Plan to restock WA snapper after bloom

Fishing fanatics in Perth are responding eagerly to an appeal by Recfishwest to help re-stock Cockburn Sound, near Perth, with pink snapper.

The organisation is seeking $25,000 via crowdfunding to pay for the release of 100,000 pink snapper fingerlings after a recent large-scale fish kill.

After more than 1500 dead pink snapper and blowfish began washing up on the shores of the sound last month, the West Australian Department of Fisheries determined the cause was algal bloom.

Eggs collected beforehand have hatched and will be released into the sound in February.

Recfishwest has already raised more than $7500 on Friday and says part of the $25,000 budget will be used for marking the fingerlings, to enable future research into the success of the stocking.

RECFISHWEST BUDGET BREAKDOWN:

* Weaning onto microdiets - $3000

* Microdiet feed for eight weeks - $5000

* Power - $2000

* Wages - $4000

* Identification of suitable release locations - $500

* Boat hire for transport and release of fingerlings - $3500

* Marking fingerlings - $6000

* Disease testing before release - $1000