Fishermen Cooperative Wins National Sustainability Award

A canoe fishermen's cooperative operating along the eastern creeks has won this year's national sustainability award, recognised for a community-led rotation system that has allowed fish stocks to recover over the past three years.

The cooperative, made up of 62 registered fishermen, voluntarily adopted no-fishing zones during spawning season, a decision that was controversial at first but has since produced visibly larger catches outside the protected periods.

The award comes with a grant that the cooperative says it will use to expand the rotation system to two neighbouring communities next year.