Salmonid Fish Releases 2011

Published: January 2012

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 using information provided at five regional angler consultation meetings (known as Vic Fish Stock). Fisheries Victoria recognises the importance of stakeholder participation 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 Authorities and Fisheries staff to develop the current year's stocking plan.

The development of the annual stocking program takes into account the performance of the fisheries, the existing stocking program, results of stock assessments, angler and creel surveys, prevailing environmental conditions, impacts of land and water management regimes and other considerations relevant to the stocking program.. Requests by stakeholders to vary current stocking programs are also considered. The 2011 salmonid component of the stocking program released 695,632 salmonids into Victorian waters, including 306,714 rainbow trout, 372,913 brown trout and 16,005 Atlantic salmon.

All these fish were produced at the Snobs Creek facility and reflect the improvements made with recreational fishing licence funds to upgrade facilities and improve stock health management along with the hard work and expertise of staff. The figure represents an almost 100% increase in salmonid production against the historical 8 year average of around 350,000 trout per year.

Returns from 2010 drought recovery stockings

In 2010, Fisheries Victoria stocked 706,282 salmonids into Victorian waters including 459,912 rainbow trout and 246,370 brown trout. This total included more than 187,000 trout stocked into suitable drought recovered lakes in November 2010. These fish were in addition to the normal stocking plan and were a result of acting quickly to capitalise on the productivity of lakes that refilled after the drought broke in spring 2010.

The results of these stockings were realised in 2011 - and were spectacular - with many of these drought recovered lakes providing excellent fishing opportunities to anglers.

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.

* Additional rainbow trout and brown trout were released into several impoundments to capitalise on the excellent growing conditions and excellent angler returns from the lakes. It is anticipated that these fish will continue to provide excellent fishing for Victorian anglers in the next few seasons.

Family Fishing 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.

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Acknowledgements

This Agnote was developed by Ewan McLean, David Ambrens and Julia Menzies, Fisheries Victoria – Fisheries Management. January 2012.