THIS Saturday November 3 sees the running of the Duke of Burrendong competition, an event aimed to drive the reintroduction of native fish back into one of Australia’s most revered waterways.
Carlton Mid has set a target of introducing 25,000 native fish into the dam and to mark the start of the competition, a carp will be captured, tagged, and released back into the water. The carp, which will be known as the Duke of Burrendong, has a $10,000 bounty on its head.
Fishermen have until Australia Day 2013 to catch the Duke; for every other carp caught and registered, they will receive a $1 discount token for their next Carlton Mid carton or block purchase. Every day the Duke evades the angler’s hook, Carlton Mid will add $100 to the prize money, meaning the prize pot will potentially reach $18,400.
Derek Cutting, from Carlton Mid, says: “Burrendong Dam in the state’s Central West is a mecca for fishing enthusiasts and holidaymakers. Help this waterway restore its native fish population and cast a line this summer to be in with a chance of winning thousands of dollars.”
Cameron Westaway, Senior Fisheries Manager, Inland for NSW Department of Primary Industries, adds: “Waterways across the state and Australia have a growing number of carp which compete with our native fish stocks and impact on water quality. Initiatives like Carlton Mid’s Carp Muster help raise critical awareness of the issue and are a great way to get the local community actively involved with solving the problem.”
Esteemed poet, author and entertainer Murray “Muz” Hartin has also thrown his support behind the initiative by recording a video exclusively about Burrendong Dam’s plight and the competition. Check out Murray’s video below.
