As reported on the Fisho site, the Australian Land Based Anglers Association (ALBAA), in conjunction with various environmental groups and volunteers, recently undertook a clean up of several popular rock fishing ledges at Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast.
As part of the ongoing Ledge Care campaign – an initiative of ALBAA – September 19 saw members from ALBAA, cadets and staff from the Defence Environment Team, and volunteers, join together to celebrate Clean Up the World Weekend at the Beecroft weapons range, Jervis Bay. The combined group’s clean up efforts centred on popular LBG locations: The Outer Tubes, Honeymoon Bay camping area and Target Beach south.
At day’s end the group had collected and removed for proper disposal, a total of 1.26 tonnes of refuse from the three locations.
The weekend marked an important step for ALBAA, having engaged not only the Defence Force but working with the Environment Team and volunteers to achieve a positive outcome for the Jervis Bay area.
ALBAA’s publicity officer Kurt Edwards told Fisho the Ledge Care event was another in a growing campaign that has seen several similar clean-ups staged this year along the NSW Central and South coast.
Edwards says ALBAA was initially formed to represent land-based anglers after an incident involving a fishermen who was forcibly removed from a Jervis Bay ledge within the Booderee National Park in early 2008. Since that time ALBAA has represented land-based anglers in various management body submissions, notably Jervis Bay Marine Park and Booderee National Park’s management plan reviews, potentially affecting access to rock fishing locations along the NSW coast.
Copies of these documents area available on the association’s website.
“Access to deepwater rock fishing locations has become increasingly limited over the past five to ten years”, said Edwards.
He says that the forming of ALBAA now means rock fishers have a means of open communication with the bodies directly involved with – or affected by – marine park closures.
Of September 19’s Jervis Bay clean up Edwards said it typically provided a lot of satisfaction for those involved.
“Anyone who’s attended these events knows the feeling of deep satisfaction you gain from them.”
The future success of Ledge Care events largely depends on coordinated planning, and more importantly the continued efforts of many valued volunteers and sponsor organisations.
Kurt Edwards told Fisho, “It’s great to see the industry get behind Ledge Care and we would like to extend our thanks to Shimano Australia for putting up a rod and reel as a door prize. The combo was won by one of our junior members, Cooper Arellano, which was a perfect end to the day.”
ALBAA is looking at coordinating more Ledge Care campaigns in the near future and expects to have another clean up day pencilled in before the end of 2009 – the likely location to be the Wybung Head area within the Munmorah State Conservation Area.
The organistaion is also hoping to coordinate with Sydney-based angling groups in the near future to organise Ledge Care events at some of the city’s popular rock fishing venues.
For more information on ALBAA contact Christian Gough on 0437 492 090 or email ledgecare@albaa.com.au. Website at: www.albaa.com.au
