Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation Grants Program
The NSW DPI plays a lead role in rehabilitating fish habitat and native fish populations in NSW through the Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation Program (AHR Program) and the formation of strategic partnerships. The program team is involved in a number of projects and working with a variety of communities and organisations to rehabilitate native fish habitat around the state.
NSW DPI has funds available for fish habitat rehabilitation and other fish-related projects. The Recreational Fishing Trust grants program is funded through the fees collected from recreational fishing.
Recreational Fishing Trusts
Angling clubs, individuals, community groups, local councils, Landcare and Rivercare groups interested in rehabilitating fish habitats in throughout NSW can apply for grants. These grants are made available from the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Trust or the Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust using funds generated by the recreational fishing licence fees.
Projects funded in the past include:
- removal or modification of barriers to fish passage
- rehabilitation of riparian zones (river banks)
- re-snagging
- removal of exotic vegetation from waterways
- fencing to restrict stock access
- reinstatement of natural flow regimes
- research projects which improve the management of our fisheries resources
Case study - Clarence Catchment Pilot program
Over two years, $120,000 of funding from the NSW Saltwater Recreational Fishing Trust was provided for aquatic habitat rehabilitation projects in the Clarence estuary. Supported by $430,000 of matched funding from the applicants, 13 successful projects were undertaken to improve fish habitat. The pilot program has resulted in the rehabilitation of over 300 ha of estuarine floodplain and wetland, reinstatement of nearly 15 km of waterways of fish passage, rehabilitation of 4.5hectares of riparian vegetation and raised community awareness to fish habitat rehabilitation projects.
An example of the benefits of habitat rehabilitation to fish and farmers the at the Little Broadwater wetland, Clarence River catchment. Photos: NSW DPI A brochure detailing the projects funded during the two years of the Clarence Pilot Fish Habitat Grant Program is available to download. The brochure provides summaries of the 13 projects, contact information for the NSW DPI Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation Team, and aims to facilitate future on-ground projects to fix up fish habitat.
Brochure outlining the pilot projects (660Kb)