PROBLEM FISH TARGETED FOR TERMINATION

A popular fishing competition aimed at ridding the Mulgrave River of the pest fish tilapia has again attracted State Government support.

Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said $5,000 had been awarded to the Aloomba State School Parents and Citizens Association for the Tilapia Terminators Fishing Competition.

“Tilapia compete with native fish for space and food and can dominate waterways,” Mr Wallace said.

“Tilapia Terminators will have families, schools and corporate teams competing against each other, vying for the honour of catching and removing the most tilapia.

“This is the second year the fishing competition will be held after the Alloomba P&C was awarded a $5000 grant in 2007’s Community Natural Resource Awareness Activity Grants.

“Earlier this year 400 entrants, representing 33 schools, participated in the first Tilapia Terminators fishing competition.

“The competition is part of a wider project to raise awareness in the community about the problems caused by noxious fish in our waterways and to educate people on how to identify and legally dispose of tilapia when it’s caught.

“It will also promote the importance of our waterways by encouraging the whole community to look after one of our most important natural resources.”

Mr Wallace said the project was one of 14 Community Natural Resource Awareness Activity Grants totalling almost $100,000 awarded to community groups across the state.

“This is the fifth year that the community awareness grants have been offered to celebrate the importance of our natural resources and the valuable work of the volunteers who protect them,” he said.

“These grants help groups to develop entertaining and educational projects to raise the community’s awareness of Queensland’s precious natural resources.”

The 2008 Natural Resource Awareness Activity Grants culminate in Natural Resources Week from May 17 to 24 2008.

Media inquiries: Clare Gillic 3896 3694