FISHING enthusiasts are slowly being reeled back into the Swan Hill region,
thanks to the ongoing fish restocking attempts of local organisations.
Following the 2010 — 2011 floods, a hypoxic blackwater event — which saw
de-oxygenated water flushed from stagnant billabongs sweep through local river
systems — decimated native fish stocks in the Swan Hill region.
Swan Hill
Inc president Murray Ray said the region was still recovering from the economic
impacts of loss of business.
“The loss of fish affected all businesses — we
can see that from the figures we’ve got from times during the year when fishing
brings people to the region, especially at the start of cod season and easter
period,” Mr Ray said.
“People that sell fishing gear said the drop-off was
hugely significant, we’re trying to overcome that.”
An economic assessment
of Murray cod fishing, released by Ernst and Young in 2009, showed that the
direct expenditure on recreational fishing for Murray cod across Victoria was
estimated to be $166.7 million for 2009-10.
For more of this story, see Monday’s Guardian (March 25).
