The Fish Habitat Improvement Fund supports two streams:

Stream 1. Empowering recreational fishers to improve local fish habitat (community led projects up to $50,000 and up to 18 months in duration):  Applications remain open until the funding is allocated.

These projects will deliver small-scale works to improve local fish habitat works alongside waterways such as native vegetation planting, weed control, erosion control, fencing (to keep livestock out) on public or private land. This stream will help recreational fishers get involved, build capacity and establish partnerships with other fish habitat partners and land managers.

Stream 2. Partnerships to address critical fish habitat priorities: working together to restore, recover and rebuild fish populations (up to $200,000 over 2 years). Applications close 6pm on 1 March 2024.

This stream will deliver larger-scale projects involving multiple partners and strong co-investment to restore, recover fish habitat and contribute to rebuilding fish populations. Applicants for this stream will require advanced project management capacity, leadership and connections with recreational fishers and other relevant stakeholders.

The following government and non-government organisations with strong links to recreational fisher networks are eligible to apply for Fish Habitat Improvement funding:

• Catchment Management Authorities
• Local, regional, and state-wide angling organisations and associations
• Local Councils
• Water Authorities
• Other NRM agencies
• Aboriginal groups and organisations, land councils,
• trusts and co-operatives working on-country
• Non-government community organisations
• Crown Land Committees of Management
• Registered Training Organisations, including schools and universities