The annual Native Fish Awareness week is crossing the border on Wednesday May 27 to wrap up the 2009 tour of southern Queensland and northern NSW.

"The Awareness week is a major part of the Native Fish Strategy, which aims to bring back native fish to our inland waters, and the team have an exciting program planned to finish off the week with a bang!" said Anthony Townsend, northern NSW coordinator of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA’s) Native Fish Strategy.

There will be three native fish activities in Moree on Wednesday May 27 and Thursday May 28.

• ‘Talking Fish in Moree’ is an open community forum hosted by the Moree Services Club Fishing Club on Wednesday May 27 at the Moree Services Club, Albert Street, Moree from 6.30pm - 8:00pm. Register your interest by calling Anthony Townsend at the Tamworth NSW Department of Primary Industries office on (02) 6763 1440.
• ‘Meandering along the Mehi’ is on Thursday May 28, 12.00pm - 1.30pm at the Morton Street Reserve. This is a free community event showing how plantings of native trees are benefiting native fish. A BBQ lunch will be provided. Please register your interest by calling Anthony Townsend at the Tamworth NSW Department of Primary Industries office on (02) 6763 1440.
• The Native Fish Strategy coordinators and community advisors will be visiting Moree Public School on Thursday May 28 to talk with children about the strategy and native fish conservation.

"The community forum is a great opportunity for the public to not only learn more about the Native Fish Strategy, but to also get involved in discussion on the condition of native fish in and around Moree.

The forum includes presentations, a native fish trivia quiz with great prizes up for grabs and plenty of opportunities for questions from the local community," Mr Townsend said.

The Moree forum will finish with light refreshments, offering a chance to chat with members of the Basin-wide team travelling as part of Native Fish Awareness week.

The Moree activities are part of a week of native fish events to be held in southern Queensland and northern NSW. For a full list of dates and locations of events, or more information about the Native Fish Strategy, visit the MDBA website www.mdba.gov.au, or contact Sam Leone MDBC Media Liaison Manager on 0407 006 332.

To arrange an interview with the Native Fish Awareness Week tour participants, or for information on specific events, phone 0411 122 814.

Further reading

Making more fish - Rehabilitating habitats

Native Fish Awareness Week tour engages Basin river communities (www.mdba.gov.au)

Media contact: for Native Fish Awareness Week - Melissa Morley on 0411 122 814