FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What is Growing River Stewardship?

  Growing River Stewardship (GRS) is a project supported by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust. GRS aims to build capacity among recreational fishers to protect and restore fish habitat throughout Australia. OzFish will connect and activate new groups of anglers (as OzFish Chapters) to restore habitat in 10 priority rivers across NSW.

• What is fish habitat?

  Fish habitat covers a range of features in our waterways that facilitate fish anywhere in their lifecycle in the catchment.  Fish habitat can include the following:

  • Riparian zones
  • Snags
  • Saltmarsh
  • Mangroves
  • Shellfish reefs
  • Seagrass meadows
  • Coral reefs

  Understanding what fish habitat is and why these features are essential to fishing is a good start for any fisher. Equally, knowing what sustainable fishing looks like and getting upskilled in this area is necessary if we want our fishing spots to continue to produce big, healthy fish.

• Why is fish habitat important?

  Fish spawn millions of eggs into the waters each year; however, the mortality levels are incredibly high.  This is because many rivers and estuaries are like underwater deserts due to the impacts of human development and degradation.  These days there are very few places for fish to eat, breed, shelter and hunt in our waterways.  Have a look next time you are out fishing. We need more trees, snags, shellfish reefs and seagrasses to kickstart the cycle from the bottom up.

• How can recreational fishers become stewards of their waterways?

  Become an OzFish Member.

  Sign up and become a member, and we will teach you everything you need to know.  Whether it is knowing your tackle before you get out on the water or taking the time to learn how to properly handle and release your catch in the heat of the moment.  Sustainable fishing ensures fish continue to thrive and our waters remain as pristine as we found them.

  Catch and release fishing has been well entrenched in the younger generation, and many anglers are ready to go to the next level and give back to their waterways. This involves restoring fish habitat features back, which were once there.  Think shellfish reefs in the estuaries or native riparian vegetation that used to be there but is now removed.  Have you seen it and now it’s gone? Are you sick of the fishing not being as it used to be? We can do something about it, and let’s bring these waterways back to their former glory.

• Don’t have a chapter in your area?

  Start an OzFish Chapter

  Don’t have a chapter in your area? Bring OzFish to your local community and start a Chapter. You will need a minimum of five people to start.  Once signed up, we will support you in becoming the port of call for like-minded recreational fishers in your catchment and connect your community with trained experts who can help your chapter carry out fish habitat restoration projects. If you are interested in setting up a chapter in your area, please contact us to see what’s involved – info@ozfish.org.au.