The Fish Right fishing workshops and fishing excursions were attended to full capability throughout the region’s “Summer by the Sea” program in early January.

East Gippsland Fishcare volunteers conducted these fishing workshops, which gave the children the opportunity to learn the basic knowledge and skills required to undertake the enjoyable outdoor sport of fishing. They also gain valuable knowledge on caring for our precious aquatic habitats as well as pest fish species such as carp.

These workshops covered important topics such as fish identification and fishing regulations in regard to fish sizes and bag limits of fish species found throughout the region.

The children also participated in a practical skills demonstration which included how to cast a rod, how to tie a blood knot to bait selection. When the children had completed these workshops, they then put their new skills into practices by fishing off the local wharf or local waterway. Several fish were caught to the delight to the children which included salmon, tailor and snapper.

These fishing workshops and excursions were held from Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota, and held in partnership with Coast Action/Coastcare, Waterwatch and East Gippsland Water.

Fishcare Volunteer Rick with junior angler Aaron at a Fish Right workshop

Summer By the Sea

Our Coast Action program this year was very well attended with good weather prevailing on both days. On both days fish were caught, ranging from rock cod to toads to juvenile snapper and on the first day several native seastars were also caught. This proved to be an ideal opportunity to talk about the difference between introduced seastars as opposed to native species. The introduced Northern Pacific seastar is unfortunately common around the Mornington area.
 
Australia Day Weekend - Venus Bay

Volunteers from Mornington will be involved in a major community education exercise at Venus Bay providing information on the interim regulation in force for the taking of pipi over the Austrlaia Day weekend. Also involved will be Coast Action, Parks Victoria, Fisheries Victoria, the DPI Education Unit and the Marine Discovery Centre. Hand out material has been produced for visitors which are estimated to be around 4,000 over the 4 day period. This is a new type of event for us and will certainly add to the volunteers speaking and communication skills.