Thousands of native bass released in the Macleay River

Published on 03 February 2022

A spectacular 11,000 Australian Bass were released into the Upper Macleay River to restore the population’s dwindling numbers after the effects of the drought and the Black Summer bushfires.

Kempsey Shire Council received $5,000 from the NSW Government’s Dollar for Dollar Native Fish Stocking program to acquire and release the fish in locations along the Macleay River. Bass Kempsey Inc released the fish on Sunday 30 January 2022 at locations including Blackbird Flat Reserve, Toorooka Road Bridge, Turners Flat Road Bridge, Temagog Road Bridge and Toose Road Bridge.

Restocking bass population in the Macleay Valley is of great importance to the Kempsey Shire particularly following the Black Summer bushfires. Ash was washed into the Macleay River resulting in falling oxygen levels in the river and caused a mass fish kill.

Bass is an iconic Australian species that are predominantly catch-and-release across the Macleay Valley. The continued presence of the bass within the river makes for a great tourist attraction to the Macleay Valley Hinterland for keen-eyed anglers and those with a passion for the outdoors.