Saltwater Trust Allocation

2005-06 $18,500

Aim

Compile historic accounts of observations and records of fish populations and their fisheries in NSW

Background

What were the fish populations and potential fishing like before Europeans arrived on our shores and began to cast their nets and baits into the pristine waters they found? What might fishing have been like before the advent of high tech fishing gear, both commercial and recreational? Is fishing today a shadow of its former self or have fish populations managed to sustain themselves over the past 200 plus years? Pepperell Research and Consulting is compiling and assessing historic accounts of observations and records of fish populations and their fisheries in NSW. Three time periods will be covered, including 1) late eighteenth, early nineteenth century, including first arrival, early observations, explorers, settlers 2) early to late nineteenth century, including earliest records of commercial and recreational fisheries and 3) first half of twentieth century. Not only is the relatively well known literature being researched, but also lesser known records, including letters, unpublished fishery records and historical societies. This information will be made available to recreational fishers who will be better informed about real versus perceived changes to fish populations, habitat and catch rates over long time periods.