Bass stocking to seal deal
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Richmond River fish stocks have been boosted with around 10,000 Australian bass fry - the country's most spirited freshwater sport fish - being released above the Norco Weir at Casino this week.
The Director-General of NSW Fisheries, Steve Dunn, said Ballina Fishermen's Co-operative had contributed $2,500 to the stocking in support of its proposal to re-open the Missingham Bridge mullet fishing shot in East Ballina.
"The recreational fishing licence-funded Dollar-for-Dollar native fish stocking scheme has contributed the remaining cost as part of this ground-breaking agreement between local commercial and recreational fishers," Mr Dunn said.
"Bass are a recreational only species and this is great news for anglers who can look forward to catching these bass in the new area proposed as a recreational fishing haven between Tatham Bridge upstream to the Norco Weir at Casino. The area covers around 27km of river where commercial netting will not be allowed."
Mr Dunn said the agreement was a boost for the North Coast region, where angling creates jobs and supports businesses and tourism, and for the local seafood industry which can harvest over $500,000 worth of mullet in three months over winter.
"Local recreational and commercial fishers deserve praise for the way they have worked together to forge this agreement. Such collaborations are welcome as we all share the same goal of sustainable fishing for the future."
The statewide Dollar-for-Dollar stocking scheme, funded with $200,000 from the recreational fishing licence, supports the efforts of local communities, councils and fishing clubs to stock native fish and improve recreational fishing.
Under the scheme, matching funding is available for offers of fish stocking between $1,000 and $5,000.
The NSW Government provided more than $1 million for its stocking program this year to ensure anglers continue to enjoy freshwater fishing, with a further $500,000 provided from the recreational fishing licence.
During the 2002/03 stocking season, a record 7.9 million fish were stocked in freshwater areas across the State under the Government's stocking program.
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