Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum
Today recreational fishers have an opportunity to become stewards of the environment. The Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum was developed to educate and empower recreational fishing communities to participate in fish habitat restoration. Initially developed by the NSW DPI, the Forum has now expanded to South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. Community response has been fantastic.
The success of the program shows that Australian fishers are very keen to learn more about fish habitat and are ready to get involved and make a difference.
Each Forum event is joint hosted by Ozfish Unlimited and local fishing groups or organizations. A typical event has experts delivering presentations on the importance of fish habitat to fisheries. Discussions between experts and fishers focus on local threats to habitat and fishers are educated on how they can contribute towards the rehabilitation of these habitats. Each Forum often includes a field trip to a local waterway where issues can be identified and later remedied. The first Forum was held in 2009 and continue to this day.
Click here to find out more and get involved in restoring your local fish habitat.
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Past Forums:
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum November 25, 2016 – Babinda Fishing Club, Babinda, FNQ. The Forum was hosted by the local Babinda Fishing Club. In this area, recreational fishing is a popular activity with both fresh and salt water covering tropical wet land, inshore, deep water and reef fishing areas. As such a broad range of issues that threaten fish habitat were discussed including tilapia, agriculture, riparian clearing and trawling.
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum November 19, 2016 – Canning River Eco Education Centre, Perth, WA. The Forum focussed on local fish habitat issues that impact species such as the black bream in the Swan and Canning Rivers and included a field trip to the Kent St Weir to discuss the possibility of installing a fish ladder.
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum November 5, 2016 – Caloundra Power Boat Club, SEQ. The agenda included an outline on the importance of mangrove habitat to fisheries and a presentation on the Sunshine Coast Jungle Perch Captive Breeding Project. Field trips were made to the Esplanade boardwalk for mangrove ID and to Bells Creek salt marsh to discuss cultural heritage.
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum September 10, 2016 – Port Noarlunga Life Saving Club, SA. This was the first Forum outside of NSW and the first in South Australia. Speakers highlighted the rehabilitation techniques needed to improve water quality in the Murray Darling Basin. A field trip to the Onkaparinga River was also undertaken to discuss the habitat changes taking place in the estuary.
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum August 6, 2016 – Attended by the Albany Boating and Offshore Fishing Club, this was the first Forum in WA. Fishers were briefed on the key role habitat plays throughout a fish’s life cycle. Clearing of catchments for farming and development has resulted in habitat loss, degradation and modification of local waterways. Projects such as sea grass restoration were highlighted as local success stories.
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum 22-23 August, 2014 – West Dubbo Bowls Club, NSW. Presentations included habitat 101, restoring fish passage, thermal pollution and e-flows. The Forum dinner on Friday night was a great opportunity for Forum participants to get to know each other. A field trip on Saturday morning included a re-snagging demo, willow stem injection and tree planting.
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum 20-21 May, 2011 – Tamworth, NSW. The free 2-day event included formal presentations, interactive discussions and a relaxed dinner with local fishing personality Dave Hodge – The Barefoot Fisherman. International guest speaker renowned Irish Fisheries Scientist Dr Martin O’Grady presented at the event and provided an insight into fisheries management in Ireland and Europe. Participants enjoyed a bus and walking tour around the local Peel River; checking out fish habitat issues, successful rehabilitation projects and had a chance to try out a long-stem tube stock planting technique for river bank rehabilitation.
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum June 4-5, 2010 – Lake Macquarie, NSW. The free 2-day event included formal presentations, interactive discussions and a Q&A dinner hosted by Scott Levi from the ABC’s The Big Fish with a panel of fishing identities including Steve “Starlo” Starling, Al McGlashan, Michael “Guesty” Clark and Tom Sadler. Participants also got their hands dirty for fish habitat during the Forum’s field trip and planted 100 trees on the banks of Ash Island in the lower Hunter estuary.
Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum June 18-19, 2009 – Ballina, North Coast NSW. The first ever Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum was a 2-day event that attracted fishers, natural resource managers and scientists from across the state. Presentations included discussions on bass, blackfish, bream, climate change and international initiatives. Steve Starling also presented as a special guest!
