Queensland’s Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner, recently welcomed the efforts by fish habitat specialists OzFish Unlimited and their major partner BCF for creating better awareness and funds to help restore fish populations, and to improve the health of Australia’s degraded waterways.
Speaking at the official launch of the Moreton Bay Shellfish Recycling Centre, Minister Furner acknowledged the retail giant’s new national “Give Back to Habitat” campaign; which has already generated over half a million dollars and helped fund dozens of fish habitat projects across the nation.
“Healthy habitats mean healthy fish. It’s great to see OzFish and BCF partnering to promoting this message.”
“The ‘Give Back to Habitat’ initiative is a fantastic way of getting the people who know our rivers and oceans better than most, recreational fishers, involved and contributing in a meaningful and positive manner.”
OzFish Unlimited’s Founder and CEO Craig Copeland said the Recycling Centre, that was built on land donated by the Port of Brisbane, was a practical and productive way to rebuild shellfish reefs after decades of over-harvesting, but also critical in bringing back hectares of fish habitat.
“This centre is where we accept oysters from local restaurants and seafood suppliers, which are then cleaned and treated for disease and pests and created into habitat that is deployed into the Bay; an initiative made possible by BCF, our partner organisations and dedicated volunteers.”
“Better habitats mean better fishing and that also benefits the wider ecosystem too, but thanks to the increased awareness of our work and how it supports fishing through the “Give Back to Habitat” campaign in all BCF stores, we are helping empower Aussie anglers to get involved in projects like this one.”
BCF Managing Director, Anthony Heraghty, underlined his company’s commitment to the important work being done by OzFish.
“Australia possesses some of the world’s greatest outdoor spaces, and by encouraging people to restore and improve our waterways, we are helping to ensure it stays that way. Every cent which is donated to OzFish at a BCF store will play its part in habit restoration and boosting fish numbers across Australia.”
The opening of the Moreton Bay Shellfish Recycling Centre was also supported by Healthy Land and Water, Caltex, Brisbane Airport Corporation and the Goodman Foundation.
To find out more about OzFish and to volunteer at your local OzFish project, click HERE.
