The endangered Macquarie Perch’s future in local waterways looks bright, with nearly 80,000 fingerlings recently released into Victorian rivers and lakes.
Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos announced more than 78,000 Macquarie perch produced at the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek hatchery near Eildon had been stocked into nine rivers and lakes to fast-track the recovery of the once-prominent native fish.
More than 20,000 Macquarie perch fingerlings have been released into the King River, while the Goulburn River has received 13,100 fish.
Cudgewa Creek received 12,800 fingerlings, the Ovens and Buffalo Rivers have each been stocked with 10,000 fish, and Broken River welcomed 5000.
Dartmouth Dam was topped up with 3000, Seven Creeks gained 2800, and 2000 went into Hughes Creek.
The Victorian Government is backing the production and release of the ‘Macca’ fingerlings to re-establish wild populations across Victoria.
This year is the first to benefit from a three-year, multi-million-dollar research project led by the former and current Victorian Governments to ‘crack the code’ on breeding Macquarie perch.
Mr Dimopoulos said the perch were once abundant in northern Victoria.
“These stockings are a vital step in rebuilding wild populations so future generations can enjoy these magnificent native fish,” he said.
“The work being done to crack the code when it comes to breeding Maccas will lead to reliable production and achieving the long-term goal of sustainable recreational fisheries for Macquarie perch in years to come.”
With collaboration across community and educational organisations, catchment management authorities, research partners and recreational fishers, the project ensures learning more about the best nutrition, hormones and breeding conditions for Macquarie perch to thrive in the hatchery environment.
The recovery of Macquarie perch is also supported by significant upgrades at the VFA’s Snobs Creek and Arcadia fish hatcheries, with $15 million invested in world-class infrastructure.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said rivers across the north-east are already showing positive signs from recent years of stocking.
“The future looks bright for the Macquarie perch,“ she said.
The VFA is also protecting wild populations of Macquarie perch with new rules for recreational fishers across Victoria.