February 20, 2026
It’s time to have your say on the draft fish stocking plan.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority have released the 2026/27 draft fish stocking plan for public consultation. The draft plan outlines the planned release of more than 10 million fish, across 12 species, into more than 240 Victorian waters between July 2026 and June 2027.
It’s your chance as recreational fishers to have your say on what you’d like to see stocked in your local waterway.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s fish stocking program aims to improve recreational fishing opportunities and rebuild native fish populations across the state.
Key highlights in the 2026/27 draft stocking plan, include:
- New Macquarie perch waters, including Loombah Lake and the Yarra River;
- Macquarie perch to be released in the Goulburn River above Lake Eildon for the first time since local extinction;
- Resume the historic stocking of Murray cod and golden perch releases into Mollison Creek at Pyalong;
- First ever stocking of rainbow trout into Pretty Valley Reservoir (subject to TEP advice);
- Continuing to stock over 1 million native fish each year into Rocklands Reservoir;
- Walpeup Lake near Ouyen added as a new water to be stocked with golden perch.
HAVE YOUR SAY
To have your say on the 2026/27 Draft Fish Stocking Plan, please email your submissions to Mark Adams, Fisheries Manager at [email protected] by Friday, 3 April 2026.
All submissions will be considered by the VFA and tabled with regional recreational fishing representatives, including VRFish, at the annual Vic Fish Stock meetings, planned to be held in April 2026.
LET VRFISH KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS
VRFish would like to hear your views so that we can incorporate your ideas into our VRFish submission. You can do this by dropping us a line at [email protected]
