Citizen science, OzFish-style
It’s Citizen Science Month – and while the term might sound a bit academic, it’s something OzFish volunteers have been doing for years. Whether you’re planting trees, trapping pest fish or spotting seagrass fruits on a beach walk, you’re already part of it.
At OzFish, we call it Fisher Science — a way for everyday fishers to learn more about their local waterways, collect real data, and share knowledge that can help restore habitat and fish populations. You don’t need a science degree to get involved, just a passion for healthy waterways and good fishing.
We’re seeing some incredible citizen science efforts this year already, all around the country:
- In the tropics, the Great Shellfish Hunt has just launched. Recreational fishers are being called on to help locate and document tropical shellfish reefs, vital ecosystems that have quietly declined over the decades. If you’re out on the water and spot a reef, you can upload your photos and location to help scientists identify restoration hotspots.
- Up north, Creekwatch continues to lead hands-on restoration in Townsville’s waterways. Earlier this year, the team jumped into action after heavy rainfall and flooding left large barramundi stranded in shallow, low-oxygen creeks. Working together, they safely relocated the breeding fish to healthier waters — a critical intervention that will help sustain local fish stocks.
- In WA, the OzFish Geographe Chapter is refining its trapping techniques in the Vasse River to target feral goldfish. Volunteers are helping trial new bait mixes and improve trap design, contributing data that will be used in a much larger pest fish eradication project across the Swan Coastal Plain.
- And in South Australia, citizen science helped drive the latest Seagrass for Snapper push on the Fleurieu Peninsula, where beachgoers were encouraged to report seagrass fruit washing up on local shores — a vital step in planning future seagrass restoration efforts.
OzFish exists to bring people and science together to protect the places we all love to fish. Whether you’re chasing a badge in our Junior OzFishers program or spotting an oyster reef from your kayak, there’s a place for you in citizen science.
Join your local chapter to make a difference to your favourite waterways.