New Fishing Regulations

[ozynorts]

ARFF. Media release. 14 June 2012
Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation

The Voice of Australia’s Recreational Fishing Community

Media Release – 14 June 2012

Marine Parks – Aussie recreational fishing families ‘Locked Out Forever!’

Australia’s 5 million recreational anglers will be locked out of vast areas of Australian oceans and many iconic fishing spots.

Minister Burke’s announcement of the proposed Commonwealth Marine Park Reserve System locks recreational anglers out, without justification.

Commenting on the proposal, spokesperson for the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) Allan Hansard said:

“The Government should rethink the plan to ensure ongoing access to Marine Reserves for Australia’s recreational anglers.

“ARFF acknowledges that the Government has tried to minimize the impact of the Marine Park Reserve System on Australia’s recreational anglers by putting reserves out to sea and changing boundaries.

“However, these examples gloss over the underlying problem that the Government is basing the Marine Park Reserve System on an archaic zoning rule that treats Aussie anglers in the same way it treats industrial scale commercial fishing and oil and gas developments.

“Interestingly the Government has recently approved access to a huge foreign industrial size commercial fishing vessel the likes of which this country has never seen before, yet Mum, Dad and the kids will be ‘banned’ from trying to catch a fish!

“Recreational anglers face being locked out of vast tracts of Australia’s oceans and a number of inshore iconic fishing spots such as Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea, Geographe Bay, Perth Trench and Dampier. There will be significant implications on the coastal communities that support recreational fishing in these areas.

“Aussie anglers are called the bushwalkers of the sea. The decision by Minister Burke is no different to ‘locking bushwalkers out’ of iconic terrestrial National Parks, such as the Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Warrumbungle National Park in NSW or Lamington National Park in Queensland. Such decisions should only be taken if there is a sound scientific rationale.

“In almost all cases, there is no scientific justification and there have been no socioeconomic assessment of the impacts of the proposal.

“There is a clear message resonating from Australia’s 5 million recreational anglers, to Government – Don’t Lock Us Out! The Minister can turn this around by reviewing how recreational fishing is classified under the Marine Park zoning rules. We are asking him to do this as a matter of urgency, before he proclaims the Marine Park Reserve System and locks Aussie recreational fishing families out of these areas forever.

The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) is the newly formed national peak body representing Australia’s Recreational Fishing Community and is supported by the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA), Recfish Australia, Game Fishing Association Australia (GFAA), Sunfish Queensland, Amateur Fishing Association of the Northern Territory (AFANT), Recfishwest, Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) NSW, Underwater Skindivers and Fishers Australia (USFA); and the Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA), Professional Fishing Instructors and Guides Association of Australia (PFIGA).


ENDS
Media Contact: Alice Logan Edwards
Mob:             0419 464 270     
Email: alice.loganedwards@afta.net.au

There needs to be alot of noise about this. There will be people who will be affected by this and not even realise it. Those that fish from the shore or on a boat within a mile or two probably don't realise that they will be affected as those who would normally fish offshore will now be in close as will the commercial guys.
Someone on Facebook and twitter needs to start pages calling for changes. Make noise on every forum that you are a member of.

[Estelle]

We used to beach fish when we were younger and catch a good sized fish for dinner. Now, you can be there all day and not get a decent sized fish, all tiddlers. Same locations.

Not really upset with this legislation. The fish need a chance to populate.

Something needed to be done. This legislation may not be the best answer, but it is a start.

[Paul (SA)]

I noticed Paul Worsterlling (iFish) has been going bunta over all of this on Twitter.....very animated about it all.

[craigtempo]

i have been fishing for over 40 years and i have NEVER SEEN EVEDENCE saying that because of recreational fishing the stocks have gone down .

CAN ANYONE SHOW ME SOME ? .......

i have NO problem with stopping ... buying back ... or better managing PRO FISHING .

Sydney harbour 15 ish years ago they stop commercial fishing in the harbour and the river and look at it now ... huge bream ... flathead .. whiting ... kingfish schools with fish averaging 1.5 mtrs ive even seen salmon boils going from south head right across to north head and its just getting better and better

Botany bay  is the same because they stopped COMMERCIAL  fishing .

FISHING LICENCE MONEY has bought BACK the pro licences AND provided money for better management , facilaties , artificial reefs , Fad's.Can the greenies show me where they have spent money to improove a fisheries ?

