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Hatcheries supply millions

Over the last three years fish stocks in NSW waterways have increased by 3.4 million, thanks to continued investment by the state’s hatchery industry, Minister for Primary Industries, Steve Whan, said this week.

“And what’s even better, is that these fish all have had a clean bill of health due to strong support from hatchery owners for the NSW Hatchery Quality Assurance Scheme (HQAS),”  Whan said.

“HQAS is designed to meet these genetic goals, using world’s best practice to ensure the good health of stocked fish and the absence of non-target species.

“The scheme accredits fish hatcheries for the production of Murray cod, golden perch, and Australian bass fingerlings for enhancement stocking programs for recreational fishing.

“About 3.4 million Murray cod, golden perch and Australian bass have been stocked into local waterways, both under the Dollar for Dollar program as well as independently.

Whan said 14 hatcheries at the South Coast, Hunter, North Coast, Riverina and North West, including Industry & Investment NSW’s Narrandera Fisheries Centre and Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, are accredited to produce a number of native fish species including Murray cod, silver perch, golden perch and Australian bass.

“Millions of fish are produced as part of the NSW Government’s Enhanced Fish Production program or the Dollar for Dollar scheme, where community groups apply for matching funds to purchase native fish from licensed commercial hatcheries.

Techniques for the large-scale hatchery production of the Australian native fish such as Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch were developed at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre in the early 1980s, with commercial hatcheries coming on board to produce and sell fingerlings in 1982/83.

Private hatcheries involved in the stocking program must be accredited under the HQAS developed by Industry & Investment NSW with significant industry consultation and input.

Organisations wishing to stock public waterways with native fish on a Dollar for Dollar basis may submit an application to I&I NSW, by way of an Expression of Interest.

For more information click here.

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