Introduction

Restocking (referred to interchangeably as ‘fisheries enhancement’) is the practice of releasing hatchery-produced fish into the wild to supplement or enhance natural populations. Restocking programs may aim to support conservation, enhance recreational and/or commercial fishing outcomes, and/or maintain or restore cultural and spiritual values and practices. In Australia, fish stocking has been occurring in various forms since the introduction of trout in the 1860s by various acclimatisation societies. Stocking of native species has increased significantly since the late 1970s, and now most states and territories have active programs to support improved fisheries outcomes (see below for jurisdiction-relevant links).  

Restocking is becoming an increasingly common choice for fisheries managers, and it can deliver some positive outcomes in a range of contexts. It is important to understand the drivers of the decline and factors limiting population growth or rebuilding, including habitat degradation, pollution, overharvesting, migration barriers, climate change, and/or invasive species. These common causes for stock decline can act either alone or in concert and identifying the relevant drivers and dynamics will have a significant impact on whether restocking will achieve the intended outcome. Often, restocking may need to be part of a suite of programs, such as habitat remediation, angler education or altered/increased compliance to deliver the desired outcome. A review of broader fisheries enhancement methods, including a range of case studies, is covered in 2020-102: A review of fisheries enhancement methods to promote profitability and sustainability in Australian fisheries. 

If restocking is identified as a viable option to address the goals of the fishery, then a restocking plan can be developed. These are typically guided by state or commonwealth fisheries managers and will need to be developed in partnership with all stakeholders involved in the restocking context. Beyond the restocking activity, monitoring and evaluation to measure the program’s success and inform responses to changes in the target stock and receiving environment are essential.  

To support these programs, FRDC has invested in a range of projects to improve the delivery of restocking programs. These cover broad considerations on assessing, developing and measuring the success of a stocking program (see ‘General Restocking’ below), animal health and ecosystem impact (see ‘Animal Health’ below), and a range of species-specific research for various saltwater and freshwater fin fish and invertebrates. Much of this work has been done in conjunction with our Industry Partnership Agreement Sector Groups on species including Abalone (including wild harvest), Barramundi, Southern and Western Rock Lobster, oysters (including Sydney Rock and Pacific), pearls, prawns, Southern Bluefin Tuna and Atlantic Salmon.  

FRDC restocking (and related) projects

General restocking

Animal Health

Saltwater Fin Fish

Freshwater Finfish

Invertebrates

State specific restocking webpages