Go north to the Hawkesbury river were they Havnt stopped commercial fishing andf look at it .NO WHERE NEAR THE FISH POPULATIONS AS THE OTHER 2 LOCAL SYSTEMS .

The same story can been seen right across nsw were they have stopped COMMERCIAL  fishing .

Just another case of UNEDUCATED ...POLITICALY CORRECT ... LOUD MINORITY WITH EVEDENCE SO FLAWED THAT MY 6 YEAR OLD COULD SHOOT IT DOWN IN FLAMES type green group hysteria .

pisssssses me off .

THEY WILL NEVER STOP ME FROM FISHING .

Craig

[D4D]

Rex Hunt, as much of a tosser he is, pressured the VIC govt to stop scallop dredging in Port Phillip Bay. The govt bought all the licenses back. Best thing ever as the snapper are going mental in the bay now. There are even good catches in June of resident fish which never happened before.

You do need a balance though, what happens when there are no pro-licenses, these guys lose income/jobs/businesses and we pay more for imported seafood from questionable waters...

[Jason B]

i have been fishing for over 40 years and i have NEVER SEEN EVEDENCE saying that because of recreational fishing the stocks have gone down .

CAN ANYONE SHOW ME SOME ? .......

i have NO problem with stopping ... buying back ... or better managing PRO FISHING .

Sydney harbour 15 ish years ago they stop commercial fishing in the harbour and the river and look at it now ... huge bream ... flathead .. whiting ... kingfish schools with fish averaging 1.5 mtrs ive even seen salmon boils going from south head right across to north head and its just getting better and better

Botany bay  is the same because they stopped COMMERCIAL  fishing .

FISHING LICENCE MONEY has bought BACK the pro licences AND provided money for better management , facilaties , artificial reefs , Fad's.Can the greenies show me where they have spent money to improove a fisheries ?

Go north to the Hawkesbury river were they Havnt stopped commercial fishing andf look at it .NO WHERE NEAR THE FISH POPULATIONS AS THE OTHER 2 LOCAL SYSTEMS .

The same story can been seen right across nsw were they have stopped COMMERCIAL  fishing .

Just another case of UNEDUCATED ...POLITICALY CORRECT ... LOUD MINORITY WITH EVEDENCE SO FLAWED THAT MY 6 YEAR OLD COULD SHOOT IT DOWN IN FLAMES type green group hysteria .

pisssssses me off .

THEY WILL NEVER STOP ME FROM FISHING .

Craig

Graig I agree with most of what you have posted mate, just a couple of points.

Commercial fishing in Sydney Harbour was stopped about 5 years ago (not 15) and it wasn't stopped because of low fish numbers it was stopped because dioxin levels in fish and prawns taken from the harbour were way above safe limits. In fact this is still the case with recommended dietary intake of only about 300 grams of fish from the Harbour a week. The fish stocks in the Harbour have improved since commercial fishing stopped there. 

The issue with the Hawksbury is that it is now over represented with commercial fishers as those that were bought out of Sydney Harbour and elsewhere were able to buy into other fisheries. There were many licences on the Hawkesbury that were owned but not used, so these fishers were able to buy them and then utilise them.

Recreational fishing has a massive impact on a number of species in NSW, namely Jewfish (Mulloway) and Snapper. The recreational impact on these species is actually higher than the commercial impacts, there has been science done.

Recreational fishers like those on this forum and many I speak to assume that every rec fisher has the same ethics as them, it would be nice if they did. The reality is many recreational fishers from a diverse many backgrounds have very little regard or understanding about the rules and consequently do lots of damage to some fisheries.

Take a walk along the foreshore of the Harbour or out on the Clifton Gardens Wharf and have a look in the buckets of the fishers there (they are rec fishers too), whilst you wont agree with what they catch and keep because you are more educated and responsible, the fact is these individuals are doing massive damage. Of course this is much reduced away from major population centres.

Don't get me wrong, I am not an advocate of marine parks or restrictions on rec fishing access. I just want to point out that not all rec anglers are above reproach like we are 

Regards

Jas

 

[Riguez]

I reckon its a storm in a tea cup. I've seen peoples reactions to marine parks in NSW and Qld when they're announced - everyone puffs up, struts around wringing their hands, shouting "we'll all be runed!" After a year or so most people won't give this a second thought. Oh, and the fishing improves.

