THE first native fish produced at Arcadia’s brand-new fish hatchery were released into the Goulburn River last week.
Victorian Fishing and Boating Minister Melissa Horne released the first 10,000 golden perch fingerlings into the river. Once fully operational, the hatchery will produce up to 1.6 million native fish each year – mostly golden perch and Murray cod.
Ms Horne was joined by Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed, Mayor Kim O’Keeffe, and local fishing figures for a tour of the $7M Arcadia hatchery set on 170 acres, which includes 32 ponds, a fish hatchery built out of a converted milking shed, and room to grow.
“We’ve taken a fish farm to the next level in terms of design,” said Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) native fish hatchery project director, Anthony Forster. “And because it’s in a warmer climate it’ll grow fish faster than we would otherwise have.”
Mr Forster explained how the ponds are designed to mimic nature, by using bore water to create wetlands and aerators that encourage zoo plankton to bloom for quality fish food.
Built to complement the VFA’s hatchery near Eildon, the Arcadia hatchery marks “a new era,” in fish farming. The site has been designed so that no person needs to touch the fish, which can damage wildlife and put workers in danger, “chasing fish in puddles,” as Mr Forster puts it.
The next major milestone for the Arcadia hatchery will be constructing a $3M visitor centre, that will offer fishing recreation opportunities, picnic areas, and educational experiences to learn more about fishing, Indigenous history, and our waterways.
