Creating Sustainable Anglers project receives National Recognition!!
Fishcare Victoria staff members Mitch McMaster and Sarah Van Stokrom along with Melbourne Volunteer Tom Clayson attended the National Recreational Fishing conference in Hobart on the 10th & 11th of December and on behalf of the volunteers and staff team at Fishcare, accepted the National Recreational Fishing Award for best project promoting young peoples participation in fishing.
The Fishcare “Creating Sustainable Anglers” program was a 3-year large grants project which built on previous similar “FishRight” program and developed several classroom and event activities that build respect for the environment and our waterways. The activities increase fishing knowledge, awareness of Fisheries rules and regulations and encourage participation in recreational fishing.
This 3-year project has been a highly valued program which delivered:
- 131 Community fishing events
- 135 school fishing clinics where students visit a local fishing spot with the support of staff and volunteers to learn the basics of fishing (>1.5 hours in length)
- 144 in-class educational sessions learning about the rules and regulations, responsible fishing code of conduct, safe and ethical catch and release, pest species and litter awareness.
- 404 – Varied school workshops on sustainable fishing education including rules and regulations, knot tying (< 40 minutes in length)
- Partnerships with 95 different schools across Victoria
- Partnerships with Parks Victoria, VR Fish, Victorian Fisheries Authority, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Enviro Schools Week, Angling Clubs
The program reached over 10,260 community members through community events and fishing clinics, 8692 Victorian Students participated in Fishcare activities that were facilitated in conjunction with schoolteachers, parents, Fishcare staff and volunteers.
The future of the Creating Sustainable Anglers Program is set to keep achieving fantastic results with funding secured for a 2019-2020 program. The program will continue to deliver responsible fishing messages whilst focusing on engaging more closely with angling clubs and assisting them with events & programs to engage families and youth within their clubs.
