NSW anglers to play vital role in fish conservation project
Recreational fishers in NSW are being asked to become citizen scientists to help understand the ecological role of pink snapper and lobster in the state.
OzFish Unlimited and the University of Newcastle are calling on the NSW recreational fishing community to get involved by donating a small flesh and gut samples of their catch to research.
Researchers at the University will analyse gut and flesh sample from snapper and lobster donated by recreational anglers. The findings will support best-case management of fish habitats along the NSW coastline.
Project lead, Jeremy Day, from the University of Newcastle, says having a better understanding of what snapper and lobster eat and where they live allows us to build knowledge of their roles in the ecosystem.
“The role anglers can play in this project by providing samples from their catch cannot be underestimated – it really will help the work of OzFish to be able to focus habitat restoration programs in their local area and across NSW.
“Dietary analysis is so important because at the moment there are fundamental unknowns about how coastal ecosystems operate.
“We know that snapper eat urchins, but we don’t know how often and why. By analysing these samples, we will be giving ecologists and organisations like OzFish the information they need to better manage our near shore ecosystems,” said Jeremy.
Getting involved in the project is easy for anglers.
All they have to do is take a small flesh sample, around 2cm wide, or the gut contents of their catch, put it in a zip lock bag and on ice. After writing the date, general location, and species on the bag, they can submit it to OzFish at various locations along the NSW east coast.
OzFish is calling on its army of volunteers to support the project. Cassie Price, Director of Habitat Programs at OzFish, says that participating is straightforward, quick and has a big part to play in habitat restoration.
“The more snapper samples we can provide, the better we will be able to protect and restore the places we like to fish.
“This project is not asking fishos to go out and kill snapper. It is asking those who head out regularly and like to keep the odd one for a feed to set aside a small portion for research.
“By conducting this research, we will be able to understand where the snapper lives, how reliant it is on urchins, what time of the year they eat certain prey, and most importantly, how we can restore or protect the places they inhabit,” said Cassie.
OzFish are currently collecting samples at a select number of BCF stores along the NSW coastline, with more collection points being added in the coming weeks. To find out how to be involved, and a full list of locations CLICK HERE.
