Recreational fishers in the Sunraysia area will have the chance on Sunday to swap their old and unwanted opera house yabby traps for an Oar-Gee Plow lure at the upcoming Catch A Carp Day And Opera House Net Drop Off at Wentworth Wharf.
An initiative by TierraMar, through its Ghostnets Australia program, in collaboration with OzFish Unlimited and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), is helping the recreational fishing community participate in protecting the future of fishing and the health of the area's local waterways.
"Fishers are part of the fabric of the area and for many it's more than just catching a feed - it's a way of life," explained Anissa Lawrence, Managing Director, TierraMar. "This is why we're encouraging fishers and their families to show up for the waterways they love.
"This is a very exciting program, and the first of its kind in Australia, as the opera house traps collected will be recycled into useful products for fishers, with the proceeds being used to support habitat restoration.
"By bringing in your old traps you're not just adopting more sustainable fishing practices, you're investing in the future of fishing, and the ongoing health of our waterways. And as a thank you, we'll give you a new Oar-Gee lure."
The popularity of yabby fishing has put pressure on native wildlife which can unwittingly get caught inside opera house traps. These traps are now illegal in NSW. Alternative devices, such as open-top pyramid nets and hoop nets, are a more environmentally friendly design, allowing non-target species to escape if they swim in while also being effective at catching a tasty feed of fresh yabbies!
"Yabby fishing really gets going in the summer so now is the perfect time to update your gear and rather than have it go to landfill, give it another life," said Cassie Price, Director of Habitat Programs at OzFish.
Illegal yabby traps can be dropped off from 9am-12pm at Wentworth Wharf this Sunday, August 13.
The Catch A Carp event is free with prizes, raffles and a free lunch for those who register.
Participants will be able to fish from 9am to 12:30pm. Fishing boundaries from Wentworth to Pomona in the Darling River and to Abbotsford bridge in the Murray River. Registrations are at Wentworth Wharf.
Registration is essential and can be done at the wharf on the day or beforehand at https://ozfish.org.au/catch-a-carp-day-wentworth-wharf-august-2023-registration
The Yabby Trap Round-Up program is an initiative of TierraMar in collaboration OzFish Unlimited and the NSW DPI, supported by BCF - Boating, Camping, Fishing.
If you would like to know more about the project or get involved become a member of OzFish online at www.ozfish.org.au or contact 1800 431 308.
About us:
About OzFish
OzFish Unlimited is a national environmental conservation charity established to improve the health of our rivers, lakes and estuaries. It is a member-based organisation dedicated to make our fishing grounds healthy, vibrant and more productive. Their active work includes; habitat restoration such as resnagging, riverbank planting, clean-ups, fishways, shellfish reefs and educational and community capacity building programs.
