More than 1400 barramundi fingerlings have been released into Palmerston lakes as part of Charles Darwin University’s Aquaculture program.
Fisheries Minister Kon Vatskalis joined CDU VET in Schools students and Palmerston City Council to release the baby barramundi at several Palmerston lakes today.
CDU Aquaculture lecturer Chadd Mumme said the fingerlings were reared at the CDU Aquaculture Training facility by Certificate II in Aquaculture students.
“The fish were raised as part of the University’s VET Aquaculture program providing Aquaculture students with the opportunity to gain experience in culturing barramundi within small scale aquaculture system and releasing fish into a closed fresh water environment,” Mr Mumme said.
“The VET students will now work with Palmerston Council to monitor the fish and lake post release.”
Mr Vatskalis said the initiative would eventually provide opportunities for Territorians to go fishing at the Palmerston lakes, as well as well as enhancing opportunities for Aquaculture students.
“The fingerlings were originally supplied by the NT Government’s Aquaculture Centre and the CDU Aquaculture Training Facility provided the expertise to raise the fingerlings to a healthy release size of about 150ml in length,” Minister Kon Vatskalis said.
“I am pleased to see that through a collaborative agreement between the NT Government, CDU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover and the Palmerston Town Council, this has turned into a reality.”