$990k Euberta, Grong Grong hatchery expansion to restock waterways with 7.5m fish

Upgrades to this Riverina hatchery means more jobs for locals, more cod for the country’s top restaurants and an influx of fish species back into Australia’s most famous waterways.

A Riverina-based hatchery’s $990,000 expansion plan will increase its output to a whopping 7.5 million fingerlings (or baby fish) - good news for menus across the country and waterways.

Two development applications submitted by Murray Cod Australia for the Euberta fish hatchery and the Grong Grong hatchery were approved this month.

Pond Expansion Map at the Euberta Fish Hatchery.

Murray Cod Australia group manager Ian Charles said the company already provided quality cod to service high end restaurants and retail in the domestic and export markets.

Another significant part of the business was providing fish to restock rivers and lakes in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

“To date Murray cod hatcheries have restocked an excess of 23 million fingerlings back into the environment and we are expecting to see a significant number moving forward,” Mr Charles said.

“Restocking is important to assist the native fish populations to recover from impacts caused by environment degradation.”

The upgrade at the Euberta hatchery will include a new bore, a power upgrade and 19 new ponds.

Work has already begun on a new shed extension and nine new ponds at the Grong Grong hatchery.

The works program is expected to be completed by the end of October and will generate six jobs.

Mr Charles said upgrades would give the facilities the capacity to produce an extra two million fish annually.

The hatcheries will assist in the restocking of Murray cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch in New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian waterways.