The Biggest Catch

OceanaGold Corporation has maintained an innovative environmental partnership at its Macraes Operation in New Zealand for nearly two decades, working with Fish & Game New Zealand to operate a specialized trout hatchery facility. The Macraes Flat Trout hatchery, strategically located at the edge of the Lone Pine Reservoir, represents one of only two such facilities operating in New Zealand, highlighting its unique position in the country's aquaculture landscape.

The facility demonstrates significant productivity, rearing up to 8,000 trout annually, which the company notes matches their gold production volumes in symbolic terms. This unusual comparison underscores the substantial scale of the environmental initiative relative to the mining operation's core business activities.

The partnership exemplifies how mining companies can integrate meaningful environmental stewardship programs into their operations, creating positive community and ecological outcomes alongside resource extraction. The longevity of the nearly 20-year collaboration suggests a successful model for ongoing environmental partnerships in the mining sector.

For the broader mining industry, this initiative represents an innovative approach to environmental responsibility and community engagement, demonstrating how operations can contribute positively to local ecosystems while maintaining productive mining activities. The program's sustained success over two decades provides a template for other mining companies seeking to develop meaningful environmental partnerships.