Technology helps anglers, researchers
Anew project between Wimmera Anglers Association and Wimmera Catchment Management Authority is helping anglers find the best fishing spots while giving researchers insight into how fish are responding to environmental flows.
Volunteers from the anglers association, a strong fishing advocate for the region for several decades, are collecting samples along the Wimmera River for researchers to test using the latest EDNA or genetic technology.
So far the project has pinpointed areas where yellowbelly and catfish are in high numbers, and will continue to monitor populations to measure the impact of environmental water.
The EDNA technology was pioneered in the Wimmera for platypus research in 2015.
Wimmera CMA is now using it to track a growing number of fish species including carp, yellowbelly and catfish in the waterway.
The work is part of a project funded by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder.
Wimmera CMA waterways officer Greg Fletcher said this was one of several examples of the valuable contribution citizen science was making to regional environmental data.
“The Wimmera has benefited from citizen science for many years, with one of the oldest Waterwatch groups in Victoria starting in Jeparit more than 21 years ago,” he said. “This has further expanded, particularly in the last six months, with people using the new platypusspot app for platypus sightings and taking photo-point images and tagging us on social media to help us monitor changes along the river.
“We’re really excited to be working with the anglers association. It not only provides us valuable resources to help monitor a larger area, it gives us another opportunity to hear from the community about the things that are important to them.”
Appreciation
Wimmera Anglers Association president Kelvin Robinson said the group was excited to be involved in a project using the latest technology.
He said the technology, as well as benefiting anglers, had given him a new appreciation and understanding of environmental flows and the work Wimmera CMA did to improve the health of the river.
“Working with the CMA means we have more information we can share with our members,” he said.
“By us being involved, it could also help the region access more government funding for projects that benefit fishing.”
Mr Robinson and association secretary Barry Williams have so far taken samples from a 17-kilometre section of the lower Wimmera River and this month plan to do more.
They took their samples from a boat, which meant they were able to cover more area in a shorter amount of time.
“We know the river really well, so it was logical for us to get in the boat and do the sampling,” he said. “It’s really fascinating. You can give the CMA 100 millilitres of water and what they can get out of that sample with this EDNA is mind-blowing.”
Mr Robinson said the association welcomed more volunteers for future monitoring.
‘It’s a great day out and you’re making a big contribution to getting a better understanding of our river,” he said.
“I didn’t really understand why they were sending environmental flows down the river but I can see now how they work and how they are benefiting the river.
“The flows helped look after pools with fish in them during the dry and now we have had rain it’s just looking so good. Anything that helps make fishing in the Wimmera more sustainable, we want to be part of it.”
Josh Griffiths from Melbourne-based environmental research company Cesar has provided sample collection training for the anglers.