Fishing is a common pastime in Canberra. You'll often see families fishing together, mates throwing in their lines, or a solitary angler whiling away the hours by the water’s edge. A quarter of respondents to University of Canberra's 2015 survey reported fishing at least once a year.

But we need to look after our fish if we want to go fishing! This means keeping our waterways healthy, looking after our native species, managing our waterways and fisheries carefully, stocking our lakes and ponds with native fish and regulating recreational fishing.

Government ecologists do the science. Policy officers shape the regulations and legislation. Rangers do on-ground environmental work and enforce compliance with regulations.

But the community also has a vital role. If you use our waterways you have an important perspective about managing our waterways for the benefit of anglers, other recreational users, the environment and the wildlife.

We would value your input to the following consultation.

Closed consultations

National Carp Control Plan

The Australian Government is currently developing the National Carp Control Plan (NCCP). This is a $15 million program to identify a safe, effective and integrated range of measures to control carp populations in Australia. The key component is exploring the possible release of the carp virus, Cyprinid herpesvirus 3, which would significantly reduce populations.

On Monday 19 February 2018, an ACT community briefing session was held to help inform the development of a draft plan. This session provided an opportunity for the local community to find out more about the project and offer insights on the potential release of the virus in ACT waterways.

Aquatic and Riparian Strategy

Our rivers and the land alongside them are crucial to the ongoing survival and wellbeing of wildlife, the environment—and humans. The Government is preparing an aquatic and riparian strategy that outlines how we can best continue to conserve and manage our waterways. It includes action plans for seven threatened aquatic species

Following consultation, the 2018 ACT Aquatic and Riparian Conservation Strategy has now been released. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The final strategy and action plans are available here.

Environmental Flows Guidelines

Every five years the ACT Government reviews and revises the Environmental Flow Guidelines, which set out how much water we release—and when. Releasing extra water into our waterways to keep our aquatic ecosystems healthy is an important part of water management in the ACT.

Known as ‘environmental flows’, this water replaces the natural flows that may be missing because our water supply dams stop it entering the streams, or during times of drought.

Consultation on the guidelines are now closed, but you can still find out more about environmental flows and the consultation.

Fisheries Act Review

The Fisheries Act 2000 provides for the sustainable management of fishing in the ACT. It promotes the protection and conservation of native fish species and their habitats to ensure high quality and sustainable recreational fishing. It also guides management of commercial fish production and fishing enterprises, fish dealing and live fish transport. The Act is being reviewed to ensure it meets contemporary needs.

Consultation on the discussion paper has now closed, but you can still see The review of the Fisheries Act and keep updated on progress of the review.

ACT Healthy Waterways

ACT Healthy Waterways is a joint initiative of the ACT and Australian governments to improve the quality of water entering our lakes and waterways and flowing downstream into the Murrumbidgee River system. It is part of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.

With a budget of over $80 million, the project will reduce the level of nutrients, sediment and pollutants entering our lakes and waterways.

The project includes the construction of infrastructure – like wetlands, ponds and rain gardens – as well as research trials, a community education campaign and improvements to water monitoring practices.

More about Healthy Waterways

Volunteer for the environment

Volunteers are vital in helping the government maintain our waterways. Many volunteer groups contribute their time and energy to plant along the riparian edges, remove weeds and pests, monitor water quality, check out the health of platypus and frog populations and support rangers in other environmental work.

Find out more about how you can volunteer.

Every five years the ACT Government revises the Environmental Flow Guidelines, which set out how much water we release—and when.

Consultation on the guidelines is now closed, but you can still find out more about environmental flows.

Managing our fisheries for all

We are reviewing the Fisheries Act 2000, which provides for the sustainable management of fishing in the ACT.

Consultation on the discussion paper is now closed. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the discussion.

See what's happened so far

We are working with the National Carp Control Plan (NCCP) project team to consider ACT region specific issues associated with the possible release of the carp virus in Australia to help control carp populations. The NCCP project team wants to understand the ACT's waterways – what's important about them, how you use them, and your concerns and questions so that they can be addressed in the plan.

ACT specific consultation was held in February 2018. To find out more about the carp virus and how to get involved in future consultation, click here.

Our rivers and the land alongside them are crucial to the ongoing survival and wellbeing of wildlife, the environment—and humans. The Government is preparing an aquatic and riparian strategy that outlines how we can best continue to conserve and manage our waterways. It includes action plans for seven threatened aquatic species

Following consultation, the 2018 ACT Aquatic and Riparian Conservation Strategy has now been released. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The final strategy and action plans are available here.