Community Conservation On Show At Open Day
The community is invited to participate in the reseeding of seagrass meadows at the upcoming community planting day on Saturday 20 November at the Cockburn Power Boat Club.
Become a member of the OzFish Fremantle Chapter.
There is a membership for everyone.
ADULT MEMBERSHIP JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP FAMILY MEMBERSHIP
Every new member will receive an OzFish cap, sticker, facemasks and a $10 BCF Gift Card courtesy of our major partner.
From seagrass meadows to shellfish reef restoration
OzFish’s renowned Seeds for Snapper seagrass restoration project in Cockburn Sound, motivated local fishers to form an OzFish group to support fish habitat projects for their local Fremantle area.
These local fishers, divers and spearfishers want to see improvements in fish habitat and increase the productivity of existing marine infrastructure. The group has decided to give their iconic waterway an overhaul and bring some new science and innovation which will make the fishing in the Swan River better for everybody. Healthy ecosystems and resilient ecosystems.
Fremantle is located between temperate and semi-tropical ecosystems, which makes it a mecca for a diverse range of fish species that are residing in the fish habitat available in the region. Have a look at this video about the marine life lurking off Coogee Rock Wall.
Credit Cam Nalder (Reef Craft Pty Ltd.)
HOW CAN WE MAKE FISHING BETTER
Oyster reefs are functionally extinct in South Western Australia
Historically, the importance of shellfish ecosystems has been undervalued with many Australians unaware of the loss to these ecosystems. They are under the water so many people do not see the loss occurring.
The extent of shellfish reef loss is only recently become fully understood, it is now clear that many of our bays and estuaries are devoid of the shellfish reefs that once sustained their thriving fisheries and balanced their water quality.
They are in desperate need of intervention to restore living shellfish reefs and their associated values.
Enhancing the water quality of the Swan River
The bigger and better these reefs are in the Swan River, the better your chances are of catching a big fish.
The shellfish provide beneficial services to water quality by sequestering suspended sediment and filtering large volumes of water, sequestering potentially harmful chemicals including Nitrogen, Carbon and Microplastics.
Once deployed, the recycled shellfish will trigger a chemical reaction in the water that encourages spat (baby shellfish) to attach and grow, creating a living reef. These structures then provide the food and shelter for algae, molluscs, crustaceans to reside and kicks starts the food chain for our saltwater species.
PROJECTS UNDERWAY
Shell recycling program
Creating enterprise opportunities in fish habitat restoration by recycling seafood waste.
The OzFish Fremantle Chapter is leveraging on a number of unique, innovative and community-driven steps to reverse shellfish reef losses and tailoring their project to maximise the resources available within the community which surrounds this beautiful waterway.
We are working to create shell collection services, find a storage site for the shell and shell washer, create ROBS working to determine the very best sites for shellfish to thrive in the Swan when they are ready for deployment.
LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
Find Out More
Industry support welcomed by Australia’s largest seagrass restoration project
Every November for the last four years, national fishing conservation charity OzFish have been working with Australia’s leading scientists from University of Western Australia to develop practical techniques to restore lost seagrass meadows of Cockburn Sound.
OzFish to replant one million seagrass seeds in Western Australia
Seagrass meadows within Western Australia’s Cockburn Sound will again be the focus of community-driven restoration as fishing conservation charity OzFish launches Seeds for Snapper 2021 this November.
Fremantle Fishing Community Form OzFish Chapter For Fish Habitat
OzFish Unlimited, Australia’s fastest growing fishing conservation charity, announces the establishment of its latest Chapter in Fremantle, WA.
Jake Nilsen – Intern And Fremantle Chapter Co-President
Jake first learnt to fish around the waters of Rockingham and Mandurah which instilled a deep appreciation for the sea’s beauty and nature, as well as an understanding of its sensitivity and stressors.
Logan Penman - Intern And Fremantle Chapter Co-President
From surfing as a nipper to completing his Masters in Marine and Coastal Science, Logan has always been passionate about the ocean and fish habitat. Logan’s first involvement with OzFish was taking part in the ...
Fergus Penman - Intern and Fremantle Chapter Secretary
Fergus has been surrounded by the ocean from a young age, always eager to spend his time either surfing, diving or fishing. Currently undergoing his Masters in Environmental Science, Fergus intends to combine his ...
The OzFish Fremantle Chapter’s vision is to empower recreational fishers to be stewards of our local waterways.
OzFish members enjoy connecting with fellow anglers and the OzFish community across Australia. Many also give their time volunteering hours every year to local projects that protect, restore and revitalise your favourite fishing spots. Acting for local conservation can take on many forms. Sometimes it’s cleaning recycling oyster shells to restore shellfish reefs and sometimes it’s looking at innovative ways to help our habitat regenerate.