Queensland’s Southport Yacht Club has today been awarded ‘Fish Friendly’ status by the Marina Industries Association.
‘Fish Friendly Marina’ accreditation is an information campaign and accreditation system focusing on marina fish habits and was developed initially by the Marina Industries Association (MIA) and the NSW Boating Industry Association (BIA) in collaboration and consultation with government and EPA authorities.
The initiative is attached to MIA’s International Clean Marinas Program and is available to marinas across the Asia Pacific region. Additional fish friendly criteria and an audit are requirements to achieve ‘Fish Friendly Marina’ accreditation. Southport Yacht Club was recently awarded Level 3 International Clean Marina Accreditation and is an award-winning world-class facility. The Club is the second marina to be accredited ‘Fish Friendly’ in south east Queensland. There are now 13 marinas recognised or in the process of being accredited as ‘Fish Friendly’ throughout Australia. The initiative has received positive support from numerous government departments and authorities across Australia.
“Marinas can provide important habitat for fish. The Fish Friendly Marinas program has been developed to inform marina managers on how to maximise benefits for fish, and recognise those operators actively working to improve fish habitat,” said MIA Director, Mike Harvey CMM in presenting the award to Brett James, General Manager and Mark Riddell, Waterfront Manager at Southport Yacht Club. “I congratulate Southport Yacht Club today on its significant commitment to protecting and preserving the marina’s valuable marine habitat and communicating its efforts to customers and visitors.”
Brett James said, “the initiative is an important development for the industry and it is essential marinas continue to set the highest environmental standards. Marinas are the ideal location for many community members to see and learn about native fish and the aquatic environment. Clean Marinas and the Fish Friendly accreditation add-on demonstrate that industry, with support from government, is best able to set the standards that meet and exceed community and government expectations.”
“We are proud to be accredited with this exciting used environmental initiative and are committed to ensuring our marina is of the highest environmental standard through participation in programs such as Clean Marinas. We have all fully embraced the opportunity to meet the Fish Friendly criteria,” said Mark Riddell.
“We will continue to support the MIA in these very important programs which demonstrate the industry’s commitment to sustainable practices. The MIA leads the industry in developing consistent best practice management of the waterways in which marinas operate and Southport Yacht Club is very proud to uphold such standards.”
