And during last winter’s dewatering program, G-MW and the Victorian Fisheries Authority found the proof.
More than 50 Murray Cod and golden perch were hauled out of the diminishing pools and relocated to the Arcadia fish hatchery south of Shepparton.
The biggest was a Murray Cod measuring 84cm found in the Katunga area during May.
Each year, in the three months between irrigation seasons, G-MW dewaters parts of its channel network to undertake crucial maintenance works on assets that are usually beneath the waterline.
During the 2025 irrigation off-season G-MW delivered its most comprehensive dewatering campaign in more than a decade.
G-MW operations manager (east) Luke Dunham said when channels are drained during the off-season, fish congregate around G-MW’s bridges and structures.
“In the past we have picked them up and moved them downstream to a nearby pool still containing water,” he said.
“The Victorian Fisheries Authority is tripling the size of their Arcadia hatchery currently so the larger of these salvaged fish contribute to the broodfish population that will produce millions of fingerling offspring in the spring and summer season.”
Whilst many of the native fish are believed to have come from places like the Goulburn Weir and Lake Mulwala, Mr Dunham, said some years ago a university student studying the fish suggested they could also be breeding in the channels.
VFA chief executive Travis Dowling said the collaborative approach to looking after native fish in channels had seen hundreds of Murray cod, golden perch and other native species moved to more permanent waterways where they are accessible to anglers.
“Our partnership with G-MW has also helped boost our broodfish numbers so we are in a strong position to increase production when expansion works wrap up later this year,” Mr Dowling said.
Fishing is generally allowed in irrigation channels but prohibited from G-MW structures.
8°C