Kingfish pass their medical check up.

Yes the kingfish have a clean bill of health with Bio Security giving their approval last Friday, which due to the weekend will be processed by Mfish on Monday, who will then issue the release approvals.
Monday 1400 Just heard from Mfish and its all go we now have the official approvals to release our kingfish at various locations on the northeast coast and one west coast site if logistics permit.
 
Special thanks has to go the members of the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club who have really got behind this project both in bringing many other clubs on board and supporting volunteers to assist with tagging and at the  northern release site. This is a fantastic effort and between them and the other clubs they have lifted their support in pledges to $10,000. Club member Ross Davey has volunteered his services as the northern coordinator assisting Club President Dave Arrell. Thanks Guys.
 
My thanks to all supporters who have sent their pledge payments in and for the many new donations coming it. We are now at the point where we are committed and as such we need this money in the bank to pay for the fish in the farm as we truck them out. So I would ask if you have not already sent in your cheques please do so made out to: Kingfish go wild, NZRFC and post them to me. For those who wish to make credit card payments please complete the form off the web, print and fax it to me at the address below.
 
With anchor sponsor Sanford Limited, on board they have committed $30,000 in support to ensure that we do not come up short in the hard task of tagging, transport and  release. We are now in the position where we have entered into a formal contract with the Manager John Ellis of Parengarenga Fishfarm Ltd and with his staff support we can now start the task of tagging, transport and  releasing the fish we have all helped to buy. Excellent stuff and clearly demonstrates a willingness of stakeholders working together in a shared fishery.
A fantastic effort by all.

The new special kingfishgowild.co.nz tags are due from Australia in the next two days and shortly thereafter we will start to prepare the fish for tagging and release starting the week of the 10th July.
 
While the NIWA tanks and Lawson Transport will be doing the larger and longer runs we are just finalising the options of having a smaller truck with live fish tanks to do the shorter trips with the larger fish.
This is very much leading edge stuff as the options of transporting live big fish any distances is costly and not normally  done.
 
On Sunday night there was a short clip on TV one news of the Parengarenga Fishfarm Ltd and the healthy fish so those who caught the news would have had a chance for a sneak preview of the kingfish all of you have contributed to purchasing.
  
We are now working with local clubs and iwi in identifying release sites from the far north to the Hauraki Gulf. If these prove to go without a hitch we are looking at one west coast site at present. But because of the distance we will need to allow the fish to acclimatise in a temporary sea cage for a few days. Another challenge! But, one that can be overcome.
 
One of the key bits of info we are seeking from tagging at least 10% of the fish is to confirm the theory that these fish will remain as a school in a localised area. If this happens it will open up a whole lot of future opportunities for potential localised kingfish enhancement as a community project.
 
We hope to have  the Minister of Fisheries Jim Anderton to officially open the release program and look forward to his support in this worthwhile project.
 
Unfortunately I will be away at a conference this week but I will try to keep the updates coming in. In the mean time Larry our web host is away and Michael Hodges from generatorweb.com is holding the fort. Thanks Mike.
 
I will be on my cell phone.
 
Keith Ingram

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