Fisheries Minister Don Punch joins the Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group, Recfishwest, North Regional TAFE – Broome and members of the East Kimberley fishing community at a fish stocking event where the one millionth barramundi is released into Lake Kununurra.

A new economic benefits study is released by the Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group, indicating the fishery could have a conservative economic value of $9.16 million to $9.81 million annually if the restocking program continues.

Lake Kununurra Fish Stock Enhancement Committee is reactivated, becoming the Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group.

Data was recorded by volunteers showing catch effort per trip and fishing hours. The number of fish and fish lengths were recorded to give a further indication of growth rates. See graph below.

Fin clips taken from fish captured in Lake Kununurra and analysed show that both eastern (escapees) and western (local) fish were present in the lake. Length of the ‘local’ fish sampled ranged from 1m to 1.15m.

Another 200,000 barramundi fingerlings are released into as part of the Lake Kununurra Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Program.

Residue fish in Lake Argyle caught by anglers are regularly measuring more than 1.2m. 

KTI, alongside Recfishwest and the State Government, release 20,000 barramundi fingerlings into Lake Kununurra to mark the start of the Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Program.

Barramundi Genetic Audit (Dec 2013, Final Report) undertaken across northern Australia demonstrates Ord River and Cambridge Gulf barramundi stock are essentially the same cohort. This information was crucial with regards to stock collection.

Work continues towards stocking more barramundi into Lake Kununurra thanks to $975,000 funding through the State Government’s recfishing COVID recovery package, announced in August 2020. This package was developed by the State Government in conjunction with Recfishwest.