Millions put back into the water

More than $10 million has been allocated by the Recreational Fishing Trusts for a range of fishing projects and programs across NSW.

Expenditure for this financial year includes 18 coastal and inland fisheries officers, fish stocking, the production of fishing guides, habitat restoration, FADs, more artificial reefs, striped marlin research, an Indigenous youth fishing program and many more.

Saltwater projects will receive nearly $8 million while freshwater programs or projects have secured around $3.4 million this financial year.

Projects include:

  • Recreational fishing surveys in the Hawkesbury bioregion -  $2.2 million;
  • Fishcare Volunteers - $818,000;
  • Stocking eastern king prawns in to two south coast fishing havens -  $130,000;
  • Redevelopment of the Gaden Trout Hatchery -  $52,000; and
  • Ongoing Gamefish Tagging Program -  $120,000


Funding of $144,000 has been spent on producing the latest saltwater and freshwater fishing guides.

These free guides provide recreational fishers with the rules and regulations of fishing in NSW waters, species identification, and tips on best fishing practices, and are available now for the peak summer fishing period.

The good work doesn’t stop there, with DPI scientists securing $175,000 to continue vital research into the survival rates of caught and released fish.

This project will be extended to freshwater species and will help develop guidelines and handling practices for fishers to better ensure the survival of their released catches.

Funding will also be provided in a bid to learn more about the unique tiger shark.

While all but one of the world’s angling records for tiger sharks has been recorded between Port Stephens and Ulladulla, researchers know very little about the movement and behaviour of this species of shark.

Tiger sharks will be tagged along the NSW coast allowing scientists to monitor their movement patterns and survival rates of those caught and released.

A 20-minute recreational fishing DVD will be produced and distributed to explain to fishers about where and how licence fees are spent. The DVDs will be distributed throughout NSW later this year.

Money raised from the sale of the recreational fishing fee is placed into two trusts, one for saltwater and one for freshwater, and can only be spent on projects to improve recreational fishing in NSW.

Details of the projects can be found at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries

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