- Published:
- Friday 29 December 2017
Recreational anglers in Victoria are celebrating the release of more than a million trout in 2017 – a new record that will substantially improve freshwater fishing opportunities for keen anglers and their families.
Increasing fish stocking is a cornerstone of the Andrews Labor Government’s Target One Million plan, which aims to grow participation in the popular pastime to one million anglers by 2020.
Nearly 140 waters throughout the state shared in the stocking milestone including:
| Lake Toolondo 16,800
Barkers Creek Reservoir 8,000 Blue Rock Lake 27,250 Lake Eppalock 166,000 Lake Bullen Merri 14,900 Cairn Curran Reservoir 27,000 Devilbend Reservoir 15,000 Lake Eildon 83,000 Lake Fyans 20,000 |
Lake Burrumbeet 15,000
Green Hill Lake 4,000 Lake Hume 69,000 Hepburn Lagoon 10,000 Lake Wendouree 28,750 Lake Purrumbete 32,500 Hopkins River 6,000 Tullaroop Reservoir 53,000 |
Most of these fish were yearling brown trout, rainbow trout and Chinook salmon grown at the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek hatchery, which has enjoyed record investment to upgrade facilities and production capacity courtesy of fishing licence fees and the Target One Million plan.
The release of native fish has already begun this summer season with Australian bass, estuary perch and Murray cod, then golden perch
More than four million native fish will be stocked this summer, which when combined with 2017’s one million trout will deliver on Target One Million’s commitment to stock five million fish.
For the full list of waters stocked this year visit vfa.vic.gov.au/troutstocking2017 or check out the new stocking database for all fish releases at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/database.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
“2017 has seen fish stocking records tumble for recreational anglers across Victoria and there remains even more to look forward to.”
“From historic Lake Tooolondo in our far west, right up to our north east – we aren’t leaving any angler dry on their quest to reel in a catch.”
“The enormous leap in trout production at Snobs Creek is a credit to dedicated Fisheries staff who are committed to growing, transporting and releasing fish that make a real difference for anglers.”