Map

Fish farming, the fish trap See map

Salmonid species that exist in Patagonia have been imported and planted for enabling the development of sport fishing, as the number of amateur and poaching has increased.

The trap and canals through wich fish enter.

From May salmonids return to Pocahullo creek to spawn. A female lays about 5000 eggs from which very few are fertilized. With the help of artificial insemination that is performed in the station, fertility reaches 70% of the eggs. The large number of well managed fish is used for planting in lakes in the area.

Four are the objectives of this project:

• prevent illegal fishing,
• improve sport fishing in the lake Lacar
• create a walking tour and
• conduct environmental education programs.

The fish trap consists of a series of canals and river diversions aimed at prosecuting the passage of fish into it, where there is a mill which is responsible for capturing and automatically place the fish in a special pools built for that purpose. Once the fish arrive at that place, are classified according to sex, species and stage of sexual maturation. Later a artificial spawning and at the end fish are stocked.

Artificial spawing, the trout lay up to 5000 eggs per year.

"We extract the eggs and sperm in artificial insemination and make the catch in the same season. This activity takes place at 11 am and people interested in observing the work, after you pay a minimum price - can be at that moment", biologist said.

By Pablo Matilla