Narrandera is playing a huge part in the fresh water fish stocking season.

NSW Department of Primary Industries is in the final stages of the 2021/2022 fish stocking season, which has so far seen more than 4.8 million fish, produced at NSW DPI hatcheries, released throughout the state.

The figures include a record number of 1.27 million Murray Cod produced at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre.

One million dollars locked in for Narrandera Fisheries in the NSW 2022-23 budget has been reaffirmed by Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to this $6 million project.

Upgrades and expansion to the scientific centre and the installation of high tech equipment, a hatching area and additional catching ponds are some of the elements of this project.

This funding will go towards finalising this wonderful project.

The Department has also opened applications for the Recreational Fishing Trust Grants.

Anglers and community members can apply for funding for projects which improve and promote recreational fishing across the state.

Anyone can apply for funding from the Recreational Fishing Trust, including fishing organisations, councils, universities, community groups and individuals.

Grants are available for large projects valued at more than $10,000 in funding, as well as smaller projects valued at less than $10,000.

Project areas previously funded have included:

• Fishing access and facilities, which have included fishing platforms and fish cleaning tables,
• Enhancing recreational fisheries
• Recreational fishing education such as fishing workshops, Fishcare volunteers and education in schools.
• Essential research on recreational fishing such as fishing surveys, biology of popular recreational species and angler catch projects.
• Other projects that benefit recreational fishing.
• Aquatic habitat rehabilitation – to remove barriers to fish migration, replanting and protecting river bank vegetation and restoring water flows.
• Gone Fishing NSW Day fishing club grants Funding guidelines and application forms are available at https://bit.ly/3Ers2MD

Applications close tomorrow June 29.

For more details contact recreational.fishingtrust@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 30 June 2022.