South Coast Dusky Flathead Stocking
by NSW DPIRD - Recreational Fisheries 25 May 00:12 UTC
Dusky flathead stocks in three popular NSW South Coast estuary systems have received a significant boost following the recent stocking of more than 64,000 flattie fingerlings!
Over recent weeks 21,000 dusky fingerlings have been released into Burrill Lake, 21,000 into Lake Conjola and over 22,000 into St Georges Basin - bringing the total number of flatties released by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) this season to 64,700!
These fish were produced for DPIRD by Narooma Aquaculture and are a top up to the previous years of stocking events in these systems.
The stocked fish are expected to have good survival rates and should reach legal size of 36cm within two to three years. The juvenile duskies are being monitored by NSW DPIRD researchers with the help of volunteer citizen scientists. This work is designed to evaluate the growth of the fish, their movements and impact of fish releases on the recreational fishery.
These releases are a key part of the NSW DPIRD Fisheries Marine Stocking Program and will provide extra incentive for local and visiting fishers to wet a line.
Funds were provided under the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy and the Recreational Fishing Trust.