Great salmon escape sparks Aussie fishing frenzy: report

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2007

HOBART, Australia (AFP) — A great escape by thousands of big Atlantic salmon from a fish farm has fuelled a mid-winter boom in a seaside Tasmanian town, local media reported Thursday.

According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP) the fish were about to be harvested two weeks ago when their pen ripped while being towed across Macquarie Harbour on the west coast of the island state and they swam to freedom.

As the news that 9,000 salmon weighing around five kilograms (11 pounds) were on the loose, recreational fishermen descended on the local town of Strahan -- to the delight of Mayor Darryl Gerrity.

"We're thinking about putting zippers in the nets to help us through the slow winter months," he told AAP.

"This is usually a quiet time of year, but...