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National Waterbug Blitz is Australia’s first nationwide waterway monitoring event, funded by an Inspiring Australia grant. This Spring, Australians are encouraged to become ‘citizen scientists’ and investigate how healthy their local waterways and wetlands are, simply by exploring and identifying what aquatic macroinvertebrates they contain. The type and number of waterbugs found in a waterway can tell us a lot about how healthy that waterway is.

They are running training sessions all over Australia from August to November, with recreational fishing groups, fly fishers, Landcare, Natural Resource Management agencies and schools - anyone can participate. Please see attached Information Sheet and visit our website for video tutorials to see what's involved.

To identify and record waterbugs, the Waterbug App has been specifically designed for this project. It’s a great, easy to use tool and replaces traditional data sheets in the field. It’s free to download, and you can choose to do a detailed Waterbug Survey or a quick Mayfly Muster. See more here about the app .

If you haven't got the time to do a full Waterbug Survey (takes about half a day), consider just looking for mayflies as part of the Mayfly Muster. Mayflies tend to "opt out" when water quality and habitat conditions in a river become degraded (mainly around towns and cities). By finding the spot where the mayflies stop we can establish which parts of a river need our help the most. If you are a fly fishing enthusiast, you can also use the Mayfly Muster to record when mayflies are emerging, and in areas where other people use the app you can check on old data to see when "the hatch" is most likely.

Fishcare volunteers wanted
NSWDPI's long running, popular and successful Fishcare Volunteer Program is seeking enthusiastic people keen to help teach the next generation about the importance of our aquatic environment, and how it links to sustainable recreational fishing.

“The program has 330 volunteers of all ages state wide and is supported using funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to sustainable and responsible recreational fishing and habitat conservation,” NSWDPI Fishcare Coordinator, Dee Payne, said today. said.

“Fishcare volunteers play a vital role in promoting sustainable recreational fishing and do a terrific job in advising anglers and the general public about the rules and values of responsible fishing.

“Volunteers partake in activities such as guided walks, fishing workshops, schools visits, field days, habitat restoration works, etc passing on their knowledge and skills and encouraging values that ensure there will be fish into the future.

“We are calling for anyone interested in joining the program to register their interest to complete specialised training, the first is to be held in Sydney on August 18.

“NSW DPI staff and guest speakers will cover topics on recreational fisheries management, NSW fishing rules, Long Reef Aquatic Reserve, aquatic habitat management and communication skills and is run by an accredited trainer.

“Applicants from across NSW are encouraged to apply, with additional training to take place in other locations in the upcoming months.

“This training weekend will concentrate on Sydney and the Long Reef Aquatic Reserve, and is open to anyone over the age of 18 years of age.

“Volunteers range in age from students to retirees, and come from a great range of backgrounds and it’s expected volunteers will be available to give approximately one day per month to assist the program.”

The Sydney training day is at Narrabeen Coastal Environment Centre, entry via Pelican Path, Lake Park Road, North Narrabeen, NSW, 2101 and will include a Long Reef Intertidal Walk

To apply go to this link.

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