Vic Govt restocks perch
Volunteers and licence fees help to ensure the future of recreational fishingTo improve fishing opportunities for recreational anglers, more than 100,000 estuary perch fingerlings have been stocked into seven lakes and rivers across Victoria, including three new waterways never before stocked with the species.
The stocking of Melton Reservoir, Werribee River (pictured) and Karkarook Lake will improve angling opportunities in future years for residents of these rapidly expanding urban centres west of Melbourne.
The Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford says the boost in estuary stock is in line with the Government’s Target One Million plan to boost fish stocks, invest in fishing and boating facilities and increase the number of recreational fishers in Victoria to one million by 2020.
Estuary perch are a popular native species in coastal estuaries so they are an ideal candidate for developing new fisheries in Victoria’s fresh-water lakes and rivers south of the Great Dividing Range.
"New stocked fisheries for estuary perch have the potential to bring sport-fishing closer to population centres," the Minister said. "By boosting estuary perch stocks [we are] providing more opportunities for Victorians to get outdoors and enjoy this great pastime, which contributes so much to our economy and our way of life.
"Volunteer anglers have played an integral role in building the estuary perch stocking program and we look forward to them reaping the benefits in the years to come," she added.
All of the estuary perch stockings were subject to risk assessments by an expert panel in-line with departmental fish translocation protocols.
Fisheries Victoria are actively reviewing other waters across Victoria to rebuild estuary perch populations.
The minister said that this season's 107,000 estuary perch fingerlings were funded by the sale of recreational fishing licences and the Victorian Government. The fingerlings were released into:
>> Melton Reservoir – 20,000
>> Werribee River – 32,000
>> Karkrook Lake – 5000
>> Devilbend Reservoir – 25,000
>> Hamilton Lake – 10,000
>> Albert Park Lake – 10,000
>> Struan Lake – 5000
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