Ray Tang, secretary of the Wallerawang branch of the Central Acclimatisation Society, helped carry out an experiment that could eventually improve fish biodiversity in Lithgow’s lakes.
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The keen angler travelled to Oberon Dam on Monday, July 17, to release 500 rainbow trout with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) fisheries officers, in the hope the large fish will slow the population growth of Redfin Perch.
“Basically, it’s a pilot release. An experiment to try and combat the prolific Redfin. It breeds so prolifically it is known to destroy trout fisheries and any other fishes,” Mr Tang said.
It is also known to spread the deadly EHN virus among native species of fish.
According to Mr Tang introduced Redfin are impacting other species of fish in Lake Wallace and Lake Lyell.
“Wallerawang anglers hope to follow in the same footsteps as Oberon. We believe people have introduced them to the lakes when they didn’t know how much danger they actually cause.”
Redfin or European Perch was named a Class 1 noxious pest by the DPI in 2010.
The fisheries officers are testing methods of reducing Redfin in the Central Tablelands to formulate a control programme.
Mr Tang said he hopes the eight-month old trout released will grow to maturity and, due to their large size, place pressure on the dam's Redfin population.
The Wallerawang branch of the Acclimatisation Society is a non-for-profit organisation that works to rehabilitate bodies of water, eradicate weeds and promote pest species awareness.
Anglers at Oberon Dam can participate in the trial by monitoring the size of any tagged rainbow trout they catch.
The tags on the trout have a number for fishers to call and report the measurements, they will be gifted a free lure for their efforts.