More than 25,000 native Murray Cod have been released into Lake Ginninderra as part of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate’s annual fish stocking program.
Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti said the introduction of the Murray Cod would provide lasting environmental benefits by improving the ecology of Lake Ginninderra.
“Our annual fish stocking program is crucial in helping our lakes and ponds continue to have healthy populations of native fish,” Ms Vassarotti said.
“Introducing a large native predator like Murray Cod into our lakes helps balance the lake’s ecosystems that would otherwise consist of pest species, like European Carp,” she said.
“Murray Cod do not naturally breed in our urban lakes due to the still water environment, so regular stocking of the species is required.”
The Minister said the fish stocking program had added over 1.5 million native fish into ACT lakes since 1964, and the Directorate often worked with the National Capital Authority and Canberra Fisherman’s Club to have fingerlings delivered to lakes.
She said the release of fingerlings provided anglers and casual fishers an opportunity to fish sustainably and reduced the impact on populations in other waterways in the ACT.
“Fish stocked into our urban lakes and ponds also help take pressure off our fragile natural river populations which are not stocked in this program,” she said.
Ms Vassarotti said the Directorate would also release 3,600 Golden Perch into southern urban ponds in the next month.
