Farm dam stocking
If you want to stock your own (private) farm dam with fish, you need our permission.
There are three categories of farm dam stocking, each with an application form and fee.
Farm dam stocking for exclusive fishing
This means you, and any one you invite onto your property. Remember you still need an angling licence and rules still apply.
You’ll need to complete an application form and pay an application fee.
If your application is approved you will be able to stock your dam with (sterile) rainbow trout. You must buy the fish from an authorised fish farm. There will be a list at the bottom of the permit when you get it.
All farm dams intended for private fishing have the following rules:
- Angling season: From the first Saturday in August to Sunday nearest to the 30th April.
- Daily bag limit: 12 fish, regardless of species.
- Minimum size limit: 220 mm.
- All anglers over 14 years of age must hold a current Inland Angling Licence.
- No feeding of fish is permitted.
- All legal angling methods are permitted (lure, bait or fly).
Private dam stocking for public fishing
Assessment Criteria
The IFS currently waives the stocking application fee and provides fry or fingerlings free of charge to stock dams on private property with reasonable public access.
The following criteria must be met before the IFS will approve brown trout stocking into a farm dam for public fishing:
- Size of water to be stocked: the preferred minimum size is 2.5 ha or 25,000 m2 surface area at full supply level.
- A licence agreement must be obtained detailing access arrangements for a nominal period of 10 years.
- There must be reasonable public access consisting of one or more of the following elements:
- Unlocked gates providing direct vehicle access to the dam or to parking within easy walking distance of the dam (less than 500m). Vehicle access needs to be accompanied by current public liability insurance for $20 million, to be maintained by the property owner.
- Foot access from a public road. A safe parking area must be available within easy walking distance of the dam (less than 500m).
- Access by prior permission, i.e .either foot or vehicle access as described in 3.1 or 3.2. There must be signage displayed at the access point with landowner’s contact details prominently displayed including mobile phone number/s. All reasonable requests for access must be granted.
- Safe public access including minimum access infrastructure required i.e. fence stiles, pedestrian gates, electric fence signs, insulators, etc.
- Anglers Access signage including hazard warnings and conditions of entry will be provided and installed at IFS expense
The property owner will retain the right to restrict or suspend access due to farming operations.
Examples of private dams that currently meet the above criteria are Lamberts Dam and Rostrevor Reservoir.
Here is the current list of Private Dams for Public Fishing - North West Region.
PDF download: IFS Application - Consent to Stock a Private Farm Dam (public)
Private dam stocking for angling club activities including junior angling development
The IFS will consider applications for the stocking of private dams for an angling club’s junior angling development program or other angling club activity.
Angling clubs will need to maintain appropriate Public Liability insurance covering the proposed activities.
Dams do not need to meet the criteria for public fishing.
The landowner must provide written permission for the club to use the dam for the club activities.
PDF download: IFS Application - Consent to Stock a Private Farm Dam (junior angling and angling club)
