Part 1 transcript

MUSIC...

Scott Gray:Gooday, I'm Scott Gray and welcome to the first of a three part video series about Angler Diary Programs. Behind me is the Fisheries Research Laboratory at Queenscliff where the Angler Diary Program is co-ordinated. The purpose of this video series, is to show you what Angler Diary Programs are about, how anglers provide information and how fisheries researchers and managers use that information.

The Victoria Angler Diary Program has been running since the mid 1990s and now most other states have very similar programs. Apart from collecting research data more cost effectively than traditional scientific approaches, the Diary brings anglers, researchers and fisheries managers together – the benefits have been fantastic.

Angler Diary Programs are designed to be flexible encouraging volunteers to follow their typical fishing interests. However some anglers go above and beyond and conduct more scientific fishing – like using specific hook types, or fishing at set times or at set locations. Today we've going to head down to the beautiful seaside town of Warrnambool and catch up with angler diarist, Ken Radley.

Gooday Ken, how are you?

Ken – Yeah good Scott. Nice to see you.

Scott – Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and the angler diary program?

Ken – Well I've been involved for thirteen years now and I sort of grew up on the river here, so I've really enjoyed you know, living in Warrnambool and with a magnificent river such as this, yeah, it's easy to get involved and to try and give something back.

Scott – I've heard the fishing's pretty good here? What sort of species do you usually fish for?

Ken – I generally target Bream, but I love Estuary Perch as well, and the odd Mulloway gets in here also, so they're the main sort of three species that I'm after yeah.

Scott – and with your involvement in the program, do you have a background in fisheries or science or anything, or is this something that you're really passionate about?

Ken – I'm quite passionate about it. I actually grew up at the Boathouse through my teenage years, and was brought up by the people who ran that, so I became very interested in the river, and not only the fish that you could get out of it, but also the health of it, and I could see it change from day to day. So I love coming down to the river and fishing and regardless of whether I get a feed or not.

Scott – So with the information that you're collecting as well over the time that you've been involved, have you learned a lot yourself too from being part of the program?

Ken – Oh definitely, and I get great feedback from the people down at Queenscliff. They're always sending me back information, saying 'how many fish over a certain size might be in the system' – and you know, certain new classes that are stronger than others. So I've learned a great deal, and I think it helps me in my fishing, or at least I hope it does a little bit.

Scott – Now I guess you're a volunteer as part of the program it must be a great amount of satisfaction that you get from being involved in something like this.

Ken – Oh certainly. There's lots of different ways that we can all volunteer and to be able to go out and fish and to actually, and you know that's my volunteer sort of commitment to the river, it's fantastic, I couldn't think of a better way to volunteer.

Scott – Yes, exactly and in a beautiful place like this too.

Ken – Yes, it is good, and it can be windy at times down here, but it's a great system.

Scott – excellent. Well Ken thanks for taking the time to come out and talk to us today, and it's great to see people like Ken who volunteer their time, and go out fishing and collect important scientific data which is vital for fisheries research.

END