Proposal to stock Valley Lake with freshwater fish in Mount Gambier

Murray cod and trout are among the fish slated to be introduced to Valley Lake in Mount Gambier in a proposed stocking program. 

RecFish SA made an official submission to the Mount Gambier Council in February, and they will meet on July 11 to discuss how the program will work.

The program was inspired by locals to draw recreational fishers to the state’s South East. 

“It’s quite a long process obviously because there’s a lot of environmental factors and ecological reports that have to go into it before you put fish into water,” Asher Dezsery, executive officer at RecFish SA, said.

“It’s looking pretty positive. I think this has been with council for several months now. I have a meeting with them in early July and from there we will discuss all the intricacies and support the council through that transition and support them through implementing such a project.”

He said stocking the lake would provide ecological and tourism benefits for the region, with fish expected to be introduced to the lake within a year.

Mr Dezsery said the cod would be a sporting fish on a catch-and-release system, while the trout would be suitable for fishing and eating.

“Cod are a really important trophy fish. They’re important in the ecosystem so we don’t want to be keeping them and removing them,” he said.

“But trout, however, are really fast-growing, they’re a really good eating fish, so those are a different sort of option for people who want to catch and eat something.”

How it will happen

After the proposal is given the green light, an environmental consultant will be involved before the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia approves the permits for fishing the lake.

The Murray cod and trout will be placed in the water from hatcheries around the state, at a size of 25cm to 30cm.

“My original proposal was for the stocking of larger fish and the reason why is so they avoid all of the predation issues from predatory birds like shags, and also the European carp that already exist in the lake,” Mr Dezsery said.

“My proposal is a little bit more expansive but you get an instant fishery, you speed the process up by about three years, and you get a much higher survival rate, so you’re not wasting money on fingerling deaths.”

The program will cost around $70,000 to stock the lake, but it is expected the money will be made up in tourism dollars as recreational fishers are drawn to the area.

It will cost between $25 and $30 for a permit to fish in Valley Lake when fish are stocked.

Mount Gambier Council has been contacted for comment. 

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