BEECHWORTHS Lake Sambell and Lake Kerferd have become Victorias first legal trout cod fisheries. Premier Daniel Andrews, accompanied by Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford and Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria), made the announcement at Lake Sambell on Friday. Premier Andrews said allowing recreational anglers to legally fish and keep trout cod from both lakes in Beechworth is a key part of the Labor Governments Target One Million plan which will get more Victorians fishing more often. Trout cod are a native fish species very similar to Murray cod but they remain a threatened species and must be returned to the water, unharmed, if caught anywhere in the state. The species once flourished in parts of the North East and the government has been trying to rebuild populations, with particular success in the Ovens River, especially around Wangaratta reaches. Premier Andrews said that a dedicated stocking program that has seen 45,000 baby trout cod fingerlings released into both Beechworth lakes since 2008, and support from the National Trout Cod Recovery Plan, means anglers can legally fish for trout cod in Beechworth. To ensure the fisheries are sustainable, harvest of trout cod will be restricted to a daily bag limit of one per angler, and complemented by a minimum size of 40 cm and a maximum size of 50 cm. Premier Andrews said trout cod fingerling production at the gov ernments Snobs Creek hatchery will expand and continue to support the recovery of the species in the wild, while further developing the two new fisheries. Mr Andrews also announced $1 million worth of new recreational fishing projects to improve fishing opportunities across the state. The 17 new projects will be funded by fishing licence fees.