Fingerlings a boost

Original story by Rebecca Sharpe, The Land

URBANISATION, habitat degradation and waterway barriers have led to decreased numbers of native fish in NSW waterways in recent years, but programs by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have worked on restocking fish in these areas.

Under constant threat of having their habitat destroyed, native fish have needed a helping hand from organisations such as the DPI and Landcare to increase numbers as well as improve recreational fishing opportunities.

NSW DPI fisheries management officer Ben Doolan, Nelson Bay, said close to three million trout and salmon and two million native fish, produced by government and private commercial hatcheries, were stocked into inland NSW waters each year.

“There are four species of salmonids, which are rainbow trout, brown trout, Atlantic salmon, brook trout, and four native species, which includes Australian bass, golden perch, Murray cod, silver perch, stocked for recreational fishing,” he said.

“Trout cod and Macquarie perch are stocked for conservation purposes to aid in the recovery of those species.”

Typically, four hatcheries provide fingerlings, also known as fry, for restocking.

The Port Stephens Fisheries Institute hatchery produce Australian bass, which are released into major impoundments along the east coast including Glenbawn Dam, Glennies Creek Dam and Lostock Dam in the upper Hunter Valley, Tallowa Dam near Kangaroo Valley, and Lake Wallace and Lake Lyell near Lithgow.

Mr Doolan said during restocking seasons, which varied for each species of fish, there were no restrictions for recreational fishers.

“We aren’t usually too concerned about recreational fishers being in the vicinity of newly released fish,” he said.

“The fry or fingerlings are not susceptible to recreational fishing due to their size and are mobile and will find suitable habitat.”

However, closed fishing seasons for some species have been implemented to reduce pressure or interaction with mature fish during times of spawning.

“Some species are closed for a period of time during the year, however trout cod and eastern freshwater cod are protected all year round and must be released if caught,” he said.

“There is a closure on all forms of fishing in the Murray River between Yarrawonga and Tocumwal for added protection during the (trout cod) breeding season and throughout the Mann River and some of its tributaries during August and October for eastern freshwater cod.”

Mr Doolan said these closures were primarily implemented to protect the adult fish, although the trout and salmon closure protected juvenile trout as it stopped recreational fishers wading in rivers – an activity which could disturb eggs attached to stones or gravel.