NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts offering grants

In need of a fish-cleaning table, a FAD or artificial reef, a how-to-fish program in your school, some river restoration or re-snagging, want to fund a crackdown on illegal fishing practices in your area or simply install some fishing-line clean-up bins?

In NSW, these very things are often funded by the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts and our not inconsiderable fishing-licence fees. Funding is now open, but shake a leg as applications need to be lodged by March 21.

Anyone can apply for funding from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts, including fishing clubs and organisations, universities, councils, community groups, individuals and so on. Joint applications are also encouraged.

What types of projects are funded?
A comprehensive angler survey of the Recreational Fishing Trusts, completed in 2013, indicated widespread support for the current range of programs funded from the Trusts. Over the years, the Trusts have provided funding to a wide range projects including:
>> Recreational fishing enhancement - fish aggregating devices, artificial reefs and fish stocking.
>> Recreational fishing education - fishing workshops, Fishcare volunteers, schools education, fishing advisory.
>> Fishing access and facilities - fishing platforms, cleaning tables, safety infrastructure and other facilities, enhancement of fishing access.
>> Aquatic habitat rehabilitation and protection - grants to remove barriers to fish migration, replanting & protecting river bank vegetation, restoring water flows, etc.
>> Research on fish and recreational fishing — fishing surveys, biology of popular recreational species, angler catch projects, effectiveness of stocking, etc.
>> Enforcement of fishing rules - fisheries officers.

Previously funded projects are listed online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/fees.

General instructions
There are two different funding application forms to choose from when applying for funding — one for projects seeking less than $10,000 of funding and one for projects seeking more than $10,000 of funding. Both forms can be downloaded electronically below.

Funding guidelines
It is recommended applicants read the funding guidelines for more information on preparing Trust applications before completing an application form. Grants close March 21, 2016.

The applications forms for Recreational Fishing Trusts funding application form (projects UNDER $10,000) and Recreational Fishing Trusts funding application form (projects OVER $10,000), details about how to apply and addresses a contacts can all be found here.