Lake Macquarie’s Marmong Point Marina in NSW has been awarded ‘Fish Friendly’ accreditation by the Hon. Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie.
The award, recently launched by the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, the Hon. Katrina Hodgkinson, focuses on marina fish habits and is an information campaign and accreditation system developed by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in collaboration with the Marina Industries Association (MIA) and the NSW Boating Industry Association (BIA).
Greg Piper said “marinas can provide important habitat for fish. Fish Friendly Marinas has been developed to inform marina managers on how to maximise the benefits for fish and recognise those operators actively working to improve fish habitat. Fish Friendly Marinas provides advice and supporting material to help marina operators incorporate beneficial outcomes for native fish into their existing operational plans, such as ensuring their marina is free from marine pests and providing habitat for native fish. A ‘10 Tips’ publication has also been produced to inform operators and help them communicate their efforts to customers and visitors.” Mr. Piper also announced that Marmong Point Marina is the first marina to be accredited ‘Fish Friendly’ in the region and the third in New South Wales.
The initiative is attached to MIA’s International Clean Marinas Program and is available to marinas across the Asia Pacific region. Additional fish friendly criteria and an audit are requirements to achieve Fish Friendly Marina accreditation.
MIA Executive Officer Colin Bransgrove said the roll out of the initiative is an important development. “It is essential marinas continue to set the highest environmental standards. Marinas are the ideal location for many community members to see and learn about native fish and the aquatic environment. Clean Marinas and the Fish Friendly accreditation add-on demonstrate that industry, with support from government, is best able to set the standards that meet and exceed community and government expectations.”
Marmong Point Marina’s co-owner and Managing Director, Les Binkin said “We are proud to be accredited with this new environmental initiative at Marmong Point. We are committed to ensuring our marinas are of the highest environmental standard through participation in programs such as Clean Marinas. Marmong Point has fully embraced the opportunity to meet the Fish Friendly criteria.
Photo caption: Colin Bransgrove (MIA), Symantha Suprain (Director, Marmong Pt Marina), The Hon. Greg Piper MP, Les Binkin (Director, Marmong Point, and Marcel Green, Senior Environments Assessments Officer, Fisheries NSW
For further information contact: MIA – Colin Bransgrove, t: 0434018018, e: colin@marinas.net.au
