ANOTHER 5000 Macquarie perch have been released into Lake Dartmouth.
The expansive waterway is home to the largest population of the elusive species.
More than 22,000 perch were recently released at four sites to help rebuild stocks of the endangered breed.
One of the other locations was ON the Ovens River, near Myrtleford.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said 6320 perch were released in the Ovens, 5000 into Expedition Pass Reservoir near Castlemaine and 6320 into the Goulburn River near Trawool.
Mr Walsh said the fingerling perch had been produced at the Department of Primary Industries’ Snobs Creek hatchery, near Eildon where other native fish such as Murray cod and trout cod are also grown.
“Wild Macquarie perch populations were once very common but have declined, so these stockings should assist the recovery of the species,” he said.
“In recent years, some Macquarie perch have been sourced from Lake Dartmouth for our breeding program so our stocking there this year was to acknowledge that contribution.”
Mr Walsh said Fisheries Victoria had been working hard to develop several new fisheries for Macquarie perch where anglers could catch the species on a limited basis.
