Salmonid Fish Releases 2000

Note Number: FN0153
Published: January 2001

Fisheries Victoria Salmonid Stocking Plan

Stocking Plans are developed annually as part of the management consultation process between Fisheries Victoria and DNRE Regional staff. The meetings consider in detail the performance of existing stocking programs, the results of stock assessment surveys, creel survey or C/ERP data, and anything else that has or might impact on the ongoing fishery e.g. environmental conditions, water levels.

Requests by client groups for changes to current stocking programs and the implementation of new stocking pro-grams are considered. VRFish, the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body, represents recreational anglers at these meetings.

Stocking Plans are subject to 'last minute' variation due to natural factors e.g. flood, drought, or man-made impacts such as excessive algal blooms, major works on storages, etc. Explanatory notes are provided where a planned release has been amended. Amendments are agreed to by DNRE Regional staff and VRFish before implementation.

Extended fish supply contract negotiations and low lake levels resulted in a delayed start to the fish release program. Some scheduled releases were cancelled and others modified.

While part of the overall Salmonid Stocking Plan, the 'Small Waters Stocking Program' is reported separately. Dry conditions also impacted on this stocking plan.

Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Albert Park L., Albert Park	9	10+	-	1 593
Aringa Res., Port Fairy	12	9-10	500	1 000
Barwon R., Ceres	12	8	*3 000	-
Batyo Catyo L., Donald	U/S
Beaufort L., Beaufort	11	8	1 000	-
Berwick Springs Estate
L., Berwick (a)	10-11	10+	-	2 000
Blue Rock L., Willow Grove	10-12	9-10	10 000	-
(See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')
Bolac L., Lake Bolac	10-12	9-10+	10 000	10 000
Bostock Res., Ballan	12	9	3 000	-
Bullarto Res., Bullarto	7	10	1 000	-
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	10-12	8-10+	-	15 000
Cairn Curran Res., Maldon	10-11	8-9	*18 000	-
Cartcarrong L, Winslow	12	9	1 000	-
Colbrook Res., Ballan	12	8	200	-
Colongulac L., Camperdown	U/S
Cosgrove Res., Creswick	12	8	1 000	-
Dean Res., Dean	12	8	500	-
Deep L., Derrinallum	U/S
Dock L., Horsham	U/S
Eildon L., Eildon	10-11	8	*31 000	-
(See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')
Eildon Pondage, Eildon	1, 7-12	5-10+	*8 000	-
	1-5	R2YO	*3 000	600
	1,11-12	2YO	890	875
			(*375)	(*375)
	1, 10-12	3YO	275	275
			(*75)	(*75)
Elingamite L., Cobden	9	8-9	2 000	500
Fyans L., Pomonal	9-10	10-10+	*5 400	*5 400
Gillear L., Allansford	12	9-10	1 000	1 000
Glenmaggie L., Heyfield	11	9	*2 000	-
Goldfields Res., Maryborough	U/S
Gong Gong Res., Ballarat	10-12	9-10	2 500	2 500
Greenhill L., Ararat	U/S
Hamilton L., Hamilton	9	11	3 000	-
Hanging Rock L., Hanging Rock	U/S
Harcourt Res., Harcourt Nth.	10	10	-	5 000
Hepburn Lagoon, Blampied	10-12	9-10+	*4 500	*4 500
	12	2-3	5 000	5 000
Hollands Cr., Tatong	10	9	*1 000	-
Hopkins R., Allansford	9	10	*2 000	-
Hume Res., Wodonga	N/S
(See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')
Jil Jil L., Donald	9	10+	-	784
Konongwootong Res., Coleraine	11	9-10+	1 500	1 500
Lang Lang R., Lang Lang (b)	11	9	*3 200	-
Lauriston Res., Kyneton	6	9	7 500	-
Learmonth L., Learmonth	U/S
Lillydale L., Lilydale	9-11	10+	-	2 000
Macalister R., Heyfield:
- above Lake Glenmaggie	11-12	8-10	*5 000	7,000
- below Lake Glenmaggie	11	9	*2 000	-
Malmsbury Res., Malmsbury	10	9	*6 750	-
	12	2	7 500	-
Merri R., Warrnambool:
- below Weir	10	9	*6 000	-
- above Weir	12	8	*1 300	-
Modewarre L., Mt. Moriac	11	9-10+	*4 500	*3 545
Moorabool Res., Bolwarrah	11-12	9	6 000	-
Mount Beauty Pondage	12	9-10	*1 000	*1 000
Mount Emu Cr.
- Below Castlecarey	12	8	*2 000	-
- Skipton	12	8	*300	-
Murdeduke L., Winchelsea	11	10+	-	*9 000
Narracan L., Yallourn	12	9	10 000	-
Natimuk L., Natimuk	U/S
Newlyn Res., Newlyn	11-12	8-9	*3 600	-
	12	2	4 000	-
Nursery Res., Macedon	U/S
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	8-12	9-10+	*15 000	*5 000
(See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')
Rocklands Res., Balmoral	12	9	10 000	-
Ryans Cr., Molyullah	10	10	*500	-
Sugarloaf Res., Christmas Hills	N
Talbot Res., Talbot	U/S
Teddington Res's., Stuart Mill:	U/S
Tooliorook L., Lismore	11-12	9-10	5 000	1 000
Toolondo Res., Toolondo	10	8-10	*18 000	-
Upper Coliban Res., Kyneton	11	9	7 500	-
Wallace L., Edenhope	11	8	1 000	2 225
Wartook L., Halls Gap	11-12	8-10	7 000	-
Wendouree L., Ballarat	8-12	8-10+	*6 000	*10 148
West Barwon Dam, Forrest	11	10	-	1 000
Wombat Res., Daylesford	11	9-10	1 000	1 000
Wurdi Boluc Res., Wurdiboluc	11	9-10	2 000	2 000
Sub-Total			265 915	102 445

