Media release from Otago Fish & Game

Ranger returns from US fact finding mission

Otago Fish & Game Ranger Steve Dixon has just returned from a month long trip to America; visiting trout hatcheries and observing angler education programmes, along with attending kids and family fishing festivals.

Dixon was the recipient of the 2013 Fish & Game New Zealand staff travel scholarship, and spent the four weeks in Missouri and Massachusetts researching programmes which he hopes will benefit the Otago region. While there, he also gave presentations to MassWildlife and US Fish & Wildlife Service on Otago Fish & Game’s activities and initiatives.

A Ranger with Otago Fish & Game, Mr Dixon is involved with both hatchery work and organisation of local kids fishing events around Dunedin. Since starting with the organization in 2008 he has developed a passion for youth and family fishing activities.

Its important to share knowledge with others working in the same field, not only for Fish & Game locally, but for the wellbeing of kids in today’s society – by this i mean finding ways to help kids embrace and enjoy the outdoors more. The Americans are as enthusiastic about this as we are” Mr Dixon said

The highlight for Dixon was the Missouri kids fishing day, with over 5000 people in attendance, and around 1200 children fishing. “It was just great to see that number of kids having a ball of a time, catching up to 4 fish each.”

“To keep the children interested they also had other activities on site, such as archery, small bore shooting, fly fishing and courses on how-to-clean and cook their catch. We could easily replicate this sort of experience here in Otago.”

Dixon covered over 5000 kilometres during his four weeks in the states “I seemed to be on the go the whole time from Kids Fishing Events to hatchery visits to Angler Education programs.” It is hoped his research will be used to develop new youth programmes, both in Otago and nationally and also assist in the advancement of the regions existing hatchery activities.

ENDS

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