8.5 million fish that got away: another record stocking season
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Fish stocking around the State has reached a new record for the third year in a row, with 8.5 million fish released into NSW waterways in 2003/04, the NSW Department of Primary Industries announced today.
This is welcome news for many rural and regional economies, which are still suffering from the drought.
Despite severe drought conditions on the land, fish stocking will generate some welcome income for regions including the Central West, Snowy Mountains, Hunter and north-west of the State.
The recreational angling industry injects an estimated $70 million into the Snowy Mountains economy alone each year, and supports an estimated 700 jobs.
Last year a record 7.9 million freshwater fish were stocked State-wide and the NSW Government committed $1 million to the program this financial year.
Many of the fish stocked this season will be legal size within about two years.
Stocking relies on both State and private hatcheries breeding native fish, trout and salmon, which are released by NSW Fisheries, community groups and angling clubs.
Some of the largest stockings took place at Burrinjuck Dam near Yass, Burrendong and Windemere Dams near Mudgee, Wyangala Dam near Cowra, Glenbawn Dam in the Hunter region, Copeton, Split Rock and Keepit dams in the north-west and Lakes Jindabyne and Eucumbene in the Snowy Mountains.
More than 2.9 million native fish were stocked by the Government in 2003/04, including:
- 204,200 Australian bass
- 369,000 Murray Cod
- 66,000 Trout cod
- 1,440,000 Golden Perch
- 851,200 Silver Perch
In addition, more than 4.5 million rainbow, brown and brook trout, and Atlantic salmon were released across NSW waterways.
The community-based dollar-for-dollar native fish stocking program has also gone from strength-to-strength with 83 stocking organisations raising funds, matched by the Recreational Fishing Trust funds, to release more than 990,000 native fish, including:
- 230,402 Australian bass
- 224,326 Murray Cod
- 536,092 Golden Perch
Freshwater anglers allocate $525,000 a year from their fishing licence fees to this State-wide program, which includes $225,000 to the community-based dollar-for-dollar program.