Victoria Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh

First-Ever Large-Scale Estuary Perch Stocking In Victoria As Lake Bolac Receives ‘Barramundi Of The South’

Victor P Taffa

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh today helped to release 7,000 estuary perch fingerlings into Lake Bolac in the first ever large-scale stocking of the fish in Victoria.

Mr. Walsh said estuary perch were often referred to as the barramundi of the south by keen perch fishers and were typically found in estuaries along Victoria’s coastline where they are targeted by recreational fishers.

“Today’s fish stocking event is an historic event because very few estuary perch have been successfully bred and used to create a new recreational fishery.” Mr. Walsh said.

“Plans to stock estuary perch have been on the drawing board for many years but the species has proved difficult to breed reliably.”

Mr. Walsh said the breakthrough came in November last year when some of Victoria’s best estuary perch anglers caught 31 ripe broodfish from the Hopkins River.

“The broodstock were taken by chartered aeroplane to a leading bass farmer in New South Wales, which led to successful spawning and the growing of larvae in purpose-built saline plankton ponds.” Mr. Walsh said.

Fisheries Victoria Executive Director Anthony Hurst said an improved knowledge of the genetic structure of estuary perch had helped shape the stocking program.

“A previous small-scale stocking attempt occurred in Lake Hamilton in 2000, and it is hoped estuary perch will perform well in Lake Bolac, creating a new fishery during the next five years.” Mr. Hurst said.

Lake Bolac Angling Club President Ray McLeod said the lake could be a sensational fishery.

“If the stocked estuary perch perform well, we will have created a great mixed trout and native fishery.” Mr. McLeod said.

“Several years ago we came up with the idea of creating a native fishery in Lake Bolac, and this will be great for local anglers and visitors and boost the region’s economy and local jobs.”

The stocking initiative has been funded as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $16.2 Million Recreational Fishing Initiative.