- Minister for Fishing and Boating
Victoria has smashed its previous native fish stocking record by more than a million fish as part of the Andrews Labor Government's plan to get more people fishing, more often.
5.9 million native fish - including Murray cod, golden perch and Australian bass - were stocked last season.
Victorian stocking records were broken for several species including 1.85 million Murray cod, over 3 million golden perch, 287,000 silver perch and 275,000 estuary perch.
This comes on top of last year's one million trout and salmon stocking, taking the number to nearly 7 million fish, more than double the number of fishes stocked under the Liberals in 2013.
Lake Eildon received a record 714,000 native fish this stocking season, with 413,800 Murray cod and 300,500 golden perch in the water.
Rocklands Reservoir is another big winner from this fish stocking season, receiving 300,000 Murray cod fingerlings and 300,000 golden perch bringing the stocking total to more than one million native fish in just two years.
Native fish are also being released into new fishing areas, with a string of reservoirs in central Victoria receiving golden perch ahead of being opened for kayak and canoe access.
Barkers Creek Reservoir, now open to paddle-craft, received 30,000 golden perch while other reservoirs soon to be opened to on-water access shared in 209,000 native fish, including Lauriston, Upper Coliban, Tullaroop and Malmsbury.
75,000 estuary perch fingerlings have also been released into the Barwon River near Geelong and 133,000 into the Maribyrnong River as part of a bigger project involving access and facilities improvements.
Closer to Melbourne, other Target One Million stocking commitments are being delivered with 260 catchable size golden perch and Murray cod released into lakes at Casey Fields and Karkarook in Moorabin.
The record-breaking water by water list of native fish stockings is available at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/nativefish2019
As noted by Minister for Fishing and Boating Jaala Pulford
"Our fish stocking program is smashing records and now stocking more fish than any other state in Australia."
"We want more Victorians spending time outside and active, and what better way than fishing with family and friends."
