Today the ACT Government has released the ACT Fisheries Management Plan: Fish Stocking 2022-2027, a five-year strategy that plans the ongoing stocking of native fish in ACT waterbodies.

The ACT Government launched the new Fish Stocking Plan following consultation with the Canberra community and stakeholders last year.

“Stocking Canberra’s urban lakes with recreational fish species helps conserve native species by relieving the pressures of fishing on the more fragile rivers and streams within the ACT,” Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said.

“It also helps to establish a balanced ecosystem in our urban lakes where fish populations may be depleted, where fish are unable to successfully breed or, for new lake developments where they have not previously lived.”

Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for the Environment, said the Fish Stocking Plan was one way for the ACT to address the urgency of the biodiversity crisis all ecosystems were facing.

“Some of the reasons for decline in our native fish populations includes the introduction of exotic species and overfishing,” Ms Vassarotti said.

“Research and monitoring within the ACT has found that trout cod, Macquarie perch, and Murray crayfish are now significantly less common in our waterways to the point they are now listed as threatened species.

“The 2022-2027 Fish Stocking Plan includes guidelines for conservation stocking of threatened fish species, including stocking undertaken for scientific research.

“This plan also has a new focus area on cultural releases, which supports the safe release of captive-reared fish into the wild for religious or other cultural reasons.”

The ACT Government updates the fish stocking plan every five years in accordance with the Fisheries Act 2000.

Find out more about the ACT Fisheries Management Plan: Fish Stocking 2022-2027 on the ACT Environment website.