The NSW Aquaculture Association with the support of Narrabri Fish Farm, NSW DPI Fisheries and Narrabri Shire Council is conducting an aquaculture information and field day on Saturday the 6th April 2019 at Narrabri Fish Farm. Everyone is welcome.

 

Aerial View of Narrabri Fish Farm
Aerial View of Narrabri Fish Farm

Narrabri Fish Farm is the largest hatchery based aquaculture farm in NSW breeding Golden Perch, Murray Cod, Eel-Tailed Catfish, Silver Perch and Yabbies. The farm has 4 hectares of ponds utilising pristine bore water and a large header pond at the top of the property allowing gravity feed of water to the aquaculture ponds.

Header Dam at Narrabri Fish Farm
Header Dam at Narrabri Fish Farm

Narrabri Fish Hatchery is a HQAS approved hatchery supplying approved fingerlings to the aquaculture industry, the dollar for dollar stocking program with recreational fishers and to private citizens for farm dam and aquaponic tank stocking. The NSW Hatchery Quality Assurance Scheme (HQAS) accredits fish hatcheries for the production of Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch fingerlings for recreational fishing enhancement stocking programs. The scheme was developed by NSW DPI Aquaculture and Recreational Fishing Staff. A major objective of stocking programs is to maintain genetic diversity and the HQAS is designed to ensure the genetic integrity and health of consignments as well as the absence of non-target species. HQAS accreditation for aquaculture production is also available for these species as a quality assurance measure for the production of fingerlings to supply the aquaculture industry.

Sediment Dam at NFF
Sediment Dam at NFF

The species

Murray Cod Maccullochella peelii

Narrabri Fish Farm is a major producer of Murray Cod fingerlings and will soon be growing fish out for the restaurant trade. Join us for the day to see what they do, how they do it. See the broodstock ponds, the breeding ponds, the hatchery and nursery ponds. See the fingerlings and the holding tanks and cages. Get all your questions on Murray Cod aquaculture answered by the experts.

 

Murray Cod fingerlings ready for despatch
Murray Cod fingerlings ready for despatch

 

Silver Perch Bidyanus bidyanus

The Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) is a native Australian freshwater fish that is perfect for aquaculture. Silver Perch Aquaculture is one of the main freshwater species grown in Australia. In NSW a large aquaculture industry has grown around the silver perch and hundreds of tonnes of silvers are grown out each year for the restaurants and shops in Australia. Whether you want to grow it in tanks or ponds this is one of the easiest fish to grow. A species that can take both cold and hot water and a species that goes best in schools its perfect for aquaponics tanks or earthen ponds.

NFF hatchery Tanks
NFF hatchery Tanks

 

Golden Perch (Yellowbelly) Macquaria ambigua

Golden Perch or Yellowbelly are excellent eating as well as an excellent sporting fish and this is the reason so many people stock their farm dams with them. They take baits, flys and lures so are relatively easy to catch and one of the reasons they are in such high demand by the recreational fishing industry

Golden Perch fingerlings ready for despatch
Golden Perch fingerlings ready for dispatch

 

Eel-tailed Catfish Tandanus tandanus

Eel-tailed Catfish are a native of NSW and can be found in both Eastern and Western River systems. There are at least a dozen different species of Eel tailed Catfish in Australia but commercially in NSW it’s Tandanus tandanus that is the culture species..

Although one of the ugliest species to culture they are one of the easiest. They go great in tanks or ponds and many people want them for their aquaponic tanks as they live in high densities, tolerate poor water quality and readily take fish pellets. People with farm dams love them as they are a great sporting fish and will breed in your dam.

NFF purging/holding tanks
NFF purging/holding tanks

Catfish are excellent eating straight from the tank, pond or dam without any off flavours. When cooked the flesh is very white and quite firm with an excellent taste. NFF produces Eel- tailed catfish fingerlings, join us on the day to see their ponds, their holding tanks, fingerlings and catfish under culture.

 

The Yabby Cherax destructor

The Blue Claw yabby Cherax destructor is the main freshwater crayfish species commercially produced in NSW. They are fast growing, tolerant to poor water quality, thrive in high densities, highly fecund and eat just about anything. They are in high demand as aquarium pets, bait for recreational fishers, stock for other farms and private dams and for the restaurant trade.

 

Bait Yabbies
Bait Yabbies

One of NFF's Yabby Hatcheries
One of NFF’s Yabby Hatcheries

NFF is a major producer of yabbies. They have a number of different hatcheries and holding/purging facilities. Join us to see how they produce so many yabbies.

Another Yabby Hatchery
Another Yabby Hatchery

 

A NFF Bi-Coloured Yabby
A NFF Bi-Coloured Yabby

Everyone is welcome so join us on Saturday the 6th April 2019. The field day starts at 8-8.15 am with early registration for those that would like to participate in setting some different types of yabby traps. These traps will be checked later in the day.

The main event will start at 8.50 am with introductions and the start of the farm tour. Tickets are NOW available. Numbers will be limited and this event will be well attended. I urge all that wish to attend to purchase your ticket now.

Morning tea, afternoon tea and lunch is included in all ticket prices. Under $200 for the full day seeing what they do and how they do it, network with industry leaders and fellow aquaculturalists, plus a lunch is good value. Hope to see you there.

MAIN ATTENDANT $192

ATTENDANTS PARTNER $152

Yabby holding crates
NFF Yabby holding crates

Cheers

Rob