Native fish stocked in NSW

More than 80,000 golden perch and 40,000 silver perch were released into Burrinjuck Dam in February, as part of the NSW Government’s Freshwater stocking program.

A further 14,000 silver perch were also released into Lake Wyangan at Griffith.

The fish were bred at Industry & Investment NSW Narrandera Fisheries Centre, where staff manage a productive hatchery that provides fingerlings for four native fish species, to improve freshwater recreational fisheries and conservation initiatives.

NSW hatchery manager at Narrandera Fisheries Centre, Stephen Thurstan, said these releases add to the 60,000 Murray cod already released into Burrinjuck Dam in early January with assisted from local angling club members, who help distribute the fish around the dam to improve their chances of survival.

”Both the golden perch and Murray cod released into Burrinjuck are marked with a harmless dye, as part of the Recreational Fishing Trust’s funded research to assess stocking success,” Thurstan said.

“Marked fish are also being stocked into the Murrumbidgee and Copeton Dam, in the north of the State, as part of this research.”

The native fish stocking program releases more than a million fish each year to about a 100 dams around the State to boost recreational fishing.

So far this season 73,000 trout cod, 295,000 Murray cod, 568,000 golden perch and 54,000 silver perch have been released with many more to come before the season finishes in April.

The program is supported by funds from the recreational fishing fee.

 
More golden perch in NSW impoundments. Pic: Mick Fletoridis