Chinook salmon

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Chinook Salmon
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	11	9	2 500
Sub Total			2 500

Atlantic Salmon

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Atlantic Salmon
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	5	5	5 300
Sub Total			5 300

Small Waters Stocking Program

Fisheries Victoria undertakes an annual program of stocking ongrown or advanced yearling trout in small waters (normally less than 5 hectares surface area) in, or adjacent to, population centres, the waters being accessible and safe for both junior and disabled anglers.

School holiday periods are usually targeted for these releases, with the majority of the releases being made to coincide with the second and third semester holidays when water temperatures are best suited to trout. In most instances rainbow trout are stocked as they are normally bigger than the available brown trout at that time of year and are reputedly easier to catch by inexperienced anglers.

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Anderson L., Chiltern	9	10+	-	400
Arboretum L., Euroa	9	10+	-	200
Bartlett L., Tatura	9	10+	-	200
Cato L., Stawell	U/S
Caulfield Racecourse L.	9	10+	-	200
Charlie's Dam, Bairnsdale	9	10+	-	300
Cobden L., Cobden	U/S
Condolucci's Dam, Korumburra	U/S
Donald Caravan Park L.	U/S
Dunmunkle Cr., Rupanyup	9	10+	-	100
Emerald L., Emerald	9	10+	-	400
Fosters Dam, Glenrowan	U/S
Gutheridge L., Sale	9	10+	-	765
Heyfield Wetlands, Maffra	11	10	-	550
Hyland L., Churchill	9	10+	-	500
Jack Roper Reserve L.,
Broadmeadows	9	10+	-	500
Jubilee L., Daylesford	9	10+	-	100
Kennington Res., Bendigo	9	10+	-	300
Kerford L., Beechworth	9	10+	-	400
King L., Rutherglen	U/S
Lismore Golf Club
Dam, Lismore	U/S
Marysville Dam, Marysville	9	10+	-	200
Morwell L., Morwell	9-12	10-10+	-	1 000
Neanger L., Eaglehawk	U/S
Police Paddock Dam, Horsham	9	10+	-	400
Rable Park L., Murtoa	9	10+	-	200
Rawson Dam, Rawson	9	10+	-	300
Rotary Park L., Bendigo	7	10+	-	200
Rowville Lakes, Knox	9-11	10-10+	-	800
Roxburgh Park Lakes	9	10+	-	200
St. Georges L., Creswick	9	10+	-	200
Seagull L., Corio	9	10+	-	300
Tea Tree L., Mortlake	9	10+	-	200
Tom Thumb L., Eaglehawk	9	10+	-	100
Trudy's Dam, Bairnsdale	9	10+	-	300
Victoria L., Ballarat	9	10+	-	200
Watonga Drive Dam, Horsham	9	10+	-	300
Weeroona L., Bendigo	U/S
Whittlesea Botanical
Gardens L., Whittlesea	10	10+	-	200
Sub Total				10 015

Client Group Stocking Programs

The department has entered into a joint program with Trout Services Victoria and the FutureFish Foundation of salmonid fry/fingerling releases in selected waters. The aim is to determine the return to anglers from small fish stocked in large numbers compared with returns to anglers from stocking yearling fish, the department's normal practice.

Fry/fingerling trout are unmarked. Finclipping is not an option because of the size of fish and the trauma of clipping during the warmer months of the year.

Other client group releases authorised by the department for which fish release details have been confirmed are also listed. Authorised stockings for which no stocking report has been received will be listed at some future date when the required information is available.

NOTE: Under Section 530 of the Fisheries Regulations 1998, it is an offence to stock fish into any Victorian water, both public and private, without the written per-mission of the Director, Fisheries Victoria. Penalty: up to $2 000.

