Salmonid Fish Releases 2006

Note Number: FN0175
Published: May 2007
Updated: May 2008

Fisheries Victoria Salmonid Stocking Plan

Stocking Plans are developed as part of the annual consultation process (CONS) involving the Victorian Recreational Fishing peak body (VRFish), water and catchment management authorities, Fisheries Victoria and other relevant stakeholders. VRFish represents recreational anglers at these meetings.

The meetings consider the performance of existing stocking programs, the results of stock assessment surveys, creel survey or angler diary data, and anything else that has or might impact on the ongoing fishery i.e. environmental conditions, water levels.

Requests by stakeholders for changes to current stocking programs and the implementation of new stocking programs are also considered.

Stocking Plans are subject to 'last minute' variation due to natural factors i.e. flood, drought, improved water levels, algal blooms or man-made impacts such as major works on storages. Explanatory notes are provided where a planned release has been amended. Where possible, VRFish are consulted before variations are implemented.

Continuing dry conditions experienced in parts of the State during 2006 meant some scheduled releases were cancelled and others modified.

While part of the overall Salmonid Stocking Plan, the Family Fishing Lakes Stocking Program is reported separately however still forms part of the total stocking numbers.

Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout

Chinook Salmon

Family Fishing Lakes Program

Fisheries Victoria undertakes an annual program of stocking on-grown or advanced yearling trout in Family Fishing Lakes (normally less than 5 hectares surface area) in, or adjacent to, population centers, the waters being accessible for both junior and disabled anglers.

School holiday periods are usually targeted for these releases, with the majority coinciding with the second and third term school 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.

Also included are several stockings made outside of the school holiday period for special events held around October each year.

Total Releases – Numbers

Total Releases – Weight

Transport

Man Days: 173 days

Km's traveled: 65,700 Km's

Notes

Month: The date of release in months (i.e. April, 10 = October). Where the total allocation w4 = as released over several months, the first and last months of releases are usually shown.

Acknowledgments

It was reviewed by:

Robert Gibb, Melbourne in May 2008.