OVER half a million dollars worth of grants are now available for individuals or groups interested in rehabilitating fish habitat throughout NSW.
“Applications are now open for grants of up to $40,000 as part of the NSW Government’s Habitat Action Grant program,” NSW DPI’s Fisheries Conservation Manager, Charlotte 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 Action Grants are administered by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and applications close on Wednesday 28 September 2011 at 5pm.
Ms Jenkins said funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust are used to provide the grants program.
“The grants are open to fishing clubs, Landcare and Rivercare groups, other community groups, individuals and local councils wanting to improve fish habitat in their local area,” she said.
Previous projects have included removing invasive vegetation and re-establishing native vegetation on our riverbanks, removing barriers to fish movement, re-snagging waterways, opening floodgates and fencing riverbanks to control the access of livestock.
Examples of past Habitat Action Grant projects and more information can be found at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/habitat/rehabilitating/ahr-grants-program or by contacting a NSW DPI Conservation Manager on (02) 6626 1107 or (02) 4916 3926.
