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Brunswick River Fish Habitat Restoration

OzFish Unlimited and Landcare NSW have joined forces to empower local communities across NSW to improve their local waterways.

Focusing on on-ground works to improve the health of habitats in their local rivers, the partnership will enable OzFish chapters and local Landcare groups to work together to deliver river restoration projects.

Joining forces

OzFishers planted 360 native trees on Brunswick River in Northern NSW to revegetate the riverbanks in Main Arm just behind Mullumbimby. The volunteers teamed up with community groups Brunswick Valley Landcare & Replant Byron to help reinvigorate the local ecosystem and improve habitat for native fish.

The project aims to help native fish and other wildlife by stabilizing eroded areas and enhancing habitat. Planting trees along riverbanks is a great way to do this and locals planted a variety of trees and shrubs native to the area including lilly pilly, sandpaper fig and lomandra.

“This project will help stabilise the riverbank, whilst providing essential habitat for several land and aquatic species. Revegetation projects are important for reducing sediment and improving the overall health of our river systems. The benefits go beyond environmental,” said Local Landcare Coordinator for Brunswick Valley Landcare, Alison Ratcliffe

Better habitat, better fishing

Riverbank planting is essential for healthy fish habitat. It provides fish with shelter from overhanging branches, shade to regulate water temperature, filtering to improve water quality and insect fall which provides up to 40% of fish diet.

Even though the Brunswick River is one of the smaller coastal catchments in the area, in terms of productivity, it’s an important one for fish and oysters. The restoration work will be a great help to all of our aquatic friends.

This collaborative community planting day demonstrated the power of community in actioning environmental solutions. Each riverbank planting, however small, is making a big difference to improving fish habitat and that evidently means better fishing.

An Australian bass whose diet includes lots of delicious insects that rely on riparian vegetation.

LATEST NEWS

Brunswick River Gets An Injection Of Community Support To Improve Fish Habitat

OzFish Unlimited, Australia’s leading fishing conservation charity, recently planted 360 native trees on Brunswick River in Northern NSW to revegetate the riverbanks bordering two properties along Main Arm Road. OzFish volunteers worked with community groups Brunswick Valley Landcare & Replant Byron to help reinvigorate the local ecosystem and improve habitat for native fish. Locals got to work planting native trees and shrubs to the area including lilly pilly, sandpaper fig and lomandra, which will stabilise eroded areas and enhance the overall health and habitat values for native fish populations and other wildlife.

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