Narrandera Fisheries Centre
Narrandera Fisheries Centre
The Narrandera Fisheries Centre (NFC), 6 km East of Narrandera, was opened in 1962 as a research centre to study the breeding biology and ecology of inland aquatic systems. Since then, NFC has been the centre of freshwater fisheries research in New South Wales, and has also developed into a productive hatchery, providing fingerlings of four native fish species (Murray cod, trout cod, golden perch and silver perch) to improve freshwater recreational fisheries and conservation initiatives.
The Centre fulfils a number of roles such as breeding, conservation, environmental surveys, NSW rivers management, aquaculture, reporting on illegal activities and community education. It aims to raise public awareness of the state of native fish populations.
The Centre also performs important scientific research into all 36 species of fish in the Murray-Darling Basin. These species range from popular recreational species such as Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch, to small forage species like Murray rainbow fish, Australian smelt and the endangered purple spotted gudgeon.
NFC is a small, multi-disciplinary facility containing 29 staff from four DPI divisions: Science and Research (Aquatic Ecosystems Research); Agriculture and Fisheries (Recreational Fisheries Management); Biosecurity, Compliance and Mine Safety (Fisheries Compliance); and Corporate Services.
Key research
The overall objective of aquatic ecosystem research is to improve the understanding of the aquatic environment to enable effective management and continued sustainability of aquatic resources in NSW.
The Aquatic Ecosystems research unit comprises 3 teams: Aquatic Ecosystem Function, Marine biodiversity & habitats, and Freshwater Biodiversity & habitats. The latter program is centered at NFC, with support from the Port Stephens Fisheries Centre on the coast north of Newcastle. All inland freshwater projects, and some coastal freshwater ones, are run out of NFC. The range of projects include: broad-scale surveys of river health, assessments of fish communities in targeted areas (eg specific catchments), research relating to recovery actions for threatened freshwater fish species, fish habitat mapping & restoration, designing & monitoring fishways to improve fish passage, investigating ways to control freshwater fish pests, and assessing the effectiveness of freshwater fish stocking activities.
Fish breeding program
Over 2.5 million fingerlings produced at the NFC were stocked in 2005/06. Fish were released over a large part of New South Wales, ranging from Inverell in the North, Hume Weir to the South and Broken Hill to the West.
Record numbers of golden perch (1,587,000) as well as Murray cod (674,000) and silver perch (329,000) are stocked into impoundments in order to enhance recreational fishing opportunities.
In an effort to help recover populations of the endangered trout cod, which disappeared from the upper Murrumbidgee catchment in the 1970s, 73,000 trout cod fingerlings produced at the NFC were released into the Murrumbidgee River upstream of Burrinjuck Dam in 2005/06.
The NFC has also started a program to develop captive breeding techniques for the Snowy River population of river blackfish. The development of captive breeding techniques for this species will assist in the New South Wales government initiative to rehabilitate the Snowy River.
John Lake Centre
Aquarium at the John Lake Centre
The site also incorporates the ‘John Lake Centre’ a facility that acts as an invaluable tool for schools and the general public. Both native and introduced species are on display, including 'Agro', a large Murray cod. Four fishing workshops for children between the ages of 8 and 14 are held annually and cater for people from a diverse range of ages and backgrounds.
The John Lake Centre is a modern educational facility that contains a theatrette and live fish exhibits, set adjacent to beautiful parkland and a small lake.
Individual and group visitors are welcome.
General tour prices (Incl GST) as at March 2007
Adults $5.50
children under 18 $2.75
family (2 adults and 2 children) $13.75
Per person prices for school groups $2.20, pensioner groups $4.40.
Opening hours and guided tours
The centre is open for inspection from Monday to Friday (except public holidays), with guided tours commencing daily at 10.30 am (also at 2 pm during school holidays).
Facilities
1) Office accommodation, meeting rooms, small library & 3 residences
2) A freshwater fish hatchery equipped with temperature controlled holding and spawning tanks, large-scale and highly replicated larval rearing facilities, 38 earthen ponds with screened inlets & outlets.
3) The John Lake Centre with permanent displays of live freshwater fish and an auditorium with seating for 62.
4) Two small laboratories.
5) A fish room equipped with aquarium facilities for replicated tank experiments on small fish species.
6) A number of watercraft for field based activities including three electrofishing boats and general purpose boats of various sizes.
7) An extensive collection of freshwater ecosystems research equipment.
8) A workshop.
9) Storage sheds.
10) Machinery shed for the storage of tractors, watercraft and vehicles etc.
History
John Lake
John Lake - an Australian pioneer in research and breeding native inland fish joined NSW State Fisheries in 1949 after graduating from Sydney University. His initial work on trout was widely recognised throughout NSW and he transferred these skills to perform pioneering research on native fish of the Murray-Darling Basin.
In 1962 he was appointed biologist-in-charge at the Inland Fisheries Research Station at Narrandera where he played a significant role in developing the research facilities to breed Murray cod, silver perch, golden perch and catfish, the major inland angling species.
In late 1966 John Lake left the station to take a position as Senior Lecturer in Biology at Sydney University. He became Director of Forestry, Fisheries, Wildlife and National Parks for the Northern Territory in 1971, and later Senior Lecturer in Biology at the Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education.
After a distinguished career of applied research, administration and education, John died in 1977.
Contact details
Site Enquiries (Leslie Rava; Manager): 02 6959 9023, leslie.rava@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Research Enquiries (Lee Baumgartner, Research Scientist): 02 6959 9027, lee.baumgartner@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Hatchery and fish breeding (Stephen Thurstan; Hatchery Manager): 02 6959 9036, stephen.thurstan@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Compliance (Peter Angel; Fisheries Inspector): 02 6959 9066, peter.angel@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Tours and bookings (Lyn Smith; Regional Administration Officer): 02 6959 9021, lyn.smith@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Freshwater Tag Returns (1800 185 027 or 02 6959 9032); jarrod.mcpherson@dpi.nsw.gov.au or justin.stanger@dpi.nsw.gov.au