ANGLERS and fishing clubs are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed native freshwater fish stocking plan for 2016/17 before the middle of next month.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is responsible for stocking public dams and lakes across NSW to ensure the continuation of quality recreational fishing and conservation of biodiversity.
“We would invite the community to consider where we should concentrate our native fish stockings in the upcoming season, so that we can do our best to enhance our inland recreational fisheries and improve our aquatic biodiversity,” NSW DPI senior fisheries manager (Inland), Cameron Westaway, said today.
“We consider sites based on historical fish stockings, the physical condition of dams, stocking related research, relative fishery performance and feedback from anglers,” Westaway said.
“We would encourage fishers to identify any other freshwater lakes not currently listed that may be suitable for native fish stocking. The creation of new fishing locations is just as important as maintaining existing ones,” he said.
The bass, perch and Murray cod fingerlings released during the stocking program are produced at the DPI Hatcheries at Narrandera and Port Stephens.
DPI Fisheries staff have conducted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the freshwater fish stocking program and a management strategy is in place to ensure the stocking is carried out using Best Practice guidelines.Production of native fish at the DPI Narrandera and Port Stephens fish hatcheries, is supported by funds from the Recreational Fishing Trust.
“Make sure you provide any comments on the plan before Friday 13th of May so that they can be considered for next season’s stockings.”
More information can be found on the NSW DPI website.
