The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek hatchery is welcoming visitors, like residents from Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, to the site over the school holidays, welcoming visitors to its open day on Sunday April 10.
Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO, Travis Dowling, says that the open day is a great opportunity for people interested in fishing, as well as locals and tourists, to learn more about how the hatchery stocks and produces fish.
“The hatchery’s operation is funded by recreational fishing licence fees and the state government’s $35 million Go Fishing plan to get more people fishing, more often,” Mr Dowling says.
“The team at Snobs grew a record number of Macquarie perch fingerlings recently to help this threatened species recover in our waterways.”
The variety of species that are grown at Snobs Creek hatchery is broad and can help visitors to understand the nature of the life cycle of fish and the necessary requirements to support the ecosystem around them.
“Murray cod, brown and rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and trout cod are also grown at Snobs and released into lakes and rivers as part of the state-wide stocking program,” Mr Dowling says.
“The hatchery is playing a huge part in stocking a record 10 million fish this season and is now supported by Fisheries’ new native fish hatchery at Arcadia on the banks of the Goulburn River.”
Mr Dowling says the open day and tours provide a behind-the-scenes view into the hatchery, where visitors can talk directly with expert staff about the process of growing their trout, salmon and native fish.
“Come along to see firsthand how fish are bred, fed, sorted and loaded into customised stocking trucks for release to make your fishing even better,” says Mr Dowling.
Staff will be onsite to answer questions, as well as to provide information as visitors conduct their self-guided tour around the hatchery.
There will be a free sausage sizzle on the day, along with tea and coffee provided by the local Lions Club. An educational trailer will be onsite to teach both young and old about fish and the hatchery, while a stocking trailer will be displayed for viewing.
Mr Dowling encourages families to make the trip to the hatchery as well as dropping a line or two in the pondage, the Goulburn River or even in the waters of Lake Eildon. Visitors can also get a selfie with the giant fish sculptures at the front gates.
The open day has one hour tour time slots running at 10am, 11am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm. Bookings are essential and can be made at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/snobsopenday.
