Freshwater Fish Stocking EIS

Aim

Prepare a fish stocking fishery management strategy and environmental impact assessment.

Background

The activity of fish stocking is undertaken in many water storage impoundments and rivers throughout the State at a rate of around 7 million fish per annum. Stocking is primarily of native species including golden perch, silver perch, Murray cod and Australian bass, and non-native species including Atlantic salmon, brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout.
Fish stocking is recognised for its importance to the community in terms of quality recreational fishing, Indigenous cultural fishing opportunities, conservation outcomes, employment, and subsequent economic benefits that have grown in response to the activity taking place over many years.

A fish stocking fisheries management strategy has been developed to guide the future management of freshwater fish stocking activities in the State’s public waterways for conservation, recreational fishing and Indigenous fishing purposes.  The FMS was developed over a lengthy period involving the development of an environmental impact statement (EIS), public consultation (in November/December 2003) and approval by the Minister for Planning under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The FMS supports the continued stocking of fish to maintain and enhance our native and salmonid freshwater fisheries and fish populations in need of recovery, while seeking to improve the ongoing management of freshwater fish stocking by incorporating:

• comprehensive assessment arrangements to minimise or eliminate impacts of stocking on the environment, including interactions between stocked species and threatened species
• improvements to hatchery production and fish quality through a quality assurance program
• an accreditation scheme for hatcheries involved in the activity
• improved understanding and use of genetic material in fish breeding programs
• improved broodstock collection techniques, husbandry and management
• greater involvement in the activity by Aboriginal people and other stakeholders
• better information management, verification and reporting procedures
• improved performance monitoring and compliance
• improved education and public awareness.

Benefits Region: Inland statewide

• NSW freshwater fish stocking fishery management stategy (PDF, 1.6 MB)
  
• EIS volume 1 (PDF, 3.3 MB)
  
• EIS volume 2 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
  
• EIS volume 3 (PDF, 2.0 MB)