Keeping the great outdoors great

Outdoor activities like fishing and camping can have a high impact on our environment.

Luckily, organisations like Tangaroa Blue and Philip Island Community and Learning Centre are making it easier for recreational fishers and campers in Victoria to reduce their footprint and take care of the world around us.

As recipients of grants from the Circular Economy Communities Fund, both organisations will receive support to expand projects in Victoria to repair, reuse and recycle damaged or unwanted camping and fishing gear.

Experts from Tangaroa Blue and Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre have shared some handy hints to help us go green for the great outdoors.

Keep track of your tackle

According to the CSIRO, the amount of fishing line littering the ocean each year can circle the planet more than 18 times.

So it’s no surprise that the top tip from Tangaroa Blue’s Brett Tait is about looking after your fishing gear.

“It’s one of the easiest ways to reduce litter in our water ways,” Brett says.

He encourages all recreational fishers to recover any lost tackle or line, reuse any tackle they find, and remove fishing line and tackle from the environment before heading off for the day.

“Another simple way to reduce lost gear is to get better at knot tying," Brett says.

“By knowing your knots you’ll make sure your hooks, lures and sinkers stay well attached to your mainline.”

Zoos Victoria and Victorian Fisheries Authority are working together to untangle the threats to aquatic wildlife with more than 300 Seal the Loop bins at popular fishing locations across Victoria where you can dispose of unwanted fishing line.

Take care and repair

Greg Thompson from Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre says it’s important to fasten heavy-duty outdoor material like caravan annexes, tents, boat biminis and ute tonneaus with the metal eyelets provided.

“Overstretching or piercing the fabric immediately degrades the structural integrity and leads to tearing and other damage,” Greg says.

Some camping stores like Patagonia will repair your gear for free. They also have repair kits and tutorials if you want to do it yourself.

Recycle right

Thanks to the funding delivered by Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government, both Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre and Tangaroa Blue are offering campers and recreational fishers an alternative to simply throwing out damaged or unwanted gear.

Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre is diverting gear from landfill through their repair facility where they can convert discarded textiles into new products like fabric hamper bags for their food relief program.

Grant funding will enable the centre to purchase commercial sewing machines to repair and re-purpose much heavier fabrics like canvas and vinyl from tents, yacht sails or surfboard covers.

In 2023, Tangaroa Blue will roll out 60 recycling drop-off points for tackle, including lines, hooks, lures and sinkers under their Rig Recycle program. Items in good condition will be repaired and donated to charities, while the rest will be recycled and used to create new fishing equipment.

Visit Tangaroa Blue to express interest in hosting a Rig Recycle bin at your local fishing club, organisation, or shop. Or follow the Rig Recycle Facebook page for updates.

Shop sustainable

These days, there are eco-alternatives to a lot of the gear you'll need for camping and fishing, so shop around before you pull out your credit card.

For your fishing trips, look out for non-toxic metal weights, biodegradable lures, and line made from biodegradable monofilament which breaks down faster. If you’re practising catch and release, buy circle hooks instead of J hooks, which can lodge in the fish’s belly or throat and cause digestion and feeding problems after you’ve set it free.

And for your camping adventures, you can find tents and sleeping bags made from recycled material, solar power stations and showers, and even biodegradable soap.

Try before you buy

If you’re new to the great outdoors and you’re not quite ready to commit to a Bear Grylls existence, why not reach out to family or friends to borrow the camping or fishing gear you need before you take the leap.

Many community-based Facebook groups encourage a sharing culture, so consider putting a call out on social media to see if you can borrow what you need from locals nearby.

There are also companies across Victoria that will rent out everything from fishing rods and tackle, to tents and sleeping bags, to cooking sets and headlamps.

Love the great outdoors? Read our tips for staying green on road trips and picnics.