PLENTY MORE FISH IN THE …LAKE

Today, Mary Porter AM MLA, Member for Ginninderra, joined with members of the Canberra Fishermans Club to release 30,000 Golden Perch fingerlings into Lake Ginninderra, part of a regular program of stocking local lakes to improve recreational fishing.

"The release of fish into our lakes gives Canberrans greater opportunities for fishing closer to home, takes pressure off native species in our non-urban rivers and streams better protecting threatened species in the wild, and improves the biodiversity of our lakes," Ms Porter said.

"Since the mid-1990s the ACT Government has released more than a million fish into our lakes and dams.

These are some of the 67,000 fingerlings the ACT Government, with the assistance of the Canberra Fishermans Club, is stocking in Lake Tuggeranong, Lake Ginninderra, Yerrabi Pond and Gungahlin Pond this year. A total of 10,000 Murray Cod have already been released into Gungahlin Pond in January.

“The ACT Government's stocking program targets native species that adapt well to local lakes, including Murray Cod and Golden Perch. Staff from Territory and Municipal Services survey fish populations in urban lakes every two years. Results indicate that stocked fish are generally of angling size in about three years.”

Ms Porter said that today’s release is part of the ACT Government’s Fish Stocking Plan.

Copies of the Fish Stocking Plan can be accessed at http://www.environment.act.gov.au/water, Canberra libraries and tackle shops.

Statement Ends
Media Contact: Andrew Hunter 02 6205 0428 bh 0431 739 775
Andrew.hunter@parliament.act.gov.au
Mary Porter 0414 480 440