FOR the first time, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has stocked 75,000 silver perch and 45,000 golden perch fry into Horseshoe Lagoon, near Mildura.
Previously a 120-hectare shallow wetland area, Horseshoe Lagoon was recently flooded with environmental water thanks to the Mallee Catchment Management Authority.
Although these fish are only a couple of millimetres in size, the current conditions at Horseshoe Lagoon mimic the plankton ponds at the VFA’s Snobs Creek hatchery and there are no predators, so they won’t be small fry for long!
This pilot project is a partnership between the VFA, Mallee CMA, recreational fishers and traditional owners.
The VFA will be monitoring the growth of stocked fish carefully over the next 3 years. If all goes well, they plan to harvest them as adults to help restock other waterways down the track.
This initiative aligns with smarter stocking solutions outlined in the VFA’s Freshwater Fisheries Management Plan. You can read more about the plan and download it HERE.
