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Angling for a fun day out?

23 Sep 2016

Dust off your fishing rods, get out the kids’ hats, it’s time for some fishing fun.   

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is organising a carp fishing competition along the lower reaches of the Campaspe River, from Axedale to Echuca, on Sunday 16 October, which is also national Gone Fishing Day.   

The Campaspe Carp Catch will run from noon to 3pm, with five registration, judging and barbecue sites along the river.   North Central CMA Project Manager Angela Gladman said the event is a fun way to highlight the scourge of the introduced species.   

“Carp are the rabbits of our rivers. They are a major component of the Murray-Darling Basin’s fish population and they cause significant damage to rivers, wetlands and the natural environment,” she said.   

“We are working with community organisations such as the Echuca Moama Landcare, Strathallan Family Landcare, Axedale Our Town – Our Future and Rochester and District Angling Club, to put this carp catch event on, with funding assistance from Victoria’s peak recreational fishing body VR Fish.   

“Register at one of our five hubs at noon, grab some lunch and then head out anywhere on the river you like, including your favourite fishing spots. Judging will take place back at the registration spots at 3pm.”  

The Campaspe Carp Catch received $1,900 through the Recreational Fishing Licence Small Grants Program.
 
This program is funded by Victorian recreational fishing licence fees and is consistent with the State Government's Target One Million commitment to deliver carp control measures.   

The registration and judging sites are: 

  • Axedale River Reserve off William Street
  • Ayson’s Reserve at Elmore, on Burnewang Road
  • Campaspe River Reserve near the Rochester water tower       
  • Strathallan Community Hall on Strathallan Road
  • Echuca Lions Park at Ogilvie Avenue  

There will be prizes for the Best Catch and the Biggest Bag.   

“Corn bait will be provided and it is important everyone aged over 18 has fishing licences and complies with relevant fishing laws,” Angela said.  

“It is also important everyone has fun, and takes home the message that introduced fish like the carp can damage our waterways and crowd out communities of our magnificent native fish.   

“The Campaspe River is a significant environmental asset to Victoria, and is home to a number of threatened and vulnerable native fish.                  

“The North Central CMA has been doing a lot of work in recent years to improve the health of the Campaspe River through the delivery of environmental flows and working with farmers to protect and enhance the bank vegetation through the Caring for the Campaspe project - one of the results being the return of fish such as the Murray-Darling rainbowfish and increased numbers of the iconic Murray cod.   

“This is great news, and every carp pulled out of the river on the day will help.” 

The event is part of the North Central CMA’s Caring for the Campaspe and Waterwatch projects, funded by the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.



For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551

t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au

 

 

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