Fishing is a favourite pastime for Rottnest visitors, and conditions in the protected waters of the Island’s A Class Reserve are excellent for aspiring and experienced anglers.
But with the number of fishing enthusiasts on the rise, community awareness about the future of fish stocks and their habitats becomes increasingly important.
This is where Volunteer Fisheries Liaison Officers (VFLOs) come in - they are dedicated recreational fishers who, under the guidance of Fisheries WA, help spread the 'Fish for the Future' message amongst the community.
They inform fishers of minimum catch sizes and daily bag limits, answer questions and provide plenty of hands-on assistance as well as being involved in a number of important research projects. But most importantly, VFLOs encourage all anglers to take personal responsibility for their actions and conserve fish stocks.
The VFLO program, the first of its kind in Australia, started in 1991 and is well known in the Western Australian community, particularly after winning the 1998 Premier's Award for Excellence - a remarkable achievement for a volunteer program.
VFLOs have been involved in Rottnest Island’s school holiday program for a number of years and conduct very popular fishing clinics at the Army Jetty in Thomson Bay.
The VFLO program provides an important service on the Island by having a bus that is equipped to carry wheelchairs, allowing more people the pleasure of enjoying fishing on Rottnest.
This project complements work done by VFLO Neville Thomas, who developed specially designed fishing equipment to cater for people with a disability.
Further information can be found on the Fisheries WA website or by contacting Michelle Dyer at Fisheries WA on (08) 9335 6800.
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