Stocking fish in farm dams and other waters on private land
On this page:
Which fish and why
You want to stock the waters on your land with fish? First check out which kinds you should use and why.
This page answers some general questions, and then goes on to look at which fish belong in each of Queensland's five 'drainage regions'.
Which fish can I use?
You should use local fish only - that is, fish that occur naturally in your area.
Why?
For five very good reasons:
-
Because local fish are best suited to local conditions
-
Because the fish could escape during floods and, if they are the wrong kind, they could change the fish populations in local rivers forever
-
Because local fish are available through fish hatcheries
-
Because in nearly all the rivers of Queensland there are many kinds of local fish that provide excellent sport and good eating
-
Because you don't need a permit to stock your farm waters with local fish - and for non-local fish you usually do
So I don't need a permit for some non-local fish?
True, as long as they are a kind that have been stocked in your area regularly by the State Government's Recreational Fishing Enhancement Program. This is because the program is very careful to use only those fish that are safe for the environment - even if they are not, strictly speaking, local.
Note: It is an offence to stock your dams or streams with fish that do not occur naturally in your area, or fish that have not been stocked regularly in your area as part of the Recreational Fishing Enhancement Program, unless you have a permit to do so.
How do I know which fish are allowed for my area?
The State can be divided into five river systems, or 'drainage divisions'. These are listed below, showing the kinds of fish that are suitable for each area, and which kinds are available for stocking.
Note: People commonly use the word 'stock' to mean a locally occurring population of a particular fish species. To avoid confusion, we have used the word 'strain' instead, and have kept the word 'stock' for fish added to a dam or stream.
Bulloo-Bancannia drainage division
You can stock your dam with local fish that occur naturally in your area.
East coast drainage division
(Including all rivers and their tributaries which flow to the east coast)
You can stock your dam with local fish that occur naturally in your area. The following local fish are available from hatcheries for stocking:
Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata)
The Australian bass may be stocked in dams in all coastal river basins from the Burnett River Basin south to the New South Wales border.
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)
Six distinct strains of barramundi occur in Queensland, four of them on the east coast:
-
East Coast Cape York strain (Orford Bay to Bathurst Heads)
-
Mid North-East coast strain (Cooktown to Burdekin River)
-
Central East coast strain (Repulse Bay to Shoalwater Bay)
-
South East coast strian (Fitzroy River to Mary River)
It is important that you stock the barramundi that is local to your area. You should seek advice from the DPI&F Business Information Centre (13 25 23) or from a hatchery on the most appropriate strain for your area.
Eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus)
Distinct strains of eel-tailed catfish are recognised in Queensland so it is important to stock your dam with the one that is native to your area.
The eastern strain of eel-tailed catfish may be stocked in dams in the Maroochy, Mary, Nogo, Nogoa, Noosa, Kolan, Mackenzie, Shoalwater, Waterpark, Fraser Island, Isaac, Dawson, Fitzroy, Calliope, Comet, Boyne, Burnett, Burrum, Baffle, Barambah, Auburn, Caboolture, North Pine, South Pine, Brisbane, Bremer, Lockyer, Stanley, Logan, Albert and South Coast (including the Nerang and Coomera rivers and Currumbin and Tullebudgera creeks) river basins.
Golden perch (Yellowbelly) (Macquaria ambigua)
Three distinct strains of golden perch are recognised in Queensland so it is important to stock your dam with the one that is native to your area.
The Dawson River golden perch (Macquaria ambigua oriens), which is native to the Fitzroy-Dawson system, may be stocked in dams in the Fitzroy, Mackenzie, Nogoa, Dawson, Isaac and Comet river basins.
Murray-Darling golden perch (Macquaria ambigua ambigua) have been stocked regularly in southern coastal river basins as part of the Recreational Fishing Enhancement Program. They may be stocked in dams in the Burnett, Nogo, Barambah, Auburn, Burrum, Mary, Caboolture, Maroochy, North Pine, South Pine, Brisbane, Bremer, Lockyer, Stanley, Logan, Albert and South Coast river basins (including the Nerang and Coomera rivers, and Currumbin and Tullebudgera creeks).
Khaki bream (Hephaestus tulliensis)
Khaki bream may be stocked in dams in the Daintree, Barron, Mulgrave, Russell, North Johnstone, South Johnstone, Tully and Murray river basins.
Mary River cod (Maccullochella peelii mariensis )
Mary River cod may be stocked in dams in the Mary, North Pine, Brisbane, Bremer, Lockyer, Stanley, Logan, Albert and South Coast (including the Nerang and Coomera rivers, and Currumbin and Tullebudgera creeks) river basins.
Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)
Redclaw crayfish may be stocked in dams in the Jacky Jacky, Olive, Pascoe, Lockhart, Stewart, Hann and Normanby river basins.
Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)
Silver perch has been stocked regularly in southern coastal river basins as part of the Recreational Fishing Enhancement Program. They may be stocked in dams in the Fitzroy, Nogoa, Dawson, Boyne, Kolan, Burnett, Nogo, Barambah, Auburn, Eliot, Burrum, Mary, Caboolture, Maroochy, North Pine, South Pine, Brisbane, Bremer, Lockyer, Stanley, Logan and South Coast (including the Nerang and Coomera rivers, and Currumbin and Tullebudgera creeks) river basins.
Sleepy cod (Oxyeleotris lineolatus)
Two distinct strains of sleepy cod occur in Queensland. The southern strain, which is native to the Fitzroy-Dawson system, may be stocked in dams in the Fitzroy, Mackenzie, Nogoa, Dawson, Isaac, Comet and Plane river basins. On the east coast the northern strain of sleepy cod can be stocked into the Normanby River Basin.
Sooty grunter (Hephaestus fuliginosus)
On the east coast, sooty grunter may be stocked in dams in the Barron, Mulgrave, Russell, North Johnstone, Tully, Murray, Herbert, Burdekin, Clarke, Bowen, Belyando and Pioneer river basins.
Southern saratoga (Scleropages leichardti)
Southern saratoga may be stocked in dams in the Isaac, Comet, Dawson, Nogoa, Mackenzie, Fitzroy, Boyne, Burnett, Nogo, Barambah, Auburn, North Pine, Brisbane, Bremer, Lockyer, Stanley and South coast (including the Nerang and Coomera rivers, and Currumbin and Tullebudgera creeks) river basins.
Gulf of Carpentaria drainage division
(Including all rivers and their tributaries which drain into the Gulf of Carpentaria namely Settlement, Hann, Eight Mile, Cliffdale, Nicholson, Leichardt, Morning, L Creek, Flinders, Saxby, Cloncurry, Norman, Gilbert, Einasleigh, Staaten, Mitchell, Alice, Palmer, Walsh, Coleman, Edward, Holroyd, Kendall, Archer, Coen, Watson, Embley, Mission, Wenlock, Dulhunty, Skardon, Jackson and Jardine river basins)
You can stock your dam with local fish that occur naturally in your area. The following local fish are available from hatcheries for stocking:
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)
Six distinct strains of barramundi occur in Queensland, two of them in the Gulf of Carpentaria:
-
South East Gulf of Carpentaria strain (Leichardt River to Wassar River)
-
North West Cape York strain (Archer River to Escape River)
It is important that you stock barramundi that is local to your area. You should seek advice on the most appropriate strain for your area.
Sleepy cod
Two distinct strains of sleepy cod occur in Queensland. The northern strain may be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Sooty grunter
May be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Redclaw crayfish
May be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Lake Eyre drainage division
(Including the following rivers and their tributaries: Mulligan, Georgina, Diamantina, Cooper Creek, Thomson and Barcoo)
You can stock your dam with local fish which occur naturally in your area. If golden perch are obtained from hatcheries, they must be Lake Eyre golden perch (Macquaria ambigua ssp.).
Murray-Darling drainage division
(Including the following rivers and their tributaries: Border Rivers, Severn, Macintyre, Moonie, Balonne, Condamine, Maranoa, Nebine, Warrego and Paroo).
You can stock your dam with local fish which occur naturally in your area. The following local fish are available from hatcheries for stocking:
Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii)
May be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Murray-Darling.
Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus )
May be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Murray-Darling.
Golden perch (Yellowbelly) (Macquaria ambigua )
Three distinct strains of golden perch are recognised in Queensland so it is important to stock your dam with the one that is native to your area. The Murray-Darling golden perch (Macquaria ambigua ambigua) may be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Murray-Darling.
Eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus )
Distinct strains of eel-tailed catfish are recognised in Queensland so it is important to stock your dam with the one that is native to your area. The Murray-Darling strain of the eel-tailed catfish may be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Murray-Darling.
Advice and contacts
If you are unsure of which fish you should stock in your dam, contact the DPI&F business information centre . Hatchery operators will also be able to advise you on the most appropriate fish for stocking into your dam.
Disclaimer
This page refers to some of the provisions of the Fisheries (Freshwater) Management Plan and Fisheries Regulation 2008, as at the date of publication. It is not a precise statement of the law and should not be used or relied upon for that purpose. Furthermore, this document deals with aspects that can be subject to change from time to time. Whenever such arrangements to the Fisheries (Freshwater) Management Plan 1999 or Fisheries Regulation 2008 are made, they will generally be announced in the news media. Any persons wishing to obtain clarification of any points should contact the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.
Copies of legislation can be downloaded directly at the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel website .
Last updated 1 April 2008
