Saturday, August 17, 2024 The Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series, a pioneering initiative by OzFish and Reflections Holidays, is set to launch with a trio of angling competitions across top fishing spots in New South Wales. Each event offers $25,000 in prize money, with a steadfast commitment to conserving aquatic habitats for future generations. The series begins at Reflections Copeton Waters from November 1-3, 2024, moves to Reflections Burrinjuck Waters from March 21-23, 2025, and wraps up at Reflections Lake Keepit from May 16-18, 2025.
Profits from the competition entry fees will be directed by OzFish, Australia’s sole fishing conservation charity, towards rejuvenating fish habitats within the local watersheds. Steve Kamper, Minister for Lands and Water and Minister for Sport, applauded the use of Crown land holiday parks for championing the cause of healthy waterways. “Reflections Holidays manages holiday parks on Crown land across the state including at popular dam and lake fishing locations including Copeton, Keepit, Burrinjuck and more,” Mr Kamper said.
“Fishing is a highly popular recreational activity and sport so it’s terrific to see this initiative with environmental charity OzFish, which is driven by recreational fishers and volunteers who work with communities and other organisations to protect and restore fish habitats.” Cassie Price, CEO of OzFish, highlighted this collaboration with Reflections, a Crown Land Manager that reinvests all profits into maintaining its 40 holiday parks and 45 community reserves across NSW, as a groundbreaking and industry-leading venture. “Entrants in the Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series can expect a few changes to the regular fishing competition format – fish health will be at the forefront, with a catch and release photo system for entries, and entrants will receive advice on the correct way to handle fish.
This series is the five-star experience in sustainable fishing,” Ms Price said . “Our partnership with Reflections Holidays is perfect alignment: their ethos in caring for the environment and getting people outdoors is in harmony with OzFish’s goals of sustainable fishing and restored and protected habitats for fish.” Nick Baker, CEO of Reflections, emphasized the organization’s dedication to lessening its ecological impact.
He noted that the new fishing series encourages respect and care for the state’s precious waterways among participants and their families. “Reflections Holidays is privileged as a Crown Land manager to care for more than 25,000 acres of nature reserve, which includes premium fishing locations that are enjoyed by our guests, many of them families,” Mr Baker said . “The Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series is an exciting new development in our partnership with OzFish because it actively educates anglers to show care in how they fish and for the fish they catch, passing that knowledge on to others to adopt wherever they fish.
” The initiative also focuses on reducing plastic use and waste, encouraging recycling, and ensuring the proper disposal of outdated fishing gear. Every Reflections holiday park features an OzFish TackleLoop bin for depositing old fishing tackle. Additionally, the TackleLoop Repair Tent will be available to repair any fishing equipment that participants bring in.
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