Recfishwest

July marked another massive month for West Aussie fishers north and south, with major strides forward taken across two important WA stocking projects.

On 18 July, the one millionth barramundi fingerling was stocked into Lake Kununurra as part of the ongoing and successful Lake Kununurra barramundi stocking program.

While that momentous release took place in the State’s north, 50,000 marron were also released across Logue Brook Dam and Waroona Dam in WA’s south also during July.

“These are both really exciting programs Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland, LKBSG President Dylan Hearty and Fisheries Minister Don Punch releasing future stocks.

contributing to highly popular fisheries and show how fish stocking results in fantastic fishing experiences, while also benefiting regional communities,”

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said. BRIMMING WITH BARRA

For Recfishwest and the Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group (LKBSG), it was great to have about 150 fishers and holidaymakers join us for the momentous community fish stocking event.

Fisheries Minister Don Punch was also along the lake’s banks at Lily Creek Lagoon to help release the millionth barra stocked into Lake Kununurra

through the program, which started in 2013.

There were plenty of smiling faces and happy families at the release event, lending a helping hand.

Everyone was eager to get involved and release the 60-day-old barra fingerlings – bred at North Regional TAFE’s Broome Aquaculture Centre – safely into their new surroundings.

Dr Rowland said fishing was always better when the fish are biting and the Lake Kununurra barramundi stocking program shows how effective fish stocking initiatives can be.

“Lake Kununurra now provides a wilderness fishing experience at its best offering the angler 55km of prime barra country,” he said.

“It’s a location where anglers are able to explore and fish without the worry of saltwater crocs or without big tidal swings typical of other Kimberley barra fisheries.

“Lake Kununurra is something all of us involved in the stocking program and the local community can be genuinely proud of.” FISHING FOR 1M-PLUS BEASTS

The State Government has committed funds to the Lake Kununurra barra stocking program over the next three years through the COVID-19 recfishing recovery package.

This should ensure the fishing enjoyed on the lake will continue to go from strength-to-strength.

“If you’re looking for a new fishing experience in a magnificent, but accessible setting chasing our country’s most iconic sportfish, look no further than Lake Kununurra – it is an East Kimberley fishing gem,” Dr Rowland said.

“This event would not have been possible, and this fishery would not exist, if not for the trailblazing efforts of the original Lake Kununurra Fish Stock Enhancement Committee led by Dick Pasfield, as well as the strong advocacy of Recfishwest’s Frank Prokop to Perth-based decisionmakers in the early 2000s.

“We look forward to seeing many more barramundi caught on Lake Kununurra for many more years to come.” MAXING UP MARRON

NUMBERS IN SOUTH

WEST WATERWAYS

On 23 July, Recfishwest joined Aquafarms at Waroona Dam to release 20,000 one-year-old marron as part of an extensive stocking program backed by the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF).

It came after 30,000 marron were released into Logue Brook Dam earlier in the month.

The stocking program, launched with Premier Mark McGowan in 2019, will see 300,000 marron released into South West freshwater waterways over three years.

“With 50,000 marron stocked into two accessible dams less than two hours’ drive from Perth, this is great news for WA’s 10,000 fishers who hold marron licences,” Recfishwest Operations Manager Leyland Campbell said.

“Fishers told us this was one of the things they wanted their licence money spent on and we’re delivering – securing the future of marron.

“Building on that, we want to see this program move us closer to realising Recfishwest’s vision of an expanded marron season.”

These recently-released marron will be legal size by the 2023 marron season and the first batch to be released — 2,300 marron stocked into Logue Brook Dam in February — will be legal to target in time for the next marron season in January 2022. BUILDING

RESILIENCE AND

FUTURE-PROOFING

Marron are a south west WA icon, providing a unique and family-friendly fishing experience.

However, declining annual rainfall across the South West and south coast is placing environmental pressure on freshwater species in the State’s

south, including marron populations.

All of the already released marron and to-bereleased specimens are bred at Aquafarms’ aquaculture hatchery in Capel, where they are nurtured through the most vulnerable stage of their lifecycle.

Releasing one-year-old marron maximises the animals’ post-release survival rates.

“Supporting healthy populations and ensuring marron abundance through stocking programs such as this will go a long way to future-proofing this important fishery. And of course, more marron in the water results in even better marroning,” Leyland said.