A record number of more than 410,000 estuary perch have been stocked into seven waterways across Victoria.
Estuary perch are a popular target for fishers and one of a dozen species stocked annually to further improve fishing opportunities in the state’s lakes, rivers and estuaries.
The stocking forms part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $35 million Go Fishing Victoria plan to get more people fishing, more often and boost fish stocking to 10 million by April this year.
The Maribyrnong River has since welcomed a further 120,000 estuary perch that found new homes amongst 32 fish habitat structures installed in November 2021.
For the first time ever, Aura Vale Lake near Emerald has also been stocked with 5,000 estuary perch. Further east – the Gippsland Lakes has been stocked for the second year in a row with 140,000 fingerlings.
The stocking at Gippsland Lakes comes as part of the Gippsland Lakes Recreational Fishery Plan, which is returning the waterway to a recreational fishing mecca, following the end of commercial net fishing in 2020.
Overall this season, estuary perch has been stocked into:
- Maribyrnong River (120,000)
- Gippsland Lakes (140,000)
- Barwon River (113,700)
- Lake Tyers (25,000)
- Aura Vale Lake (5,000)
- Bemm River (5,000)
- Snowy River (5,000)
Quotes attributable to Minister for Fishing and Boating Melissa Horne
“Estuary perch are a brilliant native fish popular with recreational fishers, and it’s great to see several waterways across Victoria sharing in more than 400,000 fingerlings.”
“We’re on track to stock a record 10 million fish by April this year, which provides more opportunities for Victorian families to get outdoors and spend time together by the water, and also contributes to our local economies.”
Reviewed 04 January 2022