The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation media release makes some grandiose claims that are not grounded in fact. No where in Bourke's (the environment minister) press release does it say anglers would be 'locked out' completely. In fact, Bourke's press release is fairly light on in facts. why? because its still the subject of negotiation. what is being done is an inclusion and slight expansion of what has already occurred in many states - alot of it already exists. There will be huge marine parks yes, but they will have 'green zones' where fishing is prohibited - fishing will not be prohibited in the entire marine parks as a whole as the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation would have you believe. if you look at the Great Barrier Reef, there's plenty of research that shows that when you establish highly protected areas like green zones,  fish stocks increase dramatically and they actually spill over and will as a result improve or provide insurance to commercial fishing and recreational fishing operations.

And as for your comment Craig regarding the impact of rec fishing 'not' causing stocks to go down, in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon, Red Snapper take by the rec fishing sector is far greater than the commercial take and is having an impact on that species - to deal with the impact on the species the Qld govt has had to force cuts on the commercial take - a direct impact on a species and on the commercial sector as a result of over fishing by the rec sector.

There is also evidence from other areas that rec fishing has a huge impact on various species as Jason B has said - but rec fishing, because of its very nature cannot be regulated like commercial fishing. Its a nightmare that govts cannot tackle.

Plenty of spots I fish have been outfished by rec fishing and plenty of old timers will admit to it. Just out of interest, I've seen photos taken in the 1920's of fish taken from one of my favourite spots on the NSW south coast - 2 days worth of fishing by a couple of men - two large tarpaulins layed out and piled 2 metres high with bream and a few other species. And apparently this was a regular occurrance, for a bit of fun. Back in the day before refrigeration was wide spread, in a fairly remote area.... all those fish were wasted.

[rotare]

Recreational fishing has a massive impact on a number of species in NSW, namely Jewfish (Mulloway) and Snapper. The recreational impact on these species is actually higher than the commercial impacts, there has been science done.

Not sure about the other states, but in SA the commercial sector takes a much larger portion of fish caught than the recreational angler - based on figures reported annually by PIRSA.  Happy to post the numbers if you disagree with this. 

Take a walk along the foreshore of the Harbour or out on the Clifton Gardens Wharf and have a look in the buckets of the fishers there (they are rec fishers too), whilst you wont agree with what they catch and keep because you are more educated and responsible, the fact is these individuals are doing massive damage. Of course this is much reduced away from major population centres.

And herein lies one of the biggest issues.  The department of fisheries can't manage what they have now, and are generally totally under resourced.... yet if all these new marine parks go ahead they will have a whole lot more to look after.  In SA we've been asking how are all of these marine parks going to be managed, and how much it's going to cost the tax payer..... but of course no "green" politician will or can give a definite answer, but most agree it will run into tens of millions of dollars a year in our state alone.

No fisherman that I talk to is totally opposed to some areas of the sea becoming marine parks, but it's the way the government has gone about this, using flawed science and the lack of clarity regarding cost to implement and ongoing management of the parks, then the loss of jobs and downturn in tourism for some small country towns that rely on fishing to attract people, then there's the irony of the govenment locking out fisherman to protect the marine environment, but the very next day announcing plans to build massive desalination plants, 1km long jettys to allow coal carrying container ships to load, and dredging of harbours to allow bigger ships to dock..... all in the same areas they've declared as marine parks.

One rule for one group, and another set of rules for somebody else..... all smells a bit fishy.       

[Jason B]

Not sure about the other states, but in SA the commercial sector takes a much larger portion of fish caught than the recreational angler - based on figures reported annually by PIRSA.  Happy to post the numbers if you disagree with this. 

I am talking species specific for NSW. I don't know about SA so won't enter into an argument.

And herein lies one of the biggest issues.  The department of fisheries can't manage what they have now, and are generally totally under resourced.... yet if all these new marine parks go ahead they will have a whole lot more to look after.  In SA we've been asking how are all of these marine parks going to be managed, and how much it's going to cost the tax payer..... but of course no "green" politician will or can give a definite answer, but most agree it will run into tens of millions of dollars a year in our state alone.

The issues are totally separate. NSW Government manages the issues I spoke about. The commonwealth government have proposed the new marine park. Totally separate fisheries management agencies. The commonwealth contract state agencies to undertake compliance of commonwealth vessels, the marine parks will require different management arrangements alltogether.

Regards

Jas

[rotare]

The issues are totally separate. NSW Government manages the issues I spoke about. The commonwealth government have proposed the new marine park. Totally separate fisheries management agencies. The commonwealth contract state agencies to undertake compliance of commonwealth vessels, the marine parks will require different management arrangements alltogether.

