Fish Habitat Work Continues Across Nsw

[Ken A]

The State Government today announced 14 new projects across NSW to improve fish habitat, which will boost recreational angling and also repair environmental damage.

The projects cover a range of popular fishing spots, including around Brewarrina, Condobolin, Wagga Wagga, the Hawkesbury and the Parramatta River.

This freshwater fish habitat work worth more than $110,000 will be funded by recreational anglers, through their licence fee – another example of anglers’ money working for them.

In total, the 14 projects will rehabilitate about 70 hectares of floodplain and freshwater wetlands; improve fish passage along 200km of river, re-snag 17km of river and improve more than 40km of river through weed removal and restoring vegetation.

Fish populations are a good indication of the general health of our waterways; so improving the ability of our fish to survive, breed and migrate is important for all aquatic biodiversity.

Unfortunately, habitat has been removed or damaged over many decades which has resulted in less fish, poorer water quality, erosion and weed infestations.

The Recreational Fishing Freshwater trust, which distributes funds raised from recreational fishing licences, had set aside $300,000 over three years to rehabilitate freshwater fish habitats.

Today’s announcement is the third and final allocation from that three-year commitment.

Freshwater fish such as silver perch, golden perch, Murray cod, eastern freshwater cod, freshwater catfish and Australian bass will benefit directly from this rehabilitation work.

The Government also recognises the contribution of community groups, individuals, councils and other agencies, which are matching the recreational angling funding dollar-for-dollar.

Recreational angling is the backbone of many of these communities, stimulating the local economy and bringing jobs and investment to the local area.

For more details on the funding allocations under the Freshwater Habitat Grant Program, see the table at this link Fish Habitat Information

This information is reproduced with the permission of NSW Department of Primary Industries