THE largest stocking of Australian bass in NSW in two years is underway.
The NSW Government will be stocking up to 150,000 of the native sportsfish fry into NSW dams, said NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Senior Inland Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway.
“These fish stockings are great news for anglers and will help ensure future stocks of this popular fish are maintained for future generations,” Westaway said.
70,000 bass have so far been released into Glenbawn Dam in the Upper Hunter. In the Lithgow region, Lake Lyell is set to receive 10,000 bass and Lake Wallace 5,000.
Tallowa Dam near Kangaroo Valley and Glennies Creek Dam near Singleton are next in line to receive bass within the fortnight.
The Australian bass fry have been produced at the NSW Government’s Port Stephens Fisheries Institute. Bass cannot spawn in dams so it is essential that they are stocked to maintain these popular recreational fisheries.
The native fish stocking program is funded in part by money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee and placed into the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust.
Additional bass stockings will occur throughout eastern NSW in the coming months through the community based dollar-for-dollar stocking program, also supported with funds from the Recreational Fishing Fee.
During the 2010/11 season, more than 4 million trout, salmon and native fish were stocked by NSW Government hatcheries in freshwater areas across the State under the NSW Government’s fish stocking programs.
