NSW anglers get $14 million boost
NSW anglers are set to enjoy over $14 million in recreational angling projects across the State, Minister for Primary Industries, Steve Whan, announced recently.
Over $10 million is said to be allocated to new or ongoing saltwater projects while around $4 million will go towards freshwater programs.
“Projects funded from the Recreational Fishing Trust for 2010/11 are varied and range from artificial reefs, to science and research, to improvements to fish habitat, to funding for fishing facilities such as fish cleaning tables,” Whan said. He emphasized that the projects were directly funded by fishing licences
“To date, more than $90 million in recreational fishing sales have been spent on a wide variety of programs throughout NSW including fish stocking, fish aggregating devices, Fishcare volunteers, fishing clinics and essential research to improve recreational fishing.”
Whan said that projects to be funded in 2010/11 included the following:
• Fish aggregating devices in various coastal locations from Byron Bay to Eden.
• The expansion of artificial reefs in estuaries such as Botany Bay and St Georges Basin, as well as the feasibility of three artificial reefs off the coast of Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong.
• A research project to provide biological information on Murray cod in the northern Murray-Darling River system.
• A community grants program for fish habitat restoration works.
• A freshwater fish stocking program and feasibility of an ongoing marine stocking program.
• Installation of fish cleaning tables at several locations across NSW.
“Other allocations for this financial year include funding for fishing workshops for children, Fishcare Volunteers, educating primary school children about safe and responsible fishing and rockfishing safety initiatives,” added Whan.