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East Kimberley residents invited to release one millionth barramundi in Lake Kununurra

Stephanie SinclairThe Kimberley Echo
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Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group member Curt McCartney with a barramundi caught at Lake Kununurra.
Camera IconLake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group member Curt McCartney with a barramundi caught at Lake Kununurra. Credit: Picture: Recfishwest

The one-millionth barramundi will be released into Lake Kununurra this weekend, eight years after a stocking program was launched at the East Kimberley waterhole.

Established in 2013 by the Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group with support from Recfishwest, the program has helped establish Lake Kununurra as a high-standard barramundi fishery, with metre-plus fish often caught by recreational fishers at the site.

Hatched and grown at the Broome Aquaculture Centre, thousands of juvenile fish will be transported in a custom oxygenated transportation tank to Lake Kununurra, where they will be released on Sunday morning.

Kununurra residents and tourists are invited to mark the occasion by helping release the fish near the Lily Lagoon boat ramp from 10am. Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland said the event would mark a significant milestone for the program, which had brought many benefits to the East Kimberley community.

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“Lake Kununurra’s barramundi stocking program highlights how true fish abundance not only promotes great fishing experiences, but also benefits regional communities,” he said.

“In COVID times, fishing is more important than ever, and more WA fishers are looking for new or different locations to wet a line.

“Lake Kununurra provides great fishing for local fishers and draws in visitors to the town who want to catch a magic 1m barra in a safe and accessible setting.”

Mr Rowland said the program would continue in Kununurra, with a further three years of State Government funding through the COVID-19 recfishing recovery package.

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