New life for the Barwon River and Curdies Estuary

Native fish habitat will breathe new life into the Barwon River and Curdies Estuary thanks to two new projects under the Australian Government’s ‘Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program’.

The Barwon River and Curdies Estuary Habitat Restoration Projects will improve riverine and estuarine habitat for native fish, including angling species such as Black Bream and Estuary Perch. They will do so by installing snags or ‘fish hotels’ (as recreational fishers commonly call them) in both waterways.

The new fish hotels will also provide habitat for threatened Australian Grayling and other aquatic wildlife, including frogs, platypus, water rats, insects and birds.

The habitat restoration projects are being delivered in partnership between OzFish Unlimited, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and VRFish. It will also utilise the experience and expertise of various community groups, agencies, and organisations.

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority CEO John Riddiford said this project will “improve the health of the waterways, provide essential ecological benefits, and provide long-term services to recreational fishers”.

“This project will deliver important outcomes for passionate recreational fishers because healthy habitat is vital to making fishing better and providing anglers with more fishing opportunities,” continued Mr Riddiford.

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Project Officer Wayne McLaren said, “We are excited to work with OzFish and their army of recreational fishing volunteers to deliver these projects that will provide significant benefits for the Barwon River and Curdies Estuary”.

“By restoring fish habitat, there will be an immense long-term benefit to recreational fishers through healthy, resilient and more productive fish stocks,” Mr McLaren continued.