Fishcare Looks For New Volunteers

[Ken A]

The Department of Primary Industries is looking for new Fishcare volunteers on the North Coast.

'We have a strong band of approximately 332 people throughout the state who have joined the program in the past five years,' said DPI Fisheries Northern Region education officer Mark Asquith.

'Now we are inviting more interested people living on the north coast based in the Forster-Tuncurry, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Grafton-Maclean-Yamba and Tweed Heads areas to nominate for the program.'

The program is funded by the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust. Volunteers assist the NSW DPI in educating the public on recreational fishing regulations and sustainable fishing practices.

'Due to overwhelming interest, recruitment of volunteers for the program is limited and only undertaken during set periods and for established group locations,' Mr Asquith said.

'The program has proven to be extremely popular with the fishing community who benefit enormously from the service, and the program’s working volunteers who find the program very rewarding.

'It is all about education. Fishcare conducts a variety of activities from research projects that survey the fishing community and the quality of their fishing, to advisory activities assisting fishers to know about the bag and size limits of fish and sustainable fishing practices.

'We hold outreach events and the ever-popular fishing workshops.'

Fishcare volunteers are community members, often fishers themselves engaged in educating and advising fishers. They have no enforcement powers and do not get involved in compliance operations.

'They are well trained and dedicated volunteers who are prepared to share their knowledge, experience and time with the recreational fishing community,' Mr Asquith said.

'The Fishcare volunteer program is also an opportunity for fishers to ‘put something back’.

'We are interested in receiving nominations from people in the community over 18 who can commit a minimum of eight hours a month to the program, and who wish to promote and be involved in fostering sustainable recreational fishing to the community.'

Information on the Fishcare Volunteer Program and nomination forms can be obtained by visiting the NSW Department of Primary Industries website, or by phoning Mark Asquith on 02 66520918.

Media contact: Howard Spencer on 02 6656 8800 or 0428 696 672.