Duration

1 hour

Students will gain an understanding of the social and economic benefits of recreational fishing to the community, and learn how to apply sustainable behaviours and attitudes when fishing and caring for the marine environment.

Preparation

You will require a tape measure to demonstrate how to measure a fish in this activity. Alternatively fish ruler stickers can be freely obtained from your local Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development office. You will also require an image of a fish (side profile) to show the correct way to measure a fish.

Each student will require a copy of Student Worksheet: Fishing code of conduct.

Steps

  1. Discuss with students what are good fishing practices. Cover topics such as catch care, measuring fish correctly, bag limits, nuisance fish, protected species, keeping your catch and filleting fish.
  2. Discuss the role of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in sustainably managing our aquatic resources and begin an introduction about the rules and regulations you must follow if you wish to go fishing.
  3. Using a fish ruler sticker and fish pictures, demonstrate how to measure fish from the tip of their head to the end of their tail.
  4. Prompt students to come up with suggestions of what would happen if we did not abide by good fishing practices and rules and regulations.
  5. Prompt the students to propose actions that would be considered sustainable fishing practices and why they are important.
  6. Edit and finalise these actions on Student Worksheet: Fishing code of conduct.
  7. Each student to write a pledge on how they will fulfil the Code of Conduct.

Keywords

Best practice, Iki-jimi, recreational fishing, sustainability