May 14, 2025
Photo: VRFish Chair Rob Loats (R), Chair of the Recreational Lakes Alliance Adam Campbell (L) stocking Watchem Lake
VRFish Chair, Rob Loats and VRFish Board member, Scott Jefferis, have assisted the Victorian Fisheries Authority to stock small freshwater catfish at various locations across Victoria’s north to assist in recovering their populations.
The stocked freshwater catfish were rescued from Lake Lascelles (near Hopetoun) by the Victorian Fisheries Authority and relocated to Walkers Lake (near Donald), Foletti Park Lake (Donald), Lake Wooroonook (near Charlton), Watchem Lake (Watchem) and Campaspe Weir (near Elmore).
VRFish Chair, Rob Loats, helped the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s staff Wimmera stockings. Four highly-valued lakes filled with recreational water via the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline were stocked with freshwater catfish via the initiative. This included Walkers Lake (300), Donald’s Foletti Park Lake (200), Lake Wooroonook (300) and Watchem Lake (200).
Charlton Angling Club members assisted with stocking healthy freshwater catfish in Lake Wooroonook and Chair of the Recreational Lakes Alliance Adam Campbell assisted with stocking at Watchem Lake.
VRFish Board member, Scott, helped the Victorian Fisheries Authority and North Central CMA stock 850 freshwater catfish at Campaspe Weir.
Freshwater catfish are listed as endangered in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
Recreational take of freshwater catfish is prohibited in all parts of Victoria except the Wimmera Basin. Bag and minimum legal size limits apply for freshwater catfish in the Wimmera Basin, view the regulations on the Victorian Fisheries Authority website here.
Photo: (L) Charlton Angling Club members stocking Lake Wooroonook (R) Scott Jefferis stocking Campaspe Weir
