Anglers are helping monitor the success of a resnagging project in the Murray River between Hume Dam and Yarrawonga, which aims to improve the numbers of native fish in this stretch of the river.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) Arthur Rylah Institute launched the Resnagging Angler Monitoring Program to assess the success of the resnagging project.

Acting Senior Conservation Manager, Jenny Fredrickson, said the cooperation of anglers in monitoring the effect of the resnagging on native fish has proved to be a valuable tool.

She said the project was progressing well with snags being placed in parts of the river to act as habitat for fish to spawn, feed and avoid predators.

The project, which commenced in July 2006 and is funded by the Murray Darling Basin Commission through ‘The Living Murray’ program, has already seen more than 3000 woody habitats (snags) placed in the river to assist the recovery of many native fish species including Murray cod and the endangered trout cod.

Scientist with Victorian DSE’s Arthur Rylah Institute, Jarod Lyon, said that 20 anglers had joined the program and were recording information on their fishing efforts and captures between Hume Dam and Yarrawonga.

"The anglers have logbooks and have been trained in removing the otoliths, which are the earbones, from fish that they are taking for the table. We can then use the otoliths to determine the age and growth of the fish in response to the resnagging work," he said.

Mr Lyon said since December 2007 the fishers with the Resnagging Angler Monitoring Program had captured more than 65 Murray Cod, with more than 95 per cent of these fish released. Anglers have caught and released other native species such as golden perch and the endangered trout cod.

"We have placed external tags in around 15 000 native fish between Lake Hume and Tocumwal, and fishers within the program and also in the wider community have been recapturing some of these fish.

"If anglers do catch a tagged fish, we would like them to record the number of the tag, the length of the fish and location of capture and call the number printed on the tag.

"The information they provide is valuable to answering key questions about the benefits of resnagging for ensuring the recovery and long-term sustainability of native fish populations," Mr Lyon said.

Anglers who are interested in joining the program can contact NSW DPI Conservation Management Officer Matt Morrow on (02) 6042 4200.

Photos available from sarahc@sf.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Sarah Chester (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669