The Morrison Government has committed $313,500 to enhancing habitat for the Clyde River estuary under the Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program to assist in restoring the health and functionality of coastal and estuarine fisheries habitats.
Senator for New South Wales Jim Molan said, “enhancing habitat for the Clyde River estuary is one of 28 projects across the country to share in $8 million of grant funding.”
The Clyde River contains nationally significant habitats including large areas of mangrove, saltmarsh and seagrasses. The estuary is well known among anglers for its flathead, bream, tailor, estuary perch and provides significant nursery habitat for these and other species. While much of the catchment remains protected in National Park or State Forest (95% forested), there are a range of known active erosion sites, exacerbated by the Currowan fire which impacted the site in January 2020.
The project will engage recreational fishers via OzFish and the Eurobodalla fishing group, will encourage active participation in protecting and enhancing riparian habitat and water quality via education, participation in revegetation days, implementation and promotion of erosion management initiatives that utilise natural products such a woody debris to enhance in-stream fish habitat. The project will focus on areas within the tidal limit of the Clyde River upstream of Nelligen and at Buckenbowra.
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said these projects would benefit recreational fishers by improving the health and productivity of habitats that support fish stocks and fisheries.
“Australia’s waterways are some of the best in the world,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.
“It’s critical we keep our fisheries habitats healthy so we can continue to enjoy our world-class fishing into the future.
This program will benefit Australia’s natural resource base and the broader community – especially our recreational fishers.
We will be funding 28 projects across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australian and Tasmania.
This funding will see Regional Land Partnership providers and recreational fishing groups partner in rolling-up their sleeves to directly improve fish habitats.
Together, they will work on surrounding vegetation and biodiversity in marine and estuarine areas, from tropical mangrove wetlands in Queensland, to building shellfish reefs on Kangaroo Island and restoring fish habitat damaged by moorings in southern Tasmania.”
The Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program is a 2019 government election commitment to provide $8 million to restore the health and functionality of coastal and estuarine fisheries habitats.