Media Release from the Shadow Minister for Recreational Fishing, Gerard Maley MLA:
Locals and visitors will have more chances to catch a prized barra in Darwin Harbour and coastal environments under a CLP government.
If elected, the CLP will trial a fish stocking program for barramundi to be released in Darwin Harbour.
“People come to the Territory to catch a Barra but in the Harbour and coastal surrounds that is proving harder and harder,” Shadow Minister for Recreational Fishing Gerard Maley said.
“Increasing our Barra stocks will relieve pressure on our remote areas, such as Shady Camp, Corroboree Billabong and Dundee Beach, which are becoming overcrowded.
“It will mean tourists staying in the City won’t have to travel far to catch a Barramundi, great fishing will be right on their doorstep. The CLP plan will assist tour operators in increasing their chances to catch a Barra in the harbour.
“This is part of our Plan to restore our Lifestyle and get the Darwin City economy firing again. It’ll be good news for fishos and good news for local businesses.”
Mr Maley said the news would particularly help land-based fishos.
“You won’t need a boat to catch a barra under a CLP government.”
“Stocking the Harbour with more barramundi will make it less expensive to wet a line down the Esplanade or at Elizabeth River and have even more chance of catching a barra.”
“We want more families to have every opportunity to enjoy our unique lifestyle and spend time together outdoors.”
Currently, barramundi is bred by NT fisheries at the Darwin Aquaculture Centre and released into places like Manton Dam and suburban lakes where natural breeding of barramundi does not occur.
This will be funded from within current budgets as a priority to ensure this program can be expanded to include fish stocking of barramundi in Darwin Harbour.
-END-
