Recreational fishing enhancement programs

Enhancing coastal fisheries: Making Reefs and FADs happen

Artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices (FADs) are two of the most popular programs funded by the Recreational Fishing Trusts providing new high quality, fishing locations for anglers. This project involves a dedicated fisheries enhancement officer to project manage and coordinate the programs to make them happen. The role facilitates environmental assessments, Commonwealth approvals, tenders and monitoring of the reefs.  Both programs continue to deliver with proposed expansion of the FADs program and recent deployment of the Tweed Artificial Reef.

Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) – more places for people to fish

The FADs program provides reliable offshore fishing locations where recreational fishers can target a variety of popular pelagic fish over spring, summer and autumn. This project involves a dedicated FADs officer responsible for procurement of hardware, assembly and installation of FADs, replacement and maintenance where required, removal of all FADs at the close of each season and providing fishers with up-to-date FADs information via a range of media avenues including email, social media and smartphone Apps.

Boosting our fisheries: stocking NSW estuaries with popular species to enhance recreational fishing opportunities

This marine stocking program involves the breeding and release of species such as mulloway, dusky flathead and kingfish along kingfish along the coast of NSW using the world’ best stocking practices to enhance recreational fishing in estuaries. Stockings are guided by a Fisheries Management Strategy to ensure a responsible approach.

Lord Howe Island FADs

Provide two FADs in appropriately zoned State Marine Park waters surrounding Lord Howe Island.  Aim is to improve recreational fishing activities in these waters.

Assessing freshwater fish stocking proposals in NSW to boost our recreational fisheries

Preparation of fish stocking plans, conducting site assessments, analysing fish stocking data, liaising with fish stocking groups, and issuing fish stocking permits to enhance recreational fish stocks.

FW $153,290

Boosting freshwater fish stocks in NSW with popular species to enhance recreational fishing opportunities

Provide additional operational funds for the Dutton, Grafton, Port Stephens and Narrandera fish hatcheries to stock highly valued native and salmonid species, to enhance freshwater fishing opportunities across NSW.

Community $4$ native fish stocking grants to boost local fisheries

Matching funds provided from the Recreational Fishing Trust to community groups to purchase native fish to stock local waterways for the benefit of anglers.

Fuel cards for community fish stocking, fish rescue and fish habitat work

To issue fuel cards to community groups to assist with transport costs to / from fish stocking, fish rescue and fish habitat.

Future Fish Stocking Stewardship Fund – Government fish hatcheries

Assists with travel and accommodation expenses for university students learning fish hatchery techniques at Government hatcheries to develop future leaders in fish production and aquaculture.

Gaden Trout Hatchery - Boosting salmonid fish stocks in southern and central NSW

Provides operational funds for the Gaden trout hatchery for the stocking of highly valued salmonid species, to enhance recreational fishing opportunities in the snowy mountains, southern highlands and central tablelands.

Investigations of nodavirus infection in aquaculture reared euryhaline fish produced for stocking and in wild freshwater fish populations in NSW coastal catchments

This project will provide a continuation of screening of euryhaline fish produced in commercial hatcheries (including under the dollar-for-dollar program) for stocking into freshwater impoundments in NSW for nodavirus. This testing program will ensure only nodavirus free fish are stocked into freshwater NSW impoundments. Any remaining funds will be used to test wild fish collected in freshwater reaches of coastal catchments in NSW for nodavirus. The data collected will be used to determine if nodavirus is present or absent in wild fish and will inform future nodavirus screening requirements of fish produced for stocking.

10th Dam Aeration – Guyra Anglers Club Inc

Provide a reliable sustainable aeration system to oxygenate the 10th Dam in Guyra to ensure increased health of fish stocks and ongoing recreational fishing opportunity.

Expansion of the Narrandera Fisheries Centre hatchery

Additional funds to complete the re-development of the hatchery at Narrandera to provide a state-of-the-art fish production facility to enhance capacity and provide resources for breeding and stocking of recreational and threatened species across the Murray Darling Basin.

