Virtual Trout Conference Bringing Fishers Together

10 November 2020

The much-loved Talk Wild Trout conference is back again this year, using an online platform to bring more international speakers than ever before.

Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said the popular annual conference was returning for its sixth year over a series of Zoom webinars from November 24 to 26 with the theme ‘caring for trout’.

“The conference is funded by your fishing licence fees and the State Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan to get more people fishing, more often in more places,” Mr Dowling said.

“Over three days, participants can watch presentations from trout enthusiasts, photographers, fishery managers and scientists from Victoria and around the world.

“We’ll have more international speakers than ever before.”

Keynote speaker from the United States, Sascha Clark Danylchuk who works with the international ‘Keep Fish Wet’ organisation will be making an appearance to share her tips on best-practice fish handling and the science behind it.

Dr Paul Gaskell, freshwater biologist and fisher who runs the UK’s Wild Trout Trust’s ‘Trout in the Town’ program will also be presenting.

“Fisheries officers from Victoria’s north east will be on hand to share their many stories from the field and how they go about looking after our trout fisheries.”

Other conference topics and speakers include:

• World-renowned fishing photographer, David Anderson, will explain how to capture the photo of a lifetime, while still ensuring your prized trout is healthy for release.
• VFA, fisheries managers Taylor Hunt and Michelle Wenner will talk about managing and monitoring the wild trout fishery to safeguard it for the future.
• Paul Stolz from the Australian Trout Foundation will outline the Victorian Wild Trout Strategy to protect, build and promote Victoria’s wild trout fishery.

Mr Dowling said the conference will also include Q&A sessions with speakers and Fisheries staff via Zoom webinars which will give participants the chance to directly connect and ask questions of speakers and Fisheries staff.

To register for the virtual conference, which will occur from 24-26 November with each session running from 7-9pm, visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/talktrout2020 to register.

Media contact:  Amelia Crafter 0437 801 068