OzFish announces their latest Chapter to fix up the Loddon and Campaspe waterways.
OzFish Unlimited, Australia’s fishing conservation charity, today announced their latest Chapter for the Loddon and Campaspe basins in a bid to further extend habitat restoration work across Victoria.
The OzFish Campaspe-Loddon Chapter will look to bring keen rec fishers together to plan and work on habitat restoration projects in the local waterways.
Freshwater anglers have enjoyed fishing in the area, but there have been ongoing concerns about the water quality and lack of habitat in these fishing spots to keep the fishery healthy and productive.
In getting the chapter off the ground, local rec fisher Bartholomew Oswald joined up with John Condliffe and Gregory Hellsten to lead the charge and contacted OzFish in a bid to make it happen.
Mr Oswald, who is a keen angler, says that protecting fish habitat should always be a priority, but the fact the new chapter launch coincided with the opening of the Murray cod season made him just that little bit more motivated.
“The three of us met through fishing clubs and after a few conversations leading into the cod season, we thought it would be worthwhile putting our heads together to make some significant improvements to the waterways here,” said Mr Oswald.
Greg Hellesten, the Secretary of the new Chapter, brings a wealth of knowledge to the group, having been Secretary and VRFish State Council member for Midland & North Central Angling Association Inc. Greg is keen to drive fish habitat restoration in the area.
“The new OzFish Chapters’ focus is not just our rivers, but the entire catchment system. Think Coliban River, Lake Eppalock, Upper Coliban Reservoir, Cairn Curran Reservoir, Lauriston Reservoir, Laanecoorie Reservoir, and Tullaroop Reservoir. We need the anglers, who know these systems the best to join OzFish on protecting and improving them,” said Mr Hellesten.
The chapter have organised a family-friendly waterbug blitz this Saturday October 30 at 11 am at the Kyneton Botanical Gardens. The community are encouraged to become ‘citizen scientists’ and investigate how healthy their local waterways and wetlands are, simply by exploring and identifying what waterbugs they contain.
The need for more habitat for our freshwater natives is critical. An OzFish Chapter in the region is a great step for recreational fishers and community partners to continue working towards a healthy, vibrant and more productive local fishery.
If you would like to know more about the chapter or get involved, become a member of OzFish or contact 1800 431 308.