OzFish’s understands that the Murray Darling Basin catchment is the largest continuous river system in Australia and is home to some of our most iconic large native fish as well as many rare and important small-bodied native fish. Not to mention the freshwater cray, yabbies and mussels, scores of different birds and the charismatic rakali water rat.
We also recognise that the Murray Darling Basin has been under considerable pressure for over 150 years now, as one of Australia’s key production areas for our all important food source and more. Our aim is to resolve the balance between this wide productive landscape and a healthy river with everything fish need to thrive.
In our Basin program, OzFish chapters have the opportunity to restore some of the critical losses to fish habitat right along the great Murray, the Darling and all of their tributaries. Practical work to put back the hundreds of thousands of snags removed for river navigation and transport, to restore a vibrant native riparian zone, to ensure refuge for fish to shelter and breed, to allow fish passage for migration. We also seek to map, explore and better understand the river system and its fish, so we can best manage it into the future
Work on Australia’s waterways is on the country of our First Nations peoples. We pay respect to their longstanding custodianship of this land. We acknowledge the deep connection and understanding they have with our waterways and our fish as we seek their support, advice, and approval for our stewardship actions.
OzFish utilises traditional and modern knowledge, in turn applying it firsthand to our scientific monitoring, as well as planning for and implementing restoration works.
OzFish runs a network of three River Repair Buses across the Murray Darling at Moree, Dubbo and Mildura. The Buses allow us daily activity to restore the river, planting, weeding, litter and dumping removal, fish hotel building and placement, fish and crayfish recues. The buses provide the opportunity for OzFishers and the broader community to get out and lend the river a hand, regularly or at any time they are available.