Fish-e-Fax Newsletter Issue 304
A fortnightly round-up of recreational fishery management issues
31 October 2011
Vic anglers hooked on record native fish restockings
More than two million native fish have been stocked into Victorian lakes and rivers to improve inland angling opportunities for recreational fishers. Never before have two million fish been released into Victoria’s waterways.
The fish – including golden perch, Murray cod, Australian bass, silver perch, trout cod and Macquarie perch – were stocked across more than 80 lakes and rivers. Anglers will soon be reaping the rewards with most expected to be of a catchable size within two years.
The recovery of drought-affected fisheries has been prioritised, with extra funds from recreational fishing licence revenue being used to boost stocking numbers.
1.1 million golden perch have been stocked, with the majority released into Lake Eildon, Nagambie Lakes, Lake Hume, Loddon River, Kangaroo Lake and Taylor Lake at Horsham.
More than 800,000 Murray cod were also released over summer, nearly double the previous record of this iconic freshwater species.
Other Murray cod stockings include Lake Eppalock, Nagambie Lakes, Loddon River, Gunbower Creek, Avoca River, Meran Lake, Cairn Curran Reservoir, Kangaroo Lake and Lake Boga.
More than 102,000 Australian bass, 36,000 silver perch and smaller numbers of trout cod and Macquarie perch were also released.
To view a video providing further information on these record breaking stockings, please head to http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries/recreational-fishing/fish-stocking/record-native-fish-stocking-last-summer
Victorian rainbow trout equal to Australia’s best
Trout produced at the DPI Freshwater Hatchery at Snobs Creek are the equal of their Tasmanian cousins. Some anglers have historically questioned the genetic quality of Victorian rainbow trout compared to their interstate counterparts, however new findings dispel that myth once and for all.
New research funded by recreational fishing licence fees showed Victorian trout grew and thrived just as well as trout in Tasmania. The research demonstrates the quality of the fish being bred by Fisheries Victoria is equal to any in Australia, with nearly 460,000 rainbow trout stocked last year.
The three year scientific trial compared the performance of Victorian-strain rainbow trout produced at Snobs Creek with Tasmanian-strain fish sourced from the Great Lake population at Liawenee. The rainbow trout were fin clipped by Fisheries Victoria staff to distinguish them and released into privately owned catch and release lakes outside Ballarat.
Expert anglers who fish these lakes regularly monitored the performance of the rainbow trout and maintained detailed records of their catches. To ensure the trial was not biased, even the owners of the lakes did not know the origin of the trout stocked in their waters.
The results showed the Snobs Creek trout performed almost identically to the Tasmanian fish with similar longevity, growth rates and catchability. Both strains survived until they were three to four years old when the trial ended.
These results are good news for thousands of Victorian anglers who have been enjoying bumper trout fishing in many lakes that were stocked with rainbow trout from Snobs Creek following the drought breaking rains of this year and last. These rainbow trout are growing exceptionally well in these lakes with many fish now weighing over 1.2kg
Koi Herpes Virus and carp. A biological control?
Fisheries Victoria recently invited recreational fishers to a meeting with the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC) and CSIRO to discuss the status of Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) research in Australia. Representatives from IACRC provided a summary of the research being done to determine the potential of this virus as a control for carp in Victoria.
The Fish Diseases Laboratory at the high-security CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory is examining KHV as a biological control agent by undertaking a rigorous assessment of KHV in the laboratory to make sure it does not impact Australian native species or trout.
The project is also assessing the susceptibility of Australian carp of different ages/sizes to KHV.
Modelling is required to predict how effective KHV would be in our carp population. Scientists are looking at how it would spread throughout different river systems. These preliminary studies are confined to the laboratory.
To date, a number of key research milestones have been achieved, including; methods for isolation and growth of KHV in cell culture, methods for detection and identification of KHV and demonstration that the KHV Indonesian strain is the most effective at controlling carp numbers.
The timeline for the potential release of the virus in Victoria is approximately 5 years from now subject to meeting all requirements set by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Association (APVMA) and other state and federal agencies.
Fisheries Victoria will continue to work with the IACRC to control noxious carp in Victorian waterways. For more information please visit http://www.feral.org.au
