Inland NSW and ACT communities are invited to show their support for native fish and river rehabilitation by attending events as part of Native Fish Awareness Week.
“Native fish populations in the Murray-Darling Basin are estimated to have declined by 90 per cent since European settlement but there are a lot of projects underway to help them recover,” said I&I NSW Native Fish Strategy Coordinator, Charlie Carruthers.
“Native Fish Awareness Week is about encouraging communities to get involved in local projects to improve habitat in our waterways, because more habitats equal more native fish.“
Carruthers said this year’s theme is “Fish need trees”, to encourage riparian rehabilitation around waterways. He says, “native trees on our riverbanks can provide over 40 per cent of a fish’s diet, act as a natural buffer that stops dirt entering the waterway and bind banks together to reduce erosion.”
Native Fish Awareness Week is an initiative of the Native Fish Strategy, a program designed to address the threats affecting native fish and return self-sustaining native fish populations back to 60 per cent of pre-European levels over a 50 year period.
Native Fish Awareness Week events in southern inland NSW and the ACT:
· In association with the Murray Catchment Management Authority the Edward-Wakool Native Fish Awareness Expo will involve an afternoon and evening session in Deniliquin on Tuesday November 16. Afternoon Session includes:
- Native Fish Strategy, Recreational Fisheries Management, and local fish monitoring project presentations
- Electro-fishing and fish tagging demonstration
- Information displays
- Held at McLean’s Beach, from 12-3pm with Free BBQ lunch from 12 – 1pm.
Evening Session includes:
- Edward-Wakool monitoring program, fish sampling and fish stocking presentations.
- Held at Deniliquin RSL (Dunlop Room) from 5-7pm, meals & drinks available to buy.
- ‘The Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach Implementation Plan launch’ in association with the ACT Government and Outward Bound will be held on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa Sandwash Reserve on Wednesday November 17 from 10:30am – 12 noon.
The Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach Implementation Plan launch in association with the ACT Government and Outward Bound will be held on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa Sandwash Reserve on Wednesday November 17 from 10:30am – 12 noon. Attractions include:
- Launch of the Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach Implementation Plan
- Presentation on the Native Fish Strategy
- Riverbank tree planting
- Light refreshments.
Reviving the Lachlan in association with the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority will be held on the banks of the Lachlan River at Condobolin Showground on Thursday November 18 from 7:30am – 12 noon. Attractions include:
- Presentations on the Native Fish Strategy, Lachlan River Revival and fish habitat rehabilitation project
- Carp cooking demonstration
- Riverbank tree planting
- Free BBQ breakfast from 7:30am-8:30am
- I&I NSW Fisheries Education Trailer.
