Your chance to help boost fish habitat in your area of the

Burdekin Dry Tropics

OceanWatch Australia and Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM (BDTNRM) are angling to repair fish, crabs and prawn breeding grounds and habitat in a joint project called “Tide to Table”. BDTNRM is providing $250,000 for on ground works projects.

Applications are being sought from landowners, local governments, community groups or other organisations interested in undertaking some on-ground works to restore fish habitat.  Projects may include such works as removing or modifying fish passage barriers, rehabilitating tidal lands, riparian revegetation, aquatic weed control and water quality improvement. 

Dr. Rachel Allan, BDTNRM Coastal and Marine coordinator, said “The Tide to Table project is a fantastic opportunity for BDTNRM to engage with both the Recreational and Commercial fishing industries in our region, to promote the importance of looking after land based fish habitat for sustainable fishing and, of course, to actually improve fish habitat”.

Five Tide to Table programs are currently in operation throughout Queensland and NSW. These works improve fish habitats, water quality and connectivity that in turn supports and builds sustainable fisheries resources.

Carla Wegscheidl, project manager for Tide to Table – Burdekin Dry Tropics says ‘Tide to Table illustrates the linkages between what happens in our catchments and waterways with fish production and the seafood we like to eat’. 

Funded by Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM through the Natural Heritage Trust program, this project will run until June 2008.  In that time the programme will fund at least five on-ground rehabilitation projects throughout the region, extending from Crystal Creek to Bowen.  If it is successful, Tide to Table BDT could continue for a further five years

Tide to Table – Burdekin Dry Tropics will also have a strong education component, to increase public awareness of the importance of healthy fish habitats to ensure productive fisheries.

If you are interested in undertaking some on-ground works to improve fish habitats or would like more information on the project, please contact Carla Wegscheidl on (07) 47222528 or email carla@oceanwatch.org.au.