Rec fishers needed to help Burrill Lake saltmarshes shine

Local and visiting recreational anglers at Burrill Lake can contribute to important citizen science research over the next 12 months by collecting small samples from their catch and dropping them into Big4 Bungalow Park on Burrill Lake for habitat research.

Developed by the University of Newcastle in partnership with Australia’s fishing conservation charity OzFish Unlimited, the data will provide a better understanding of the benefits of saltmarsh habitat restoration for both fish and recreational fishers. 

The saltmarsh habitat at Burrill Lake is in a degraded state, primarily due to cattle grazing. As part of the project, restoration work will be carried out at the site which will include fencing, and then samples of fish caught at the lake will be analysed to determine the impact of habitat restoration on the fish.

“Saltmarshes are vital fish habitat and a nursery area for baby fish,” said Angus Fanning, OzFish Project Manager for Coastal NSW.

“Over 70 percent of all recreationally targeted saltwater fish species are thought to rely on saltmarshes for at least some of their life cycle.

“We need fishers to take samples from fish caught in Burrill Lake. It doesn’t matter the species caught, but the more the better. The sample needed is just a small piece a flesh from the fish the size of your thumbnail from above the lateral line.

“Put the piece of flesh in a clean plastic ziplock bag with the date, measurements and location/zone where the fish was caught, and drop it off at the Big4 Bungalow Park on Burrill Lakewhere they will be collected by researchers and taken back to the university for analysis.

“It’s a great opportunity for anglers to give back to the fish and the waterways they love,” Angus Fanning said.

This collaboration between the recreational fishing community and researchers will ultimately lead to a more comprehensive understanding of saltmarsh habitat restoration. The research team are also interested to learn more about the importance of saltmarshes for fish diets.

“Using gut analysis can show what a fish has been eating but it doesn’t indicate which food items were the most important. By measuring stable isotopes – naturally occurring chemical tracers, the study will be able to determine the importance of different food sources for different species,” said Troy Gaston, Associate Professor and lead researcher from the University of Newcastle.

“The more recreational fishers who take part, the better-quality data we will be able to collect and ultimately improve how restoration projects are undertaken.

The project is funded by the University of Newcastle and OzFish’s major partner BCF- Boating, Camping, Fishing.

 Learn more and register to take part here