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Blue Rock L., Willow Grove(c)	FF 3	3	5 000	-
Cudgewa Cr., Cudgewa	FF 1	2	10 000	-
Eildon L., Eildon	FF 11	3	-	200 852
Hume Res., Wodonga	FF 1	3	30 000	-
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	FF 9	3	-	100 000
Tullaroop R., Maryborough	TSV	2	50 000	25 000
Sub Total			95 000	325 852

Total releases - Numbers

	AS	BT	RT	CS	TOTAL
3.1 Fisheries Victoria (Parts 1.1 to 1.4 above)
Fingerling	-	16 500	5 000	-	21 500
Yearling
- clipped	-	*150 050	*38 593	-	*188 643
- unclipped	5 300	95 200	67 117	2 500	170 117
All yearling	5 300	245 250	105 710	2 500	358 760
% clipped	-	61.2	36.5	-	52.6
Rising 2YO	-	*3000	*600	-	*3 600
2YO	-	890	875	-	1 765
		(*375)	(*375)		(*750)
3YO	-	275	275	-	550
		(*75)	(*75)		(*150)
Sub-Total	5 300	265 915	112 460	2 500	386 175
% clipped	-	57.7	35.2	-	50.0
3.2 Client Group Stockings (Part 2 above)
Fingerling	-	95 000	325 852	-	-
Sub Total	-	95 000	325 852	-	420 852
3.3 All Salmonid Stockings (Departmental & client group)
All Fish	5 300	360 915	438 312	2 500	807 027

Total releases - Weight (kg)

	AS	BT	RT	CS	TOTAL
4.1 Fisheries Victoria (Parts 1.1 to 1.4 above)
Fingerling	-	16.1	16.75	-	32.85
Yearling	78.5	26 389	20 933.1	288	47 688.6
Rising 2YO	-	822	168	-	990
2YO	-	597	803	-	1 400
3YO	-	745	650	-	1 395
	78.5	28 569.1	22 570.85	288	51 506.45
4.2 Client Groups (Part 2 above)@
Fingerling	-	124	633.3	-	757.3

Fish release sizes (FV Programs only)

Size	Fish Length Range (mm)	Fish Weight Range (g. per fish)	% of AS	% of BT	% of RT	% of CS
Fingerling/Yearling:
1	to 25	to 0.2	-	-	-	-
2	26 - 50	0.3 - 1.5	-	<1	-	-
3	51 - 75	1.6 - 5	-	-	<1	-
4	76 - 100	5.1 - 12	-	-	-	-
5	101 - 125	12.1 - 23	100	-	-	-
6	126 - 150	24 - 40	-	-	-	-
7	151 - 175	41 - 62	-	-	-	-
8	176 - 200	63 - 91	-	19.4	3.1	100
9	201 - 225	92 - 133	-	61.1	-	-
10	226 - 250	134 - 188	-	18.4	29.0	-
10+	250+	189+	-	-	67.7	-

Average fish weights 2000 (Fisheries Victoria Programs):
Yearlings:	Brown trout 107.6g Rainbow trout 198.1g Chinook salmon 115.2g
R2YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 242g and 300g; average weight was 275g.
2YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 576g to 1 296g; average weight was 793g.
3YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 2 040g to 3 000g; average weight was 2 072g.

Transport

Man Days	229
Liberation vehicles	91 906 km

Notes

*	Indicates fin-clipped fish were released. Where fin-clipped fish were only part of the stocking, the number of marked fish is shown in brackets. Left Ventral fin (LV) was the standard clip for 2000. The angler volunteer finclip program FINCLIP 2000 clipped nearly 190 000 fish.
&	Includes assistance with client group releases, with the exception of the FutureFish release of rainbow trout fingerlings into Purrumbete L.
@	Data incomplete - no weight available for FutureFish release of 100 000 RT fingerling into Purrumbete L.
(a)	Includes release of 752 fish diverted from stock-ing of Albert Park L.
AS	Atlantic salmon.
(b)	Additional 200 fish diverted from unsuitable Condolucci's Dam (Small Waters Stocking Plan).
BT	Brown trout.
(c)	Original, approved target water was Glenmaggie Lake. Water conditions unsuitable for salmonid release, fish diverted to Blue Rock Lake.
CS	Chinook salmon
Month	The date of release in months (i.e. 4 = April, 10 = October). Where the total allocation was re-leased over several months, the first and last months of releases are usually shown.
FF	FutureFish Foundation.
TSV	Trout Services Victoria.
N	Stocking cancelled at request of Melbourne Water.
N/S	Not stocked
RT	Rainbow trout.
U/S	Water conditions unsuitable for stocking.
R2YO	Rising two-year-old fish
2YO	Two-year-old fish.
3YO	Three-year-old fish.

Acknowledgements

Published by Marc Ainsworth