” signs, and to call the posted numbers if there is a problem with the net.
The smolts will be released over the next two or three weeks.
editor@albernivalleynews.com
Twitter.com/AlberniNews