Keep It Clean
Keep It Clean
As responsible fishers, we can all play a part in keeping our waterways healthy and fishing spots clean, benefiting both our community and the environment.
Remember fishing litter impacts habitats, wildlife, and our reputation.
Fish For Life - Keep It Clean is a new initiative which encourages recreational fishers to understand the impacts of fishing related litter and instil stewardship to proactively care for our waterways.
This initiative is funded by the Recreational Fishing Trusts and Marine Estate Management Strategy.
See our tips below on how you can do your part!
Go Packaging Free
Keep our fishing spots litter free. Before you go fishing, properly dispose of packaging from any new fishing gear.
Using a tackle box is a great way to keep gear tidy, accessible and packaging free, preventing litter from getting into our waterways.
Stash Your Trash
Find a safe and secure place to store your rubbish whilst fishing to prevent it from attracting wildlife or being blown or washed away.
Ensure that all rubbish, big and small, gets carefully stashed and removed from your fishing spot.
Get Involved
Join a local ‘clean up’ event, grab a bag, have some fun and make a difference!
Participating in clean-up events not only has a positive impact on the environment but also contributes to the social fabric of your community and recreational fishing.
Keep an eye on @Ozfish Unlimited Facebook page for upcoming opportunities on how you can get involved in a clean up event in your local area!
Mind Your Lines
Always keep a close eye on your lines and gear while fishing.
Attending your lines means you can avoid unwanted interactions with wildlife and other water users - and you won’t miss a bite!
Fish Smarter
Fishing in areas with snaggy structure? Think before you cast.
Fish towards the features rather than over them.
Or, carefully present your bait above any structure to improve your catch rate and reduce gear loss. Also consider the influence of currents and changing environmental conditions.
You can help reduce gear loss and snagging when fishing over structure by;
- Using lures that stay higher in the water column,
- Using floats, lightly-weighted or unweighted baits and fishing actively - retrieving your bait before it settles in any snags
- Mastering your knot-tying skills to increase your chance of retrieving snagged gear.
Leave No Trace
Remember to always leave your fishing spot cleaner than you found it!
Collect and dispose of unused bait, bait packaging, fish waste and litter properly, even if it isn’t yours.
If a public bin is full, find another one or take the litter home with you.
How do I get involved?
Thanks to the incredible efforts of OzFish Unlimited and over 400 passionate recreational fishers across NSW, we’ve completed 30 clean up events as part of the DPIRD Fish for Life - Keep It Clean initiative. Together, we’ve removed 7.5 tonnes of litter from our favourite fishing spots and key fish habitats!
These efforts are vital for protecting the environment and ensuring our fishing spots remain healthy and thriving for future generations of recreational fishers. Every piece of litter removed helps restore fish habitats and keeps marine life thriving.
The data gathered will also contribute to the Australian Marine Debris Initiative by Tangaroa Blue, which tracks and monitors marine pollution across Australia, helping to reduce debris and protect our fishing environments for the future. 🌏🐟
Keep an eye on this page for more local cleanup opportunities!
But why wait? Pack a bin bag with your fishing gear and spend a few minutes after your session cleaning up your favourite fishing spot. By keeping it clean, you're helping build a healthy fishing future—creating better habitats for fish and ensuring our fishing spots thrive for generations to come.
