freshwater-recreational-fishing-guide-2018-19

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Conserving our biodiversity – aquatic habitats
Conserving our biodiversity
– aquatic habitats
More habitat = more fish
Healthy and diverse habitats mean healthy
and diverse fish populations, a must if you
want to catch fish. Habitats are those places
where fish live, migrate to and from, feed and
breed. Examples include rivers, billabongs,
creeks and wetlands.
Fish need to be able to access habitat.
Too often fish are stopped by barriers such
as poorly designed road crossings, weirs
and dams.
Fish habitat is also under pressure from
expanding populations and some areas have
been lost or degraded to the point where they
no longer support native fish populations.
NSW DPI is working with many people and
organisations to protect and rehabilitate fish
habitat to assist the recovery of fish stocks.
Funding support from the recreational
fishing trusts has been provided to assist with
this venture.
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Aquarium fish should stay in an aquarium.
Never release them into a waterway or
a drain.
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Get your friends or local fishing club involved
in restoring fish habitat and check out the
website www.fishhabitatnetwork.com.au
NSW DPI also regulates activities that impact
on key fish habitat. If you see or suspect any
illegal activities affecting fish habitat contact
your local NSW DPI fisheries office or the NSW
DPI Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536.
Watch out for:
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Snags, native vegetation, sediment, gravel
or cobble beds, rocks and rock bars being
removed or damaged.
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Drains being dug or other works taking
place in wetlands.
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Machinery working on the banks or
within waterways.
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New bed or bank stabilisation works within
a waterway.
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New waterfront structures such as jetties
and boat ramps.
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Materials or fill being placed into a
waterway e.g. tyres, concrete, sediment etc.
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Placing of permanent or temporary barriers
to fish passage across a waterway e.g. new
waterway crossings, nets, silt fences, fill.
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Discharge of pollutants into waterways.
NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide
Protecting biodiversity – tips to remember
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Travelling at low speed near riverbanks
prevents your boat wake from
undermining them.
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Snags are habitat for fish, not for use
as firewood.
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Use established access points to launch and
retrieve your boat or to access waterways
by foot.
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Take all rubbish home or dispose
appropriately, including fishing line
and gear.
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Take care not to transport fish, water or
weeds from one waterway to another. Wash
down your boat, trailer and fishing gear to
avoid spreading pests.
See www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/
rehabilitating/living-and-working-on-ariverbank
for more information on works in
waterways that require approval under the
Fisheries Management Act 1994.
NSW DPI produces Newstreams, a
free bi-monthly electronic newsletter
to keep people up to date with aquatic
habitat activities. To subscribe, email
newstreams@dpi.nsw.gov.au and register
your contact details.