FISH are returning to local waterways, including the Thomson River and Gippsland Lakes.
Recent fish surveys in the Thomson River have seen the highest catch rates of the Tupong since targeted surveys began in 2004.
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority environmental water resource officer Dr Stephanie Suter said this was a good result, and continued the steady increase seen in fish populations in recent years.
Fish surveys in the Thomson were conducted by a team from the Authur Rylah Institute and Austral Research in early February and noted increased numbers of Tupong and the Australian Grayling, which is listed nationally as a vulnerable species.
“Wet conditions combined with multiple years of targeted environmental flows from the Thomson Dam has certainly played a large part in allowing this lift in numbers,” Dr Suter said.
“The maintenance of base flows and large freshening flows, mimicking those that would have occurred naturally, provides an environment more conducive to all sorts of aquatic life, including these particular fish.”
Of note are the fish numbers in and above the recently-constructed fishway at the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel site.
The fishway was completed in 2019 to allow migratory fish, particularly the Grayling, to move up the Thomson to its upper reaches.
“Seeing a return of Tupong above the fishway is evidence the fishway is enabling fish passage upstream, particularly for native migratory species,” Dr Suter said.
“It’s a strong signal that river conditions and environmental flows are providing both the upstream connection and the flow cues favourable to our native species.
“It’s very encouraging, and we look forward to seeing further number increases, in species such as Grayling, turning up in fish surveys in coming years.”
The survey team found three Tupong above the fishway and one passing through the fishway.
Record numbers were also found in the lower section of the river, bolstered by migration of a large number of juveniles into the river.
Nineteen Australian Grayling were found in the mid to lower sections of the river also.
“So, what we see here is encouraging on a number of fronts,” Dr Suter said.
“Overall, the numbers of fish like the Tupong and the Australian Grayling are up, indicating good conditions and the likelihood of more fish found throughout the river system in coming years.
“We’re also seeing fish being caught in more than one location, indicating a diversity and breadth of the population and another positive indicator that we will see more upward migration, through the fishway in coming years.”
Loch Sport Fishing Association too is reporting increasing fish numbers in the Gippsland Lakes, following a ban on commercial fishing in the lakes.
Association secretary-treasurer Craig Holland said fishers had recently reported catching quality King George whiting in good numbers all around the lakes.
“There is no doubt that the re-emergence of this iconic species is directly attributable to the removal of the nets, as the sea grass beds are showing signs of healthy regeneration, thus restoring the whiting’s preferred habitat,” he said.
“Seasoned locals say that whiting of the recent quality and numbers have not been seen in the lakes for 20 or more years.”
Association members also recently visited Metung to celebrate the Victorian Fisheries Association’s first release of 42,000 dusky flathead fingerlings into the Gippsland Lakes.
The release was part of a stocking program and the state government’s Gippsland Lakes Fishery Recovery Plan.
A record eight million fish will be stocked by April this year, with 10 million to be released in 2022.
Some of these fish were Australian bass and estuary perch, released into tributaries of the Gippsland Lakes in December.
Mr Holland said Loch Sport Fishing Association would continue to promote the ideals of responsible fishing and encourage all recreational fishermen to fish “for a family feed and fun”, rather than to fill the boat every time they went out.
“This will make a huge difference to the rate at which the lakes are restored to their former fishing mecca status,” he said.
More information about projects happening in the Thomson River, including videos of the Thomson River Fishway, can be found at wgcma.vic.gov.au.
