More than 100,000 fingerlings have been released into three of South Australia’s reservoirs this month as part of SA Water’s ongoing fish stocking program, helping to improve recreational anglers’ fishing experience.
According to SA Water, the Myponga Reservoir welcomed 20,000 Rainbow Trout fingerlings last week, with a combination of 10,000 Golden Perch and Silver Perch heading to Bundaleer Reservoir.
SA Water said the fish were locally sourced from the Tooperang Trout Farm in Mount Compass and carefully released into the water with the help of volunteers.
General Manager of Strategy, Engagement and Innovation at SA Water, Nicola Murphy said fishing remained popular among visitors to the State’s reservoir reserves.
“We continue to see strong numbers of recreational anglers dropping a line in at our reservoirs, which offer a diversity of thriving fish species for people to reel in,” Ms Murphy said.
“From our reservoir reserves in the Barossa, down to the beautiful Myponga and with Happy Valley nestled in the midst of metropolitan Adelaide, the community is spoilt for choice, and investing in the sites’ fish populations ensures we’re enhancing the fishing experience,” she said.
“With plenty of catch-ready fish already calling our reservoirs home, our new fingerlings – including the treasured Murray Cod – will augment the reservoirs’ current populations and see anglers get a few more bites.”
Ms Murphy said the South Parra reservoir had also been stocked with 80,000 native fingerlings earlier in the month- including three native fish species, the Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch.
She said more stocking would be underway this year, with Happy Valley Reservoir set for further fish releases and Warren Reservoir to be restocked with Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch in September.
SA Water said funds raised from fishing permit sales were exclusively reinvested into the ongoing fishing management at the State’s reservoir reserves.
