Fishcare connects with more than 250 people at Winter Whale Fest 2026

PIRSA Fishcare Volunteers had a ‘whale’ of a time supporting this year’s Winter Whale Fest (1-30 June), a month-long celebration of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s stunning wild coastal environment, remarkable marine life, vibrant culture, intriguing science, and boundless creativity.

Centre stage was the popular Fishcare stall which volunteers operated at two events – the Whale Fest Expo and Artisan Market at Warland Reserve in Victor Harbor on Saturday 6 June, and the twilight Kondoli Lantern Parade and Market on Saturday 20 June.

For anyone familiar with the region, the name Kondoli may be recognisable.

The ancient story of Kondoli, the whale from Ngarrindjeri Dreaming who gave fire to the people, is deeply connected to the region.

This powerful narrative, shared by Ngarrindjeri Elders, speaks to the profound and enduring connections between land, waters, and culture, inspiring every aspect of the 2026 Winter Whale Fest program.

For Fishcare volunteers, attending events like Winter Whale Fest is a fantastic outreach opportunity as part of the broader local network of environmental and conservation-based group of entities.

The festival is attended by many people who are interested in recreational fishing, giving volunteers the chance to answer questions about rules and regulations of recreational fishing and speak about the need to protect and preserve our resources for future generations.

Across the two events, volunteers spoke to more than 250 people at the Fishcare stalls which is a fantastic result.

If you’re interested in joining the Fishcare Volunteer Program and being part of the team at future events in South Australia, visit the PIRSA website for more information.