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Stocking private dams
If you are planning on stocking a dam or other area on private land you should only consider fish that occur naturally in your area.
Why?
- local fish are best suited to local conditions
- fish could escape during floods and, if they are the wrong kind (non-indigenous), they could change the fish populations in local rivers forever
- local fish are available through fish hatcheries
- in nearly all the rivers of Queensland there are many kinds of local fish that provide excellent sport and good eating
- you don't need a permit to stock your private waters with local fish - and for non-local fish you usually do.
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.
You also require a general fisheries permit to stock fish into public waters.
Choosing the right fish
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.
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The east coast drainage division
East coast drainage division
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
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
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 strain (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 Fisheries Queensland Business Information Centre (13 25 23) or from a hatchery on the most appropriate strain for your area.
Eel-tailed catfish
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)
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
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
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
Redclaw crayfish may be stocked in dams in the Jacky Jacky, Olive, Pascoe, Lockhart, Stewart, Hann and Normanby river basins.
Silver perch
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
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
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
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.
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Gulf of Carpentaria drainage division
Gulf of Carpentaria drainage division
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
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.
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The Murray-Darling drainage division
Murray-Darling drainage division
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
May be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Murray-Darling.
Silver perch
May be stocked in dams in all river basins in the Murray-Darling.
Golden perch (yellowbelly)
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.
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The Bulloo-Barcannia (in blue) and Lake Eyre (in brown) drainage divisions
Lake Eyre drainage division
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.).
Bulloo-Bancannia drainage division
You can stock your dam with local fish that occur naturally in your area.
Further information
