The NSW Government’s fish stocking program has reached new heights with a record 776,500 Murray cod released into freshwater dams across western NSW this year, the Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald announced today.

“This is great news for inland anglers who can look forward to catching the highly prized Murray cod when they reach legal length in about two to three years,” he said.

“The Murray cod have all been bred at NSW Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Fisheries Centre at Narrandera and were released into selected waterways during the past months.

“This year’s stocking beats the previous record set in 2005/06 by 107,500 fish and is a credit to the hard working staff at the Fisheries Centre’s hatchery.”

Murray cod are widespread throughout the Murray-Darling Basin - ranging through Queensland, NSW, into Victoria and South Australia.

The Iemma Government, through DPI, has provided more than $1 million for native and salmonid stocking programs this year, and the Recreational Fishing Trusts has contributed more than $500,000 to this year’s program.

NSW DPI Senior Fisheries Manager Cameron Westaway said the Trust matches funds from angling clubs and community groups to enable the purchase of native fingerlings from registered private hatcheries for stocking in approved sites.

“This year a further 136,300 Murray cod fingerlings will be stocked under the Dollar-for- Dollar program,” Mr Westaway said.

“This is another example of fishers’ licence fees working for them.”

Minister Macdonald said funds raised from the sale of the recreational fishing licence are placed into two Trusts, one for saltwater and the other for freshwater.

“Expenditure from both of these Recreational Fishing Trusts is overseen by expert panels on behalf of the recreational fishing community. Trust funds can only be spent on projects that improve recreational fishing,” Mr Macdonald said.

“Fishing is one of our State’s most popular pastimes, with more than one million anglers participating each year. The spin-off benefits to regional economies, in terms of tourism and employment, cannot be overstated.”

Media Note: Photos are available

Media contact: Lyndall Derrig 0400 462 447

Source: NSW DPI