Year 5 students from Narooma Public School this week got out to have a fish after learning how to do the right thing when wetting a line.
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About 60 students in two classes got out for a practical lesson at Rotary Park and the town wharf thanks to the “Get Hooked it’s fun to fish” educational program, which is designed to introduce all primary school stages 2 and 3 students in NSW to sustainable recreational fishing.
Audrey Niemoeller only caught a toadfish but she still had fun.
“I learned how to tie knots, the types of fish, bag limits and how to cast better,” she said.
Anna Woolnough also learned how to cast better and got a few tips from the Fishcare volunteers.
“We also learned about where you should fish and shouldn’t fish,” she said. “I had a lot of fun even though I didn’t catch any fish.”
The catch of the day for the day went to Flynn Ellison who caught and released a nice luderick under the town wharf using a piece of prawn.
The program provides students with the basic skills necessary for recreational fishing with the view that it will become a lifelong interest. It introduces students to the concept of sustaining quality aquatic habitats by practicing safe and responsible fishing.
The program is run using funds from the Recreational Fishing Trusts and allows teachers with the assistance of Fishcare Volunteers to deliver in-class, fish-related lessons to students.
At the end of the year, schools are then able to attend a fishing workshop, where skills learnt in the class are put into practice at a local waterway. And this is what happened for the Narooma students this week.
The day before it was turn of the students at Bermagui Public School.
This year 70 schools registered for the program with over 4,100 students participating. “Get Hooked” is made up of six teaching modules which form a Junior Fishing Code and are derived from the National Code principles.
The Junior Fishing Codes have been aligned to the Australian Curriculum and meet syllabus outcomes across all Key Learning Areas.
The Junior Fishing Codes include lessons on:
- Take only what you need;
- Fish with friends;
- You're the solution to water pollution;
- Throw the little ones back;
- Don't leave your tackle behind; and
- Quality catchments equal quality fish
This year NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) facilitated end of year workshops will involve 1,500 students from across the State.
Teachers wishing to participate in the “Get Hooked” program in 2018 are encouraged to drop a line by emailing: gethooked.fisheries@dpi.nsw.gov.au
For more information on “Get Hooked… it’s Fun to Fish” visit the DPI website at: