REEF CATCHMENTS

FAMILY FISHING FUN DAY

MACKAY GOOSEPONDS

A community eduction event |

EVENT IN BRIEF | Overview

ENGAGEMENT OUTCOME: THIS HIGHLY ENGAGING EVENT WAS A FANTASTIC TEAM EFFORT THAT SAW MORE THAN 140 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES REGISTERED, WITH AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 250 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.

Children involved demonstrated a real understanding of pest awareness, tilapia and waterway health and were very eager to learn more in an interactive hands-on environment.

ACTIVITY: FAMILY FISHING FUN DAY AND BARRAMUNDI FINGERLING RELEASE

OBJECTIVE: Community awareness, engagement and education

DESCRIPTION: Families and the local community were invited to Reef Catchments’ Family Fishing Fun Day (Saturday 19 September) to take part in a wide range of activities specificallydesignedtoraiselevelsofcommunityeducationandawarenessaround the value of long-term waterway health and aquatic pest management (tilapia). Childrenparticipatedinafreeinteractiveanglingandpestfisheducationevent,helping release1000taggedbarramundifingerlingsaspartofon-goingpredatorycontroltrial focusedonthenoxiouspestfish,tilapia.

Local community groups (e.g. Landcare) and others had information displays and stands on site, with several education sessions run over the course of the morning:

9:00 Public arrive; register and commence Kid’sfishingsession 10:15 Electrofishinginformationsession 10:45 Fishway/habitat improvement session 11:15 Tagging and research demonstration 11:45 Conclude Kid’s Fishing Session 12:00 Prize draws 12:20 Releaseofbarrafingerlings Fromprizedonationstoon-groundsupportandfishtagging-thiseventhada high level of community involvement, and demonstrates successful collaboration between diverse groups and industries.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

This event involved a wide range of organisations, coordinated by Reef Catchments. With thanks to: Catchment Solutions, Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance, Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Mackay Regional Council, Debbie’s Seafood, Tackle World Mackay, Nashy’s Compleat Angler, Lake Proserpine Fishing Charters and Pioneer Catchment Landcare.

MEDIA: Media coverage was strong and the event was featured widely, including through all local Mackay media outlets - ABC Tropical North (radio), Channel 7 (TV) and the Daily Mercury (print). Above average media coverage is believed to be a driving factor in strong attendance levels. The story was also syndicated to wider regions, resulting in a broader reach of key educational messages, a major target of the event. In addition to local media, the news was featured via Queensland Rural Weekly (Central Queensland), ABC Rural online, Queensland Country Hour, ABC Southern Queensland (Toowoomba) and ABC Wide Bay (Bundaberg).

ABC ONLINE: www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-18/baby-barramundi-to-attack-mackay-tilapia/6786180

DAILY MERCURY GALLERY: http://www.dailymercury.com.au/photos/barramundi-fun-day/34159/#/6

PROJECT AND FUNDING:

TILAPIA ‘STOP THE SPREAD’ Australian Government Reef Programme (System Repair)

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO VIEW FOOTAGE FROM THE DAY (TAGGING AND RESEARCH DEMONSTRATION SESSION)

SATURDAY

19SEPTEMBER

REEF CATCHMENTS (MACKAY WHITSUNDAY ISAAC) LIMITED PHONE (07) 4968 4200 EMAIL info@reefcatchments.com WEB www.reefcatchments.com.au

More than 140 eager young anglers and their families enjoyed a day of fish focused fun at the Reef Catchments Family Fishing Fun Day, Saturday 19 September.

Kids took part in hands-on pest fish education and angling event, learning more as they helped release 1000 tagged barramundi fingerlings into the Mackay Gooseponds.

Event coordinator, Trent Power, said the barramundi release was part of on-going predatory control trial focused on the noxious pest fish, tilapia. But he said the major benefit of the day was raising community awareness.

“Mackay is an avid fishing community and we want the next generation to have a good awareness about how to keep our fish and waterways healthy,” Mr Power said.

“As well as being a fun day out, this event will help kids learn more about what they can do to protect our waterways and fish habitat, the kinds of fish to avoid, and the benefits of looking after our local native species, like barramundi.”

The barramundi release is the second phase of a research trial to investigate the potential of using native predatory fish to help control tilapia, a classified invasive pest species posing a significant threat to Queensland waterways and aquatic ecosystems.

Mr Power said the fish release and Reef Catchments Family Fishing Fun Day were both collaborative events and would not be possible without significant support from the local community.

“In particular, we would like to thank the Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance Inc for assisting with coordination of the fishing day and Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association (MAFSA) for providing the group’s hatchery to hold the fingerlings prior to the release”, he said.

Michael Wynn from Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance Inc. said the day would be a great chance for young anglers to learn first-hand from the experts.

“We are proud to utilise our angler education team and teach junior fishers the finer points on how to land that prize catch,” he said.

Kieron Galletly from Mackay Area Fish Stocking Alliance said the initiative was an important one for the Mackay community.

“MAFSA is proud to assist again in the release of the fingerlings and to be able to use our recently upgraded hatchery facilities for housing and tagging of the barra prior to their release,” he said.

Congratulations to the major lucky prize winner of the day, Malachai Davidson, who was very excited to win a fishing charter donated by Lake Proserpine Fishing Charters.

With thanks to all involved: Reef Catchments, Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance, Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association, Catchment Solutions, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Mackay Regional Council, Debbie’s Seafood, Tackle World Mackay, Nashy’s Compleat Angler, Lake Proserpine Fishing Charters and Pioneer Catchment Landcare.

Kids and barra both make a splash at Reef Catchments Family Fishing Fun Day JUST A SHORT NOTE

TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON A FANTASTIC, WELL MANAGED, WELL OILED FAMILY DAY AT THE GOOSEPOND’S YESTERDAY (19/9/15) AS PART OF REEF CATCHMENTS COMMUNITY TILAPIA EDUCATION PROGRAM. I WOULD GIVE IT 20 OUT OF 10. IF YOU CONDUCT THIS EVENT AGAIN PLEASE COUNT US IN!

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” LanceMurray,President  Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance