MORE than two million native fish have been stocked into lakes and rivers in Victoria.
The fish – including golden perch, Murray cod, Australian bass, silver perch, trout cod and Macquarie perch – were stocked across more than 80 lakes and rivers across the state. Anglers are expected to be able to reap the rewards of the bumper stockings within to years when the fish should be of catchable size.
The recovery of drought-affected fisheries has been prioritised, with extra funds from recreational fishing licence revenue being used to boost stocking numbers.
1.1 million golden perch have been stocked, with the majority released into Lake Eildon, Nagambie Lakes, Lake Hume, Loddon River, Kangaroo Lake and Taylor Lake at Horsham.
More than 800,000 Murray cod were released over the last summer, nearly double the previous record of this iconic freshwater species. Waterways that received cod stockings include Lake Eppalock, Nagambie Lakes, Loddon River, Gunbower Creek, Avoca River, Meran Lake, Cairn Curran Reservoir, Kangaroo Lake and Lake Boga.
More than 102,000 Australian bass, 36,000 silver perch and smaller numbers of trout cod and Macquarie perch were also released.
To view a video on these stockings, go to: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries/recreational-fishing/fish-stocking/record-native-fish-stocking-last-summer
