Holiday Break Fishing Day
Moree and Copeton dam
Community
events hosted
Invasive
species removed
Rubbish
and waste removed
Community events
OzFish held a fishing day with workshops on the Mehi, Gwydir River and Copeton Dam.
With over 900,000 recreational anglers in the Murray Darling Basin (NSW DPI 2019), recreational fishers can play a major role in identifying issues, participating in action, and contributing to the protection and conservation of their local waterways.
Recreational fishing gives all Australians a motive to get outdoors and interact with nature, encourages young children and families to fish and offers a cost effective and healthy outdoor activity that can be enjoyed throughout an entire lifetime.
If done properly, recreational fishing is entirely sustainable and even beneficial to the environment.
Removal of invasive species
The Winter Break Holiday Program and OzFish Unlimited created an opportunity for the community through running the catch a carp days in Moree and Copeton Dam to remove pest species, collect illegally dumped rubbish and learn more about their local waterways. Over both events 118 diverse recreational fishers participated, from first time recreational fishers to seasoned fishing anglers with most participants from first nations groups across the two events.
This project is designed to get youth active throughout the school holidays and into fishing activities focussing on first nations and low socio-economic groups and families to enjoy our favourite past time of recreational fishing.
Adventures in education
These community events gave the opportunity for locals to learn key fishing activities and fishery science. This involved OzFish employees discussing general fish biology, river ecology, pest species and sustainable fishing practices with attendees. Lunch was provided and allowed attendees to mingle and chat with other attendees, as well as OzFish staff and volunteers.
The day’s involved giving away thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes, habitat and rubbish workshops and a free BBQ. Murray cod, Golden perch, Freshwater catfish and European carp were caught. These events were different from your usual fishing competition with anglers being rewarded for fish handling and catch and release techniques instead of largest fish or most caught. All pest species were dispatched immediately and humanely.
