The Black Summer Bushfires of 2019-20 ravaged the east coast of Australia at an unprecedented scale and ferocity and was followed by high rainfall, dealing our precious and unique waterways with a devastating blow. Waterway Fire Science Project is a citizen science initiative in NSW which will ...
The project will raise awareness of the issue and build community capacity to partake in hands-on practical work to catch and remove goldfish. OzFish will make best use of the latest science to target goldfish in areas they are known to breed and congregate.
Sunraysia OzFish and key stakeholders utilised their collective expertise and equipment to map all woody habitats that are located within two vital off-stream waterways, Frenchman’s creek and Rufus River, which are tributaries to the Murray River.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is being used to assess fish diversity in waterways. It is proving a valuable monitoring tool in the tropics, where traditional fish sampling methods, such as netting or trapping, are not always easy or appropriate.
OzFish are partnering with Charles Sturt University, recreational fishers, and First Nations people to better understand how to design and implement basin-wide scientific programs with citizen scientists to address the gaps.
OzFish is encouraging local people to become citizen scientists and help monitor a new oyster reef in Narooma, on the south coast of NSW. By volunteering, people will be playing an important role in restoring a healthy aquatic habitat to the state’s coastline.
This citizen science project aims to better understand the flow-on benefits of habitat restoration for fish and recreational fishers at Burrill Lake.
Coffs Harbour OzFish volunteers have been mapping the Bellinger River, where many of the local fishermen have caught their first bream near Bellingen NSW. OzFish volunteers have spent hours undertaking mapping for a range of fish habitat types including snags, seagrass, shellfish reefs.
OzFish, supported by the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust is running Growing river Stewardship a year-round program of engagement activities and events across New South Wales, providing volunteers and communities with opportunities to protect and enjoy their local waterways. Why not join us?
The Snapper Citizen Science project has been developed by a PHD student at the University of Newcastle to better understand the role of urchins in the diets of snapper and lobster.
Creekwatch is an exciting, long-term monitoring and fish habitat restoration program in Townsville. The program offers environmental volunteer opportunities that connect people to nature, contribute to improving and protecting waterways, and encourage stewardship of waterways by the local community.
The Bohle and Ross River catchments are the focus of fish surveys to improve urban waterway management with the help of volunteer recreational anglers.
Community science is a rapidly expanding field where millions of participants each year gather data on hundreds of topics ranging from the weather to water quality, threatened and endangered species, and such far off topics as water bugs and environment DNA.
OzFish Unlimited members have been gathering data on water quality and fish populations since the organisation was established but only recently have we expanded the opportunities for the public and actively marketed the potential for anglers and other community members to assist in the science-based management of our fisheries and their habitats.
The passion and commitment by OzFish volunteers to actively gather data for the benefit of Australia’s native fish and waterways are not only driving the current revolutionary level of engagement in fisher science, but it has launched the organisation into a more active role in fisheries and water management decisions.
The demand for voluntary data collection by Aussie fishers is overwhelming, which is why the list of current and future OzFish citizen science projects around the nation continues to grow.
We’re empowering fishers with tools to discover more about their local fishing spots, which gives them the knowledge to understand their fish and help them protect and restore their habitat.
These tools build the capacity of recreational anglers to map, monitor, learn and educate about their local fish and waterways. We aim to give everyday anglers the tools and knowledge to discover more about their local fishing ecosystem and share their knowledge with their community, to grow interest and respect in the sport they love for generations to come.
Join our community of volunteers who share our determination to restore and rebuild fish habitat across Australia.
Donate today to support our mission to protect and restore our fishing spots through community-driven participation and ownership.
Help us raise funds for our restoration initiatives by becoming an OzFish member today. Learn more about member benefits!
At OzFish we are incredibly proud of the multiple citizen science efforts undertaken by so many of our OzFish volunteers, our fish need our help to protect and restore their habitat now more than ever. And you can help.