THE NSW Fish Habitat Partnership is currently seeking the input of the major political parties in the lead up to the state election in March.
The FHP is a new independent initiative to improve fish habitat and increase productivity of important species and is seeking to promote, protect, enhance and deliver improvements to fish habitat that achieve improved sustainable economic growth and environmental and social benefits for NSW.
The FHP is currently asking politicians to consider election priorities with respect to:
• reversing the decline of and improving fish habitat in NSW;
• protecting the places critical for fish from degradation and inappropriate development; and
• co-operatively restoring the natural connections across rivers, floodplains and estuaries.
The NSW Fish Habitat Partnership is led by inaugural Chair, oyster grower Mark Bulley, and includes 11 peak representative organisations from key commercial and recreational fisheries, conservation and industry bodies.
The partnership will focus on improving fish habitat to ultimately increase the productivity of commercially and recreationally important fish species across NSW and improve the health of aquatic ecosystems. Fish habitat is essential for the survival of fish – it underpins the productivity of our State’s fisheries resources.
The partnership includes:
NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers; Professional Fisherman’s Association; Australian National Sportfishing Association; NSW Farmers; Nature Conservation Council; NSW Aboriginal Land Council; Australian Fishing Trade Association; Recreational Fishermans Alliance; Sydney Aquarium and Sea Life Conservation Fund; Sydney Fish Markets; and OceanWatch.
The NSW Government is assisting the partnership by providing administrative support funding in the first year.
