Pimp My Jetty to make a splash at Sydney Harbour and Lake Macquarie
Sydney Harbour and Lake Macquarie are two of the most famous fishing locations in NSW and they are about to get a big helping hand from OzFish Unlimited in the form of the Pimp My Jetty project.
After launching successful projects in the Peel-Harvey estuary near Mandurah in Western Australia and on the Gold Coast, OzFish is holding workshops for private jetty owners who want to install an environmentally friendly hanging habitat unit in their backyard.
The low-cost fish habitat units are made from natural fibre rope and timber, and they are suspended underneath jetties and pontoons with the aim of creating additional shelter and food for fish to enhance biodiversity of existing urban structures.
OzFish, Australia’s recreational fishing conservation charity, kicked off the first Pimp My Jetty project in the Peel-Harvey estuary last year and the juvenile blue mussels have been growing on the structures at an encouraging rate.
On the Gold Coast, Pimp My Jetty units will soon to be installed. It is expected oysters, plant life and other marine life will take a shine to them.
Lucas Kas, Sydney-based Project Officer for OzFish Unlimited, said fish and many aquatic species benefit from the structures being installed and jetties provide a perfect spot.
Coastal development has resulted in more than 50% of the Harbour’s natural shoreline being lost, which has had detrimental effects on the quantity and quality of habitat for fish to breed, feed and grow.
The vitality of fish stocks is intricately linked to the extent of available habitat that sustains them throughout various stages of their life cycle. If those habitats don’t exist for that life stage, the fish compete, and many perish. Scientific research consistently demonstrates that enhancing available habitat directly correlates with a surge in fish stocks. By creating more available habitat, studies have shown that fish stocks will increase, and that’s the point of restoring habitat lost.
This initiative will allow local pontoon owners, recreational fishers, nature lovers and school groups a chance to get involved in restoration right at their doorstep.
“This project will be driven by fishers; they will be taking the lead and be involved in every aspect. They’ll be building these structures, monitoring them, and hopefully reaping the rewards by seeing more fish in these areas down the track,” Mr Kas said.
“The whole idea is to improve the habitat value of jetties and pontoons that already exist.
“Once established they become encrusted with all types of sea life that fish can feed on.
“We’re hoping to see across the board, all sorts of species use these structures. Hopefully there’ll be a blend of algaes, shellfish, sponges, crabs and the structures will also provide places for them to hide from predators.”
Brian Elton, OzFish Director and Sydney Harbour Chapter President said there were numerous benefits to “pimping” jetties that dot the edges of the iconic waterway.
“I am excited that we can bring this proven OzFish initiative to Sydney Harbour,” he said.
“If you are an environmentally minded private jetty or pontoon owner on Sydney Harbour and would like to contribute to improving fish habitat and species diversity, please reach out to OzFish and volunteer to have your jetty ‘pimped’.
“It’s doesn’t cost jetty owners anything and the Harbour’s bream and kingfish just love structure.”
OzFish is on the lookout for jetty owners in both locations who would be interested in having a structure installed. They are also keen to hear from locals who would like to be involved by helping build and monitor the habitat units.
After the structures have been installed, OzFish will go back and monitor them using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) technology.
To register for the Lake Macquarie workshop at Belmont 16 Sailing Club from 10am-1pm on Saturday, November 18,
To register for the Sydney Harbour workshop at South Sydney Amateur Fishing Association at Chifley from 10am-1pm on Saturday, November 25.
The Pimp My Jetty project has been made possible from support from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts, Belmont 16s Sailing Club, South Sydney Amateur Fishing Association and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing