More than 1.6 million trout produced at the NSW Government’s Dutton Hatchery, near Ebor will be released into rivers across the New England and Central Tablelands this fish stocking season, NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Senior Inland Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway, said today. 

“The fry releases are part of the State Government’s continuing commitment to stock freshwater areas with trout and salmon species,” Mr Westaway said. 

“This weekend, 178,000 rainbow trout fry will be released into rivers in the New England Region, with another 290,000 to follow next month. 

Fish to stocked in the New England Tablelands this weekend include: 

• 48,000 rainbow trout fry into the Hunter River, near Ellerston 
• 16,000 rainbow trout fry into the MacIntyre River near Swan Vale 
• 66,000 rainbow trout fry into the  Severn River near Ben Lomond 
• 8,000 rainbow trout fry into the MacDonald River near Woolbrook 

“Since late August, 367,000 rainbow trout have been released into the New England Tablelands by volunteer members of the New England Trout Acclimatisation Society and its affiliated branches,” Mr Westaway said. 

“Already 112,000 rainbow trout fry have been released into rivers in the Central Tablelands by the Central Acclimatisation society and volunteers. 

“Fish stocking provides a boost for regional communities, where freshwater angling creates jobs and supports businesses and tourism. 

“Stocking will continue to take place over the next two months, with a total of 390,500 brown trout and 1,244,800 rainbow trout to be released in rivers and impoundments across the State. 

“In two years these trout will be mature, which is great news for anglers.”  

Other releases of larger trout fingerlings will occur later in the year at Wyangala Dam, Lake Lyell, Lake Wallace and Thompsons Creek Dam near Lithgow, Ben Chifley Dam near Bathurst and Malpas Dam near Armidale. 

“The Snowy Mountains and Southern Highlands regions are also set to be stocked from the end of November with trout from the NSW Government’s Gaden Trout Hatchery in Jindabyne,” Mr Westaway said.  

During the 2010/11 season, almost 3 million trout and salmon were stocked in freshwater areas across NSW under the NSW Government’s trout stocking program. 

The stocking program is funded in part by money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee and placed into the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust.