Tumut Fish Talks draws a crowd for river health
Local fishers, landholders and community members gathered at Tumut River Brewing Co on Thursday 19 June for the Tumut Fish Talks, an event focused on native fish conservation, fishing and river health.
Hosted by the OzFish Mid Murrumbidgee Chapter, the free forum attracted around 50 attendees, who shared insights into local fishing trends and the restoration of waterways in the Tumut catchment. The evening provided the community and stakeholders with updates on the Tumut River Threatened Fishes Project, launched earlier this year.
Sean Graham, OzFish River Repair Bus Team Leader, provided an update on the project’s progress. “It is clear with this turnout, that the Tumut community genuinely cares about their rivers,” said Mr. Graham. “There is a known understanding that healthy rivers lead to healthy fish populations, and therefore fisheries”
Sean detailed the Tumut River habitat restoration work underway through OzFish’s River Repair Bus program, working in high-value habitat tributaries of the river. This includes installing fish hotels and native fish spawning tubes for threatened native fish, undertaking aquatic plant revegetation, and removing invasive riparian weeds.
“We’re focused on creating the habitat native fish like the Two-spined blackfish and Macquarie perch need to thrive,” he explained.
“Local volunteers have been central to this success, with fishers, landholders, and community groups putting up their hands and volunteering to be involved.”
The community’s engagement was evident throughout the event, with attendees staying to discuss restoration efforts and connect with others following the conclusion of the guest speakers. Not only that, but ten new OzFish members signed up on the night, showing growing support for habitat restoration projects in the region.
“This level of community involvement is what drives real, on-ground change, especially ten new members signing up on the night” Graham noted.
We are already discussing how to expand habitat improvements with local volunteers and groups, and the momentum is exciting.
Sean Graham, OzFish River Repair Bus Team Leader
The junior members of the audience were particularly excited to see the guest talks from Colby Lesko and Gage Wright from Spin Wright Lures, who shared practical tips on recreational fishing and understanding local waters.
Following on, Shea Bloom of Women in Recreational Fishing (WIRF) spoke about the importance of diverse participation in fishing and how it benefits the entire community, something that is often overlooked in recreational fishing.
The presentations concluded with Dr. Mark Lintermans, a respected freshwater ecologist, who discussed the challenges facing native fish populations in the Tumut region. He also delivered positive news from recent electro-fishing surveys in the Tumut catchment, confirming decent numbers of the threatened Two-spined blackfish and other small-bodied native fish.
Best of all, the evening facilitated collaboration, leaving attendees better informed about how they can contribute to the health of their local rivers and native fish.
This project was funded by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) through the Tumut River works program and supported by BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.
Become an OzFish member today to be involved in habitat restoration projects across the country.