Nsw Fisheries 02/08/04

[Ken A]

Fish stocking around the State has reached a new record for the third year in a row, with 8.5 million fish released into NSW waterways in 2003/04, the NSW Department of Primary Industries announced today.

This is welcome news for many rural and regional economies, which are still suffering from the drought.

Despite severe drought conditions on the land, fish stocking will generate some welcome income for regions including the Central West, Snowy Mountains, Hunter and north-west of the State.

The recreational angling industry injects an estimated $70 million into the Snowy Mountains economy alone each year, and supports an estimated 700 jobs.

Last year a record 7.9 million freshwater fish were stocked State-wide and the NSW Government committed $1 million to the program this financial year.

Many of the fish stocked this season will be legal size within about two years.

Stocking relies on both State and private hatcheries breeding native fish, trout and salmon, which are released by NSW Fisheries, community groups and angling clubs.

Some of the largest stockings took place at Burrinjuck Dam near Yass, Burrendong and Windemere Dams near Mudgee, Wyangala Dam near Cowra, Glenbawn Dam in the Hunter region, Copeton, Split Rock and Keepit dams in the north-west and Lakes Jindabyne and Eucumbene in the Snowy Mountains.

More than 2.9 million native fish were stocked by the Government in 2003/04, including:

204,200 Australian bass

369,000 Murray Cod

66,000 Trout cod

1,440,000 Golden Perch

851,200 Silver Perch

In addition, more than 4.5 million rainbow, brown and brook trout, and Atlantic salmon were released across NSW waterways.

The community-based dollar-for-dollar native fish stocking program has also gone from strength-to-strength with 83 stocking organisations raising funds, matched by the Recreational Fishing Trust funds, to release more than 990,000 native fish, including:

230,402 Australian bass

224,326 Murray Cod

536,092 Golden Perch

Freshwater anglers allocate $525,000 a year from their fishing licence fees to this State-wide program, which includes $225,000 to the community-based dollar-for-dollar program.

[Guest Jocool]

Ken do you think stocking during a drought is effective? Seems to me to be counter productive! But I aint no expert!

[patl]

If you are going to the snowy call into the Gaden Trout Hatchery just outside Jindabyne. It is a great way to spend a couple of hours and the staff have always been very eager to talk each time I have been.

The brood trout in there are absouletly huge and in the river flowing past there is a heap of great trout just finning along - no fishing of course.

Last time we where there it was the winter after the fires and they were concerned about excess polution from the run off.

Had some great fishing in the lake - a bit chilly, makes hairtail fishing seem quite cosy actually. Caught an Atlantic Salmon about 65cm trolling on 2kg

[davidp]

I''d be concerned about the amount of water in the systems that the fish have been stocked in and it would be interesting to see the break down of fish put into impoundments and free flowing waterways!

And then you''ve got to like the idea of a cramped waterway with some big fish feeding on new fingerlings added to the food chain! It''s gonna mean some big Browns in some waterways!!!

Ken if you have the breakdown of the distribution of fish it''d be very interesting. Even if it''s to see where our money os going?

Cheers,

David

Edited August 4, 2004 by davidp