MONEY raised by the licence fee NSW anglers pay will be used to construct a massive artificial reef complex off the South Coast.
Announced by NSW Fisheries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson at Shoalhaven Heads today, the reef will consist of between 20 and 40 concrete cubes. The complex is expected to be about 800 cubic metres in size with individual cubes measuring 4m in height and weighing up to 17 tonnes.
The reef will be situated in water about 30m deep in an area within easy access from Crookhaven Heads, Ms Hodgkinson said.
NSW Fisheries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson with local state MP Gareth Ward announcing the South Coast artificial reef project at Shoalhaven Heads.
The announcement of this new reef follows the successful deployment of various estuarine reef systems as well a steel reef structure off Sydney. That offshore reef is designed primarily for pelagic species like kingfish whereas the South Coast reef is aimed at demersal species such as snapper and mulloway.
A Fisheries spokesmen said the reef would cost about $950,000 and would be operational by mid next year.
The concrete cubes (shown in comparison to a human) which will be deployed off the South Coast.
Artificial reefs are used around Australia and internationally to provide extra habitat for fish and other marine species and are regarded as an ideal way to “compensate” anglers for access lost to marine parks.
The NSW Government plans at least one more offshore reef system, probably off a North Coast location, however, the Minister did not rule out further reefs for other areas.
South Coast anglers are currently pushing for a system of artificial reefs to be installed in the Jervis Bay Marine Park. “JB is an ideal area for new reefs as much of the middle of the bay is featureless sandy desert. Installing a system of artificial reefs will see plenty of new habitat created, which can only be a good thing for the environment,” one local angler told Fisho.
“It will also alleviate pressure on the fishery caused by the marine park sanctuary zones forcing local and visiting anglers into relatively confined areas.”
The NSW artificial reef program is 100 per cent funded by licence fees paid by anglers. Minister Hodgkinson said she expected the reefs to be used for the benefit of anglers, not exploited by commercial fishing operators or scuba divers.
This youtube link shows the Sydney reef six months on – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlYEZnfFHEw and clip below features footage of baitfish, kingies and Port Jackson sharks at the Sydney reef.
