DPI Gold Rush Hits Sydney Fish Markets

12 May, 2003

About 350 kilograms of Department of Primary Industries produced golden perch has been sold at the Sydney Fish Markets.

The fish have been produced from trials into the feasibility of farming this prized freshwater fish.

The market testing is the final stage of the commercial aquaculture trials that are being conducted at DPI’s Freshwater Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre in Walkamin on the Atherton Tablelands.

Golden perch are a native fish species. They are a prized sport and table fish with moist, firm white flesh and are considered by many to be the best freshwater fish in Australia.

Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences experimentalist Brett Herbert said all the fish being marketed at the moment were product from experiments designed to determine growth rate, feeding behaviour and survival under commercial aquaculture conditions.

“We have been developing production techniques for golden perch for five years now and have only a few small hurdles to overcome before having enough data to test the economic viability of farming golden perch,” he said.

Mr Herbert said the current market trials were to confirm whether small fish (350-450 grams) would sell well in a market which was used to larger, wild caught fish of one to three kilograms clean weight.

“It’s also designed to address some issues with colour of farmed fish and to reaffirm the preferred size for market,” he said.

“Prices have been below expectations, but these have been due in part to external circumstances. However, our fish have been received well and prices have been between $12 for small fish and $14-15 for larger fish.

“This is against strong supply of marine species and wild caught golden perch which are gilled and gutted, as opposed to our whole chilled fish.”

In 2002 the average price at the Sydney Fish Markets reached more than $17 for gilled and gutted fish.

For more information about the Golden perch aquaculture trials, contact Brett Herbert at DPI Walkamin on 4092 9900.

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: Brett Herbert (07) 4092 9900
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

More Press Releases here: