Salmonid Fish Releases 2009

Note Number: FN0610
Published: May 2010
Updated:

This Agnote provides information on the 2009 salmonid fish stockings in Victoria.

Victorian Fish Stocking Program

Fisheries Victoria's native and salmonid fish stocking program is designed to enhance recreational fishing opportunities for anglers. Annual stocking plans are developed utilising information provided at Victorian Fish Stocking meetings (Vic Fish Stock). Fisheries Victoria recognises the importance of the participation of stakeholders in this process. The meetings use input from recreational fishing representatives, resource managers such as the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning DELWP (former) Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Catchment Management Authorities, Water Corporations and Fisheries Victoria staff to develop the current year's stocking plan.

The development of the stocking program takes into account the performance of the various fisheries, the existing stocking program, results of stock assessment, angler and creel surveys, prevailing environmental conditions, impacts of land and water management regimes and other issues that may impact on the fishery. Requests by stakeholders to vary current stocking programs are also considered. Fisheries Victoria is committed to enhancing recreational fishing opportunities by a 30% increase in fish stocking between 2006-2010 as part of the $13.5 million Enhanced Recreational Fishing Program. The increase includes salmonid and native fish species into freshwater systems throughout the State. Many of the salmonid species are of catchable size with more than half weighing between 1-3 kilograms to increase angler's chance of catching a fish. In 2009, Fisheries Victoria stocked 363,363 salmonid fish into Victorian waters, including 210,788 rainbow trout and 152,575 brown trout. Fisheries Victoria has exceeded this commitment to increase fish stocking by 30 per cent over four years. Almost 2 million trout and native fish were stocked into Victorian waters over a 12 month period for the 2009 salmonid and 2010 native stocking seasons. This is in excess of the commitment to increase stocking to 1.5 million by 2010.

Stocking Plans may be subject to 'last minute' variation due to natural factors i.e. flood, fire, low water level or quality, algal blooms or manmade impacts such as major works on storages.

Ongoing drought conditions have implicated some scheduled releases with cancellations or modifications to stockings. Where possible; recreational fishing representatives were consulted prior to variations.

2009 Salmonid Stockings - total numbers

2009 Salmonid Stockings

Family Fishing Lakes and Premier Lakes

Fisheries Victoria undertakes an annual program of stocking on-grown or advanced yearling rainbow trout into small waters (normally less than 5 hectares surface area) in or adjacent to population centres, with the waters being accessible for juniors and anglers with limited mobility.The majority of these stockings coincide with the second and third term school holidays when water temperatures are best suited to trout. 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.

Some Family Fishing lakes are stocked outside of the school holiday period for special events. Five of the Family Fishing Lakes have been developed as Premier Lakes to encourage families and new anglers to go fishing. These five lakes have been stocked at least four times per year (subject to suitable water conditions) with rainbow trout of varying sizes. These include advanced yearlings (approximately 200g) and larger 'Premier' rainbow trout (> 1kg).

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Acknowledgements

This Agnote was developed by Karina Pierotti, Fisheries Victoria Fisheries Management. April 2010.

ISSN 1329-8062

Published and Authorised by:
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning DELWP (former) Department of Environment and Primary Industries
1 Spring Street
Melbourne, Victoria

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