Gallery | Minister tours local hatchery

By Djembe Archibald and Rechelle Zammit

Jul 2, 2024

Minister for Outdoor Recreation and stakeholders touring Arcadia — VFA recreational partnerships manager Anthony Forster, VFA board chair Graeme Dear, Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos toured the Arcadia fish hatchery and visitor centre last week, alongside members of the recreational fishing industry.

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A project to triple the size of the facility will begin in the coming weeks, with the finished product set to include more than 100 plankton and broodfish ponds and a new administration precinct which will see hatchery produce almost six million Murray cod and golden perch each year, thanks to the state government’s $10 million investment.

“This significant expansion at Arcadia will mean more home-grown native fish stocked into Victorian waters and more jobs in the Shepparton area both during construction and the hatchery’s ongoing operation,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

“Our investment in the Arcadia and Snobs Creek hatcheries will create unprecedented fish production capacity here in regional Victoria and keep recreational fishing in great shape for years to come.”

Once complete, the Victorian Fisheries Authority will also transition all local Murray cod production currently at Snobs Creek conservation fish hatchery in Eildon to the expanded Arcadia hatchery – freeing up capacity at Snobs Creek for more work on protecting Victoria’s threatened native fish.

More than 8 million fish will be produced in Victoria every year once the fish hatchery is complete.

Construction is expected to be complete in mid-2025.

News photographer Rechelle Zammit went along to the tour to take some photos and News work experience student Evelyn Kramer captured some footage from the visit.

Here’s what they both captured.