Two million good reasons to fish: hatchery breaks record
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The Narrandera fish hatchery, in the Riverina, had bred more than two million fish so far this season - setting a new record.
The bumper breeding season will boost freshwater angling opportunities in a few years when the fish reach legal size.
The hatchery has bred 2,073,000 fish so far this season, beating the previous record of 2,020,000 in 1999/2000.
Fish bred at the hatchery are stocked into waterways throughout the State and help boost the recreational fishing industry, which is vital to many rural and regional areas.
Freshwater angling creates jobs and supports local businesses and tourism. A recent survey found the State's recreational fishers spend $550 million a year on their sport - that's an average of $550 per angler.
Since 10 March this year alone, a total of 230,000 golden perch and 78,000 silver perch fingerlings have been released into the following waterways:
|
Keepit Dam, Gunnedah |
82,000 |
golden perch |
10 March |
|
Split Rock Dam, near Manilla |
110,000 |
golden perch |
10 March |
|
Peak Hill Weir, near Parkes |
2,000 |
golden perch |
10 March |
|
Endeavour Lake, near Parkes |
4,000 |
golden perch |
10 March |
|
Googong Dam, near Queanbeyan |
30,000 |
silver perch |
10 March |
|
Captains Flat, near Queanbeyan |
5,000 |
silver perch |
10 March |
|
Lake Talbot at Narrandera |
6,000 |
silver perch |
11 March |
|
Yanco Lagoon at Yanco |
2,000 |
silver perch |
11 March |
|
Ben Chifley Dam, near Bathurst |
32,000 |
golden perch |
12 March |
|
26,000 |
silver perch |
12 March |
|
|
Moulamein Dam at Moulamein |
2,000 |
silver perch |
16 March |
|
Bowman's Lagoon at Wagga Wagga |
2,000 |
silver perch |
17 March |
This financial year to date, a total of more than 7.1 million native fish have already been released, through the Government's stocking program and the community-based Dollar-for-Dollar program.
Another record was broken last financial year, with the Government and the community together stocking 7.9 million native fish and trout around the State.
This stocking relies on the Narrandera hatchery, as well as hatcheries at Gaden, outside Jindabyne, and Ebor on the North Coast.
The NSW Government has provided more than $1 million for its stocking program this year to ensure anglers continue to enjoy freshwater fishing.
The program is supported by $500,000 from the recreational fishing licence. Of this, $200,000 has been earmarked for the Dollar-for-Dollar fish stocking program.
The Dollar-For-Dollar program provides matching funds of between $1,000 and $5,000 for local communities, councils and fishing clubs to stock native fish and improve recreational fishing.