Narrandera Fish Festival a big hit with families

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Narrandera Fish Festival a big hit with families

22 Oct 2012 - NSW DPI

More than 3000 visitors enjoyed a great day in and out of the water at Narrandera Fisheries Centre's Fish Festival on Saturday (20 October).

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Narrandera Fisheries Centre manager, Les Rava, said the festival also celebrated the centre's 50th birthday with many past staff returning to join in the festivities and attend a reunion dinner on Saturday night.

Mr Rava thanked everyone involved, and in particular the Narrandera Fisheries Centre staff and the many volunteers on the day, for the enormous effort they put into showcasing the centre - NSW's only inland fisheries research station.

Mr Rava said celebrity cook Paul Mercurio who had starred at the inaugural fish festival in 2010 and his offsider this year 'Rustty' (local radio presenter from Narrandera) were very popular with their entertaining healthy eating cooking displays.

"Paul and Rustty cooked up a storm using local fish in delicious recipes such as beer marinated yabbies and Murray cod wrapped in prosciutto with a lentil salad," he said.

"It was the perfect day out for families with lots of free activities, ranging from a game fishing simulator, Taronga Park Zoomobile and the Australian Travelling Fish Show, to casting competitions and a very popular fishing competition held in one of the centre's fishing clinic ponds stocked with silver and golden perch and Murray cod."

Tim Cahill from Wagga Wagga, whose nine-year-old son Lucas won a fishing rod when he caught a good sized silver perch in the fishing competition, said his family had enjoyed a sensational day.

"We have been going to NSW DPI fishing clinics for children for years and the Fish Festival at Narrandera is a fantastic way to showcase what is being done by the NSW Government to educate children about fish and conserving their environment," he said.

Fish Conservation Volunteer, Linden Forrest, from Albury, one of the many volunteers helping with the fishing competition, helped Lucas land and release his catch back into the pond.

Mr Rava said the free event would not have taken place without the support of major sponsors NSW DPI, Norm Wettenhall Foundation, Narrandera Shire Council, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Bendigo Bank, Daiwa and the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust.

"The wonderful support of local charities and businesses also contributed to the success of the day," he said.