2021 LOTSA Pen Rearing

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2021 LOTSA Pen Rearing

 

2020 presented challenges for everyone, especially with Covid19 thrown into the mix.  With the regulations set by the state and the uncertainty of how the virus would affect us and the process that we use to build and maintain the pen project, LOTSA decided not to put our members at risk of infection.  Some local charter captains stepped up and decided to make sure that the project still took place.  There were a total of 6 pens and 111,000 chinook salmon that were held for 4 weeks before being released.

 

In 2021, LOTSA will be running the project again.  The pens will be assembled on Saturday March 27^th at 9:30am at the Town of Newfane Marina.  We will be assembling a total of 9 pens as the project is expanding.  5 pens will hold the 111,392 chinook salmon, the other 4 pens will hold 17,000 steelhead.  This is the first year that 100% of the chinook salmon and steelhead stocked in 18 mile creek will go through the pen project.  This will give all of them the best start possible and hopefully provide a stronger staging salmon fishery in 2024 and into the future.

Easter is early this year which complicates the timeline a bit, so we aren’t sure when the fish will arrive.  This information will be circulated at a later date.

 

As always when building the pens, dress warm and bring your side cutters to clip zip ties. This year however with the virus still hanging around, we ask that you wear a face covering/mask at all times and do your best to keep socially distant from one another.  Hot coffee/chocolate and pastries will be available to help keep you warm.