IN an event held this week at Shimano’s Sydney headquarters, NSW Minister For Primary Industries Niall Blair officially unveiled the John Dunphy Artificial Reef.
John Dunphy was a highly influential and iconic figure in Australian recreational fishing. Establishing Dunphy Sports in the early 1980s, John grew Shimano Australia to new heights and along the way introduced thousands of Aussies to the joys of fishing. While John was best known as a businessman and tackle icon, his efforts to promote rec fishing through industry initiatives and close ties with government figures led to an increased awareness of rec fishing sustainability and highlighted concerns around access and rights.
John passed away in 2015 after a battle with cancer.
Monday evening’s unveiling saw a full house of tackle industry leaders and staff, famous sports people, musicians and media – all attending to pay tribute to John and hear about this exciting initiative.
More than two years in the making, the artificial reef will be deployed off Port Hacking, south of Sydney, offering easy access for small boats. The reef is the largest of its kind in Australia, comprising of 36 reef modules at a total size of 3600m3.
According to NSW DPI, the modules are self-weighted and don’t require any additional anchoring. Steel towers will also be erected on some of the modules to increase the total height to eight metres.
The artificial reefs are a complex design creating intricate habitats for a variety of fish species. Existing artificial reefs have already attracted 50 species, including popular ones like yellowtail kingfish, snapper and mulloway.
Minister Niall Blair, Shimano MD Colin Tannahill and legendary Aussie cricketer Matthew Hayden all told attendees how the reef would be offer long lasting legacy for Sydney fishos and would become a fitting tribute to John Dunphy.
