Since NSW DPI was established in 2004, I have learnt a lot about fish, helping out with the Fish Friendly Farms project run by Charlie Grove as part of NSW DPI’s aquatic habitat rehabilitation program.

This project aims to help landholders understand fish and fish habitat, so that they can adapt their practices to help fish.

More than 90 per cent of NSW waterways run through farmland, so landholders have an important role in improving native fish habitat and fish numbers.

Charlie’s latest publication is a wonderful 16 page booklet: What fish is this? It has photographs of 49 native fish species that live in NSW streams, and seven introduced species common in many of the streams.

It includes a map showing each species’ distribution and information on its size, preferred habitat, and whether it is endangered or vulnerable.

The Fish Friendly Farms program is funded by the Murray Darling Basin Commission and Natural Resources Advisory Council and supported by the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers.

The new guide follows publication last year of 7 key tips for a fish friendly farm to help landholders improve fish habitat on their properties.

It also complements NSW DPI’s current freshwater and saltwater fishing guides which cover recreational fishing rules and regulations, best fishing practices, habitat protection and some species identification.

Another of Charlie’s publications you might be interested in is Fixing fish habitat in the Clarence estuary – case studies of 13 projects funded by the NSW Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust.

What fish is this? and 7 key tips for a fish friendly farm are available free from NSW DPI or you can contact Charlie directly on 02 6626 1107 for the Clarence case studies booklet.

As well, DPI has just published two brochures, Fish friendly road crossings and Fish friendly weirs, that explain what you can do to help fish move freely up and down streams.

To obtain the brochures, contact Scott Nichols on (02) 9764 3067 or scott.nichols@dpi.nsw.gov.au