RECREATIONAL fishers are welcoming a stock-up of lakes across the region.
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Green Hill Lake at Ararat, Bellfield Reservoir at Halls Gap and Lake Fyans received new stocks of brown trout and rainbow trout.
Green Hill Lake received 2000 brown trout and 2000 rainbow trout. Another 8000 rainbow trout were released at Bellfield Reservoir while Lake Fyans received 10,000 of the same variety.
Fisheries Victoria carried out the releases of the fish stocks on Thursday.
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said the project would provide benefits to lakes across the region.
She said the initiative was a key part of the Target One Million Plan, which aims to increase participation of anglers to one million by 2020.
The plan was created to foster recreational fishing, which data from VRFish says is worth $381 million to the regional economy.
“Improving fishing opportunities in waterways such as Green Hill Lake and Bellfield Reservoir is a great way to attract newcomers to fishing and grow participation in regional communities,” Ms Pulford said.
“Our Target One Million plan for recreational fishing has also helped fishing clubs attract new members and improve facilities, established a marine stocking program with estuary perch and mulloway, and is ending commercial net fishing in Port Phillip Bay.”
Further restocking as part of the local lakes program, which will continue until the end of July, will include:
- 10,000 rainbow trout and 10,000 brown trout for Lake Wartook near Halls Gap;
- 300 rainbow trout for Alexandra Lake at Ararat;
- 200 rainbow trout for Goldfields Reservoir at St Arnaud;
- 300 rainbow trout for Cato Lake at Stawell; and
- 200 rainbow trout for Great Western Racing, Recreation Reserve Lake.
“Fishing is such an important recreational activity for many Victorians and I would much rather see kids casting a line that sitting at home on an iPad,” Ms Pulford said.
“As the minister responsible, I’m determined that we do our bit to make sure fishing is a fun, safe and rewarding activity for Victorians of all ages.”
Fishing is such an important recreational activity ... I would much rather see kids casting a line that sitting at home on an iPad.
- Jaala Pulford