Saltwater Trusts Allocation

2008/09 - $92,000

Aim

To investigate recreational fishing in the Shoalhaven region by carrying out surveys in the Shoalhaven River.

Background

The University of Wollongong has established a new centre in Nowra called the Shoalhaven Marine and Freshwater Centre, with laboratory, aquaculture and teaching facilities. The objective of this centre is to provide research services to the NSW south coast region, from southern Sydney to the Victorian border, based on regional needs. The high social and economic importance of recreational fishing to this region, both for locals and tourists, is largely undocumented and unappreciated, because of a lack of basic information.

This project proposal will provide the seed funding to help establish recreational fishing as a core component of the research activities at this new regionally based marine and freshwater research centre.

The basis for this proposed project is the critical need to:

1. Fill large data and information gaps
2. Collect data with a regional perspective
3. Develop new approaches, collaborations and partnerships
4. Train a new wave of researchers
5. Raise the importance of recreational fishing at a regional level.