Better Fishing In The Tweed River

[Ken A]

Fish stocks in the north will get a boost with the release today of thousands of fingerlings by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

Approximately 6500 mulloway will be released into the Tweed River today (Wednesday 26 April 2006).

Another 20 000 are due for release in the river in three months.

A similar number of fingerlings will also be stocked into the Richmond River at the same time.

This major stocking project is being run by DPI and the University of New South Wales.

The project will evaluate the impact of releasing mulloway in estuaries, including their effect on food sources such as other fish and prawns.

The fingerlings, which have been bred at the NSW Government hatchery at Port Stephens, are approximately 100 mm in length.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), recreational fishing manager, John Diplock, said mulloway are a highly prized sport fish.

'This is great news for anglers who can look forward to catching these fish in a couple of years when they reach the minimum legal size of 45cm,' Mr Diplock said.

The stocking is part of an ongoing commitment by the Recreational Fishing Trusts to improve fishing in NSW.

In total the Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust has allocated $395 000 towards this stocking research over a three year period.

'All funds raised from the recreational fishing licence are placed into saltwater and Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trusts and can only be spent on projects to improve recreational fishing,' Mr Diplock said.

'The recreational fishing havens in the Tweed and the Richmond rivers are already providing quality recreational fishing opportunities and this stocking will boost fishing even more.

'The State Government is strongly supportive of these innovative research projects, which support a healthy recreational fishing industry in NSW.

'If the program is successful, we will consider expanding our fish stocking program. In the past, it has been largely limited to freshwater species.'

The stocking program began in 2003.

[BOB_SMITH]

Spin, Spin, Spin, all sounds good but!!! Sorry but I have to be negative

Where is the spin about fixing the problem with the land runnoff and swamp toxins, acid sulphate soil and drains and all the reasons for the MAJOR fish kills that have devastated everything up there on a number of occasions. Is this a protection for the seat of Tweed. Don't forget the TWEED is next in line for a MARINE PARK and sanctuary zones,

How much work has this or any government done to fix up the nursery grounds, erosion, algae problems etc.

So the next big lot of rain and fish kill will have bigger piles of rotting fish.

Bandaids don't fix the problems. I hope Professor Leon Zann at Southern Cross responds to this. Supposedly pristine waterways up that way can't even support the oyster industry.

Quote

'The State Government is strongly supportive of these innovative research projects, which support a healthy recreational fishing industry in NSW.

'If the program is successful, we will consider expanding our fish stocking program. In the past, it has been largely limited to freshwater species.'

Why wouldn't they be when the anglers are paying for it??

Bob Smith

TFP

Edited April 28, 2006 by BOB_SMITH