The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) is hosting a community event at Black Point, on Yorke Peninsula next week to celebrate the release of thousands of baby Snapper, known as fingerlings, into Gulf St Vincent.
Local community, schools and media are encouraged to attend the event, which will be held at the Black Point boat ramp on Monday 22 April 2024 from 6:30 am to 7:30 am, weather permitting.
The Black Point boat ramp will be closed from 5 am to 9 am for the event.
The releases are part of the South Australian Government's $8.8 million support package for Snapper, which will deliver close to 1 million fingerlings to SA waters by the end of the year.
The fish are released once they are 90 to 100 days old when they measure about 40 to 50 millimetres in length. Their ear bones (otoliths) are dyed purple so that they can be identified from wild fish if they are sampled in years to come.
The fingerlings have been bred at the Aquatic Sciences Centre at West Beach by SARDI, which is the research division for the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA).
About 300,000 fingerlings were released into the waters of Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent over the last 12 months with a further 200,000 to be released in Gulf St Vincent over the coming weeks.
The waters of the Gulf St Vincent, West Coast and Spencer Gulf regions remain closed to Snapper fishing until 30 June 2026. Fishing for Snapper in the South East Fishing Zone, where the stock is classified as sustainable, is managed by a Total Allowable Catch, with a recreational daily bag limit of 2 Snapper per person and a daily limit of 6 per boat if there are 3 or more people fishing on board.
Recreational fishers must report the Snapper they catch through the free SA Fishing app or by phoning the Fishwatch 24-hour hotline on 1800 065 522.
For more information go to Snapper recovery.