Community salmon hatchery targeted by fish-killing vandals again
Male broodfish worth an estimated NZ$20,000 died after burglars switched off aerators at a community-run salmon hatchery in Dunedin, New Zealand.
It is the second such incident at the hatchery, which supports stocks for sport fishing by releasing smolts into the harbour. In January, the hatchery was broken into and the aerators switched off, killing about 200 female broodfish worth NZ$30,000.
Police were still investigating the first incident and had made no arrests, according to a report on nzherald.co.nz.
Acting Senior Sergeant Trevor Thomson, of Dunedin, said the alleged attack happened overnight on Saturday
Trust chairman Steve Bennett said about 45 male fish died in the latest attack, which meant the hatchery would not have fish to fertilise the females.
‘Baffled’
There was "no rhyme or reason" as to why anyone would commit the crime, he said.
"It's a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers, so I am baffled as to why someone would do such a thing.
"The place was finger-printed but nothing has come to light. After last time we changed locks and took other measures. We're doing as much as we can but we can't know when these things will happen."
The first attack on the hatchery left it without eggs, but it was given a helping hand by freshwater king salmon growers Mt Cook Alpine Salmon and High Country Salmon, which both donated roe.
