Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

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Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by fishingvic » Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:11 pm

5 March 2017

FIRST TIME FISH STOCKING INTO THE MARIBYRNONG

The Maribyrnong River will be stocked with estuary perch for the first time next
summer to improve recreational fishing opportunities and get more people fishing,
more often.
Member for Essendon, Danny Pearson said more than 50,000 fingerlings would be
released into the freshwater reaches of the river from Essendon upstream before
Christmas.
Increasing fish stocking and developing new fisheries is all part of the Andrews Labor
Government’s Target One Million plan for recreational fishing, which aims to grow
participation to one million anglers by 2020.
The Maribyrnong River was once home to healthy numbers of estuary perch more
than a century ago and fisheries managers hope the stocking will re-establish a selfsustaining
population in the years ahead.
The fingerlings will be two or three centimetres long when stocked and likely take
three or four years to reach a catchable size.
Mr Pearson joined members of the Essendon Anglers Club today to make the
announcement and also celebrate the club’s new sign, which has improved the
profile of the clubhouse and already attracted new members.
The sign was funded by the Labor Government’s Target One Million’s Stronger
Fishing Clubs grants program, which offers clubs registered before January 2015 with
grants of up to $2,000 to improve facilities and promote membership.
Estuary perch stockings elsewhere in the state are showing encouraging signs with
fish being caught by anglers at Devilbend Reservoir, Albert Park Lake, the Werribee
River, Melton Reservoir and Karkarook Lake.
Since 2012, more than 500,000 estuary perch have been released into 12 waterways
across the state, funded by Target One Million and recreational fishing licence fees.
Learn more at www.vic.gov.au/estuaryperch
Quotes attributable to Member for Essendon Danny Pearson
“Stocking estuary perch into the Maribyrnong River for the first time is great news for
urban anglers and youngsters who can walk or ride a short distance to wet a line.”
“The Andrews Labor Government’s Target One Million initiative is doing great things
for recreational fishing, helping to get more people active and exploring Victoria’s
great outdoors with family and friends.”
“Our $47 million investment is improving access and facilities for anglers, increasing
fish stocking to five million, helping clubs grow membership and ending commercial
net fishing in Port Phillip Bay.”
Fishing Victoria Admin
http://www.fishing-victoria.com
Fishing Victoria - Forums for fishing and angling in Victoria, Australia.

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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by HyperX » Mon Mar 06, 2017 3:10 pm

sounds good. they should try stocking more native species rather than trouts.
Though im curious to how many of the 50,000 released actually make it adulthood

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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by Boonanza » Mon Mar 06, 2017 3:21 pm

They probably wouldn't have too many predators in there apart from Eels there so they might have a decent chance.
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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by greggo » Mon Mar 06, 2017 4:35 pm

Jewie lollies...!

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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by bilby » Mon Mar 06, 2017 4:36 pm

Of course, if you stock them into the Maribyrnong, you're also stocking them into the Yarra. And in terms of structure, the Docklands area provides some of the best there is in the state! As to the other question (how many survive), the main predator in the system would be mulloway once they are of a reasonable size.

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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by bilby » Mon Mar 06, 2017 4:36 pm

Ah, I see you got there first, greggo!

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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by Basti » Mon Mar 06, 2017 4:56 pm

at 2-3cm long, they'll be tucker for most bream flathead and salmon too. enough will survive to make it worthwhile

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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by Boonanza » Mon Mar 06, 2017 5:03 pm

Basti wrote:at 2-3cm long, they'll be tucker for most bream flathead and salmon too. enough will survive to make it worthwhile
Would they be that small I thought they would be around the 10cm mark
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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by 4liters » Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:50 pm

Boonanza wrote:
Basti wrote:at 2-3cm long, they'll be tucker for most bream flathead and salmon too. enough will survive to make it worthwhile
Would they be that small I thought they would be around the 10cm mark
it mentions it in the article

I reckon a lot of them will end up in a bream or salmon but you probably get that anytime you stock fingerlings
2015/16 Fisting Victoria Species comp total: 289cm
Brown Trout: 37cm
Flathead: 51cm; Squid: 36cm; Australian Salmon: 51cm; Snapper 46cm; Silver Trevally 23cm; KGW: 45cm
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Re: Estuary perch to be stocked into Maribyrnong River

Post by Boonanza » Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:56 pm

I didn't read the article but being an estuary species why wouldn't they put them in the fresh/brackish water where there are less predators.
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