Trade in Your Traps: Platypus-Friendly Fishing Event

Enjoy a morning of fishing along the Little Yarra River, learn about the local platypus population, and trade in old opera house nets for wildlife-friendly alternatives!

What's on:

• Trade in Your Yabby Traps 🦞

Bring along old opera house nets and trade them for FREE wildlife-friendly open top nets! Opera house nets have been banned in all Victorian public and private waters since 2019. Air-breathing animals, like platypus, turtles and native water rats, can become trapped in these nets and drown. Open-top nets allow these animals to escape safely and are great at catching yabbies!

• Sustainable Fishing Clinics 🎣

Learn how to fish or sharpen your skills from demonstrations by Fishcare Victoria. This event is suitable for beginners and those with fishing experience.

• Macroinvertebrate Discovery Activity 🔬

Join Yarra Ranges Council and explore the Little Yarra River's ecosystem by identifying macroinvertebrates—key indicators of waterway health and the primary food source for platypuses!

• Presentations from platypus & native fish experts ✨

Hear from platypus expert Josh Griffiths (EnviroDNA) about the local platypus population and how you can support the species while fishing. Enjoy a native fish presentation from Fishcare Victoria, where you’ll learn about local fish species that are great to catch!

• Platypus habitat art activity 🎨

Explore platypus habitat with Yarra River Keepers and learn how rivers provide food and shelter for this unique species. Gather plants and natural materials to create an artistic interpretation of platypus habitat using plant pigments and earthy paints, bringing your platypus ecosystems to life!

• Stalls by Melbourne Water, Yarra Ranges Council & Landcare 🌱

Connect with organisations that support healthy waterways and land.

Key event information:

• Event is located along the Little Yarra River in Yarra Junction, behind the Yarra Junction cricket oval and playground (google pin). There is free parking around the oval and aquatic centre.

• If you have registered for a fishing clinic, please arrive at 9:15am for check-in. Fishing gear is provided or BYO.

• To trade your opera house net for a FREE wildlife friendly open top lift net, please select the option in the event registration and bring your opera house net along to the event. The trade is a one-for-one and ticket holders can trade up to three nets.

• This is an outdoor event. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear and bring water.

• Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

• Free event, but registration is essential.

Organised by Melbourne Water and kindly supported by Fishcare Victoria, Yarra Ranges Council, Yarra River Keepers, EnviroDNA & Landcare.

📸 Image Workshop, Sharon Blance.