Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group Inc Report to Northern Fishstocking Workshop AYR April 2001

Mt Isa Fish Stocking Group has been outstandingly successful in raising public awareness and solving the problems preventing us obtaining barramundi fingerlings in the past. Although we released only 20,000 sooty grunter and 18,000 barramundi fingerlings, we stocked Lake Corella and East Leichhardt dam for the first time. However we will soon receive another consignment of 40,000 sooty grunter and we are ready to place on order the largest consignment of barramundi fingerlings ever. We plan to release up to a quarter of a million fingerlings in November 2001. Finding the funds for fingerling purchases is no longer the critical problem it was in the past. The publicity generated from our fishing competition, the boat raffle and a political lobbying campaign has taken the group to a new horizon.

Awareness of our activities amongst the local community has reached a point where the people are aware of our ability in developing the lakes in the district as viable recreational fisheries. The business community championed by John Thinee, is aware of our important role in laying a foundation for the further development of the regional economy. The Mt Isa Water Board has acknowledged our need for financial assistance and is prepared to fund the purchase of fingerlings. The DPI are giving more assistance to the needs of the gulf region, in helping to professionalize the GBRA hatchery and commencing research on some of our local issues.

Within our group is now an enormous amount of expertise, local members who know the regional fisheries, members who understand the technical challenge of a fish-breeding program, members with the organizational skills to process the paper work and run the fishing competition. The increasing depth of our membership allows us to meet the leadership role the community is asking of us. We will continue to develop our 'hatchery Proposal' for Lake Moondarra; our proposal for a recreational reserve at East Leichhardt Dam; the fishing competition as a major regional community event; and continue to work closely with the DPI and local bodies in developing the recreational fishing potential of the North West.

 

Mark Van Ryt
Secretary MIFSG