Grants worth more than half-a-million-dollars are now available for individuals and groups interested in rehabilitating fish habitat throughout the State, says Department of Primary Industries’ fisheries conservation manager Charlotte Jenkins.
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“Applications are now open for grants of up to $40,000 as part of the NSW Government’s habitat action grant program,” Jenkins said.
“If your local creek, river or estuary isn’t as productive as it used to be, the cause could be poor fish habitat.
“Good habitat is vital for our native fish as it allows them to find food, take shelter, hide from predators, grow and, most importantly, to breed.
“It is essential that we not only look after fish habitat but also rehabilitate degraded fish habitat.”
Habitat grants are administered by the department and applications close on September 28, at 5pm.
She said the grants program was funded by the state Recreational Fishing Trust.
“The grants are open to fishing clubs, Landcare and Rivercare groups, community groups, individuals and councils wanting to improve fish habitat in their area,” she said.
“Previous projects have included removing invasive vegetation and re-establishing native vegetation on riverbanks, removing barriers to fish movement, resnagging waterways, opening floodgates and fencing riverbanks to control the access of livestock.
“These community projects have provided fantastic results for native fish and are great examples that the money collected from the recreational fishing fee is helping to support recreational fishing and make more fish by natural means.”
Examples of past habitat action grant projects and more information can be found HERE or by contacting a conservation manager on 6626 1107 or 4916 3926.
FISHING COURSES
Danny Spelic’s popular fishing courses at the Canberra Institute of Technology are back for the second half of 2011.
A scholar’s cap isn’t needed to participate; these are easy and fun courses that are open to anglers of any skill level.
As well as the usual favourites like beach and estuary fishing, new courses include fly fishing and fly tying, fishing basics (ideal for kids and mums and dads) trout fishing the Snowies and fishing Canberra, to name a few.
All courses include an optional guided field trip to put new-found skills into practice.
For course dates and details contact CIT and ask about their short courses, or visit THIS WEBSITE
ALL RISE
It’s just two weeks until Rise - Fly Fishing Film Festival 2011, the world’s largest fishing film festival, hits theatres on an Australian tour.
Now in its sixth year the festival has become firmly entrenched as the premier event on fly fishers’ calendars.
The mission of the festival is to inspire audiences with epic adventures, strong stories and big fish in pristine environments.
Check out www.gin-clear.com for all tour information, videos, photos and more.
SOUTH COAST SPECIAL
This weekend I check out South Coast fishing “from the shallows to the deep”.
Starting with outstanding flathead and whiting in the shallows, I then venture to the reefs to take advantage of this year’s remarkable kingfish action.
From there I head out to sea in search of fish that inhabit water over one kilometre deep.
You can catch all the details on Fishing Australia, this Saturday afternoon on WIN and Imparja.