Enhancing coastal recreational fishing opportunities by installing two new offshore artificial reefs

A recent NSW Government expression of interest survey has identified more artificial reefs as being a high priority for recreational fishers. Stakeholder expectations of this program continue to remain high as artificial reefs are well accepted as an excellent way to maximise recreational fishing opportunities along the NSW coast. Installation methods and reef design continue to improve as the program evolves, resulting in high quality fish habitat for recreationally targeted species. This project will involve the delivery of two new offshore artificial reefs in 2022.

2021-22 Reserve BBDSFC FAD

The club will acquire materials and pre build a FAD for rapid deployment in the event that the club’s current recreational fishing FAD (fish aggregating device) becomes missing at sea.

Boosting our fisheries: expanding the stocking of NSW estuaries with popular species

The marine stocking program involves the breeding and release of species including but not limited to mulloway, dusky flathead and kingfish using world’s best stocking practices to enhance recreational fishing opportunities. This funding application aims to build on the success of the current program to expand marine stocking activities even further along the NSW coast, involve more anglers and angling clubs in opportunities to stock their local waters and increase the production efficiency of marine hatcheries, including the private hatchery sector.

Stocking of Estuary Perch within Brogo Dam and to investigate stocking Estuary Perch within Danjera Dam, Glennies Creek and Lake Toolooma

The aim of this project is to continue to stock up to 20,000 Estuary Perch fingerlings within Brogo Dam and to investigate the potential release of a further 20,000 Estuary Perch into Danjera Dam (Nowra), Glennies Creek Dam (Singleton) and Lake Toolooma (Waterfall), to provide anglers with exciting new high quality recreational fishing opportunities.

Review and update the NSW trout strategy and design a framework for the development of management strategies for other key NSW freshwater sportfish

This project will review the structure, content and progress of the existing NSW trout strategy framework and develop a new five-year trout strategy including recommendations relating to research, stocking strategies, management action, enhancement and promotional opportunities for the NSW recreational trout fishery. The review and development of the trout strategy will be used as a framework to develop a Murray cod species management strategy. The Murray cod and trout strategies will inform the future development of similar management initiatives for other key species including golden perch and Australian bass.

FADs and artificial reefs boat motor and trailer replacement

Nine offshore artificial reefs and 34 fish aggregating devices are deployed along the NSW coastline, providing high quality fishing opportunities for anglers. These projects continue to expand requiring fit for purpose and safe boat equipment for DPI staff to maintain and monitor fishing enhancement assets. Involves replacement of FADs and artificial reefs boat motor and trailer (which is done periodically).

Enhancing coastal recreational fishing opportunities by installing a new offshore artificial reef

A recent Ministerial expression of interest survey has highlighted the need for more artificial reefs as a high priority among recreational fishers. Stakeholder expectations of this program continue to remain high as artificial reefs are well accepted as an excellent way to maximise recreational fishing opportunities while providing high quality, cost effective fish habitat along the NSW coast. This project will involve the delivery of a new offshore artificial reef in 2024.

Trial $2 for $1 native fish stocking scheme – doubling down on community fish stockings to boost freshwater native fish stocks

To trial the doubling of the matching amount of funds provided from the Recreational Fishing Trust to community stocking groups to purchase fish to boost freshwater native fish stocks, following drought, fish kills, floods and Covid restrictions.

Fish transport tanks and lease vehicles for Gaden and Dutton trout hatcheries

Purpose built fish transport tanks that can be mounted to leased trucks to increase carrying capacity and ability to transport and stock fish.

Hatchery Technician at Narrandera Fisheries Centre

This project involves continuing the role of the additional hatchery technician at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre to enhance fish stocking production at the hatchery. The additional role commenced in 2021 and is essential given the expanded hatchery capacity, which will greatly increase production of fish for stocking throughout NSW to improve recreational fishing even further.