Olcott Pen Rearing Update 4/12/23

[Instigator]

The fish are in the pens and feeding aggressively.  We received the baby chinook salmon from DEC on April 4^th at a weight of 104 fish to the pound which is larger than we typically receive them. 
We should have no problem reaching the goal weight of 90 fish to the pound and will probably crush that number.  With the chocolate milk colored water from all of the rain they weren’t very active and didn’t noticeably feed till the water cleared and hit 48 degrees F, but now at 50+ degrees in the harbor, they are getting pretty active and they are hungry.  We feed the fish every morning by filling automatic feeders that sprinkle feed into the pens continuously through the day.  The next step is releasing the fish.  Our 15,000 steelhead will be released at sundown on April 25^th and the chinooks will be released at sundown on the 26^th.  The pens will then be moved back to the north launch ramp and removed Saturday April 29^th around 9am.  As the pens are removed from the water we will be pressure washing them and preparing them for storage till next year.

 

We will need a lot of help on the 29^th to make this work.  We need 2 more pressure washers and lots of people with side cutters to remove the almighty zip ties.  If you can help out, please let me know and plan to be at the Town of Newfane Marina at 9am April 29^th.  Email [email protected] or text/call 716-504-7789.

 

Thank you,                                                                                                                                                                             

Alan Sauerland                                                                                                                                                          

Pen Rearing Coordinator

Edited April 18, 2023 by Instigator
Typo in Dates.