Effective management of impoundment-based fisheries is vital for sustaining recreational fishing in New South Wales. Continuous evaluation of indicators related to fish population health, fishery catch and effort, and socio-economic factors is essential for optimising stocking strategies, examining management interventions such as size limits, and ensuring long-term sustainability, especially in light of threats like drought, invasive species, and low water levels.
This work examines key impoundments: Copeton Dam, Windamere Dam, and the Snowy Lakes, which are some of the premier Murray cod, golden perch, and trout fisheries in NSW. We integrated information from advanced techniques such as hydroacoustics, genetic studies, otolith analysis, catch and effort data, and socio-economic assessments to enhance fisheries management. Preliminary results have shown size truncation for Murray cod, variable growth rates and ages for golden perch, and size structure variation and water use patterns for rainbow trout. This has been complimented with a better understanding of angler motivation, satisfaction, and expenditure in these impoundments. These methodologies support a robust, long-term dataset, facilitating ongoing evaluation and adaptive management to ensure adequate stocking and management interventions occur.