New Fisheries and Fishing Opportunities

The Government is committed to identifying and developing new fisheries in Victoria. Key fisheries being developed include Devilbend Reservoir on the Mornington Peninsula, Nagambie Lakes in the Goulburn catchment and trialling a trout cod recreational fishery in Lake Kerford, near Beechworth. The Government is also conducting a risk assessment to determine the environmental impacts of stocking estuary perch into Lake Bolac. Through the annual regional consultation process new fisheries and improved fishing opportunities will be identified and prioritised. The Nagambie Lakes were recently stocked with approximately 250,000 Murray cod and golden perch this year, similar numbers of fish will be released into these waters in the following four years. These stocking are expected to offer fantastic recreational fishing opportunities to anglers in the future. If you want to register your interest in the development of a new fishery or fishing opportunity contact the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body (VRFish) (external link) Update: Work is continuing to develop Lake Kerford into a recreational trout cod fishery.Brood fish have been collected and are currently acclimatising at the governments fish production facility at Snobs Creek ahead of the upcoming native fish breeding season. Parks Victoria have released the draft Management Plan for Devilbend Reserve at the end of 2008. A significant period of public consultation occurred and has subsequently closed. Parks Victoria will review submissions and continue the process for finalisation of the plan. Further information can be obtained at the Parks Victoria website - parkweb (external link). Fisheries Victoria is currently undertaking a risk assessment as part of the process in developing a stocked recreational fishery in Devilbend and Bittern Reservoirs. Work is continuing on Australian bass production to stock the Snowy River and other popular recreational fishing waters. Work has started on developing options for Macquarie perch production and stocking. A workshop was held in December for relevant agencies and organisations including NSW Fisheries, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Native Fish Australia (NFA) and VRFish to further discuss these options.

Stocking of trout cod in Kerford Lake will be undertaken to develop a trial recreational fishery for this endangered species. Recent stocking of the Nagambie Lakes