- Published:
- Wednesday 3 January 2018
Recreational anglers in Gippsland have welcomed in the New Year with a record stocking of more than 454,000 Australian bass fingerlings into 19 rivers and lakes.
Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford was in Orbost today and said the new record would deliver long-lasting benefits for freshwater fishers, nearly tripling the previous record of 162,000 bass fingerlings released in 2016.
Australian bass are an iconic sportfish and through the Andrews Labor Government’s Target One Million plan we are accelerating the development of these fisheries which will deliver direct benefits to anglers and regional businesses that depend on tourism.
Bass stockings in Gippsland have gone from strength to strength since its commencement in 2002 and there are now several supreme fisheries including Blue Rock Lake and Lake Glenmaggie.
The 454,000 bass, which were grown at a private hatchery in Narooma using wild brood stock collected in Gippsland, have been released into:
Snowy River 90,000
Tambo River 27,500
Timbarra River 20,000
Mitchell River 110,000
Wonnangatta River 40,000
Avon River 9,000
Blue Rock Lake 30,000
Lake Glenmaggie 35,000
Macalister River 43,500
Thomson River 15,000
Lake Narracan 5,000
Tyers River 5,000
Cowwarr Weir 4,000
Freestone Creek 3,000
Lake Hyland 3,000
Rainbow Creek 3,000
Lake Guthridge 7,500
Traralgon Creek 2,000
Valencia Creek 2,000
Anglers can expect to hear more in coming months about the release of four million native fish this summer including Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch, alongside species of conservation significance such as Macquarie perch and trout cod.
For more information about Australian bass stocking visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/bassstocking
Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
“Right across the state, fish stocking records continue to be broken. We’re proud to lead the charge right here in East Gippsland, helping more anglers reel in a catch of the day more often.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
“There’s never been a better time to get into the great outdoors and experience the very best that our Gippsland lakes, rivers and freshwater creeks have to offer.”