The fact still remains - they can't manage what they have now, let alone take on more.  I'm talking about the marine parks recently proposed by the state government in SA.  The federal government marine park proposal is just a double whammy for us on top of the restrictions already being planned.

[Jason B]

The fact still remains - they can't manage what they have now, let alone take on more.

Then they don't have more to take on they have less (by also reducing what they already have to manage). About 94% (give or take a %) of people voluntarily comply with the fishing rules. These people will do the right thing and just follow the rules, yes they will have to manage the others, however just the introduction of the park will reduce effort. If they accept that 90% + is an acceptable compliance rate than they will meet their targets.

The green policy is conservation by exclusion, so this fits perfectly for them.

Lets hope some common sense comes into the proposal.

Regards


Jas

[Isuzumu]

Not sure about the other states, but in SA the commercial sector takes a much larger portion of fish caught than the recreational angler - based on figures reported annually by PIRSA.  Happy to post the numbers if you disagree with this. 

And herein lies one of the biggest issues.  The department of fisheries can't manage what they have now, and are generally totally under resourced.... yet if all these new marine parks go ahead they will have a whole lot more to look after.  In SA we've been asking how are all of these marine parks going to be managed, and how much it's going to cost the tax payer..... but of course no "green" politician will or can give a definite answer, but most agree it will run into tens of millions of dollars a year in our state alone.

No fisherman that I talk to is totally opposed to some areas of the sea becoming marine parks, but it's the way the government has gone about this, using flawed science and the lack of clarity regarding cost to implement and ongoing management of the parks, then the loss of jobs and downturn in tourism for some small country towns that rely on fishing to attract people, then there's the irony of the govenment locking out fisherman to protect the marine environment, but the very next day announcing plans to build massive desalination plants, 1km long jettys to allow coal carrying container ships to load, and dredging of harbours to allow bigger ships to dock..... all in the same areas they've declared as marine parks.

One rule for one group, and another set of rules for somebody else..... all smells a bit fishy.     

I back you all the way, for over 25 years the marine industry was my in come. Had my own trawler and was a Master Class 5 skipper for more years than I can remember. I run my trawler out of a port in C Q where in 1985 there where more then 40 fishing vessels now probably 5. So the pros are not out there in Qld like they were.
You also said about managing this new hugh area, not possible, they can not stop the refugee boats coming in from Indo !!!!!!
This is all about taking attention away from they failed carbon tax

[Jason B]

This is all about taking attention away from they failed carbon tax

Mate haven't you been watching the news.................LOL      Julia says the carbon tax that we were never going to have will be a massive success. Especially now as instead of taxing the top 1000 polluters it will only tax 300.

This tax is a joke and will stuff this country. It seems they are adamant about burning down the house on the way out.

Regards


Jas

[Riguez]

This is all about taking attention away from they failed carbon tax

Sorry mate, but the Marine parks stuff that is being announced by Labor now has been in development since 1998 - most of the work done on it was managed under the previous 'Howard government'. So apportion blame if you have to blame at all.

[craigtempo]

Commercial Fishing licences in sydney were bought back in 2006 so in a matter of 6 years fish stocks in the harbour and down in botany bay [ and many other water ways in NSW ]have GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.Yes u get rec fishos doing the wrong thing and there are plenty in and around the sydney basin BUT the fish stocks have bounced back even though some still do the wrong thing .

In the good old bad old days when our grand fathers were fishing THEY were the ones who would kill 10 big jewfish .... KILL 1mtr plus flathead ... fill sugar bags full of bream and whiting .

it makes me sick when i go to the fish markets and u see bream for sale at 20cm in length [ ileagal to kill in nsw ] tiny whiting ... small jewfish and flathead BUT it all comes [ or so ive been told ] from interstate [ vic ] snapper so small that u need 3 or 4 to feed a family .

The major damage rec fishos have  done happend through the 50,s and 60,s.The likes of Valerie & Ron Taylor  promoting the killing of 100,s if not 1000,s of grey nurse sharks in the 60,s under the belief that they were man eaters ,and hay it makes for  great spearfishing documentaies .THEN telling the world that its the rec fisho,s fault that the numbers of these sharks are in decline .......... WTF.
Yes protect areas were the grey nurse lives and stop rec and commercial fishing in these areas BUT dont tell me that they are in decline and that the dammage was done by rec fishos.

There has been quite a few studies undertaken from the fisheries that show numbers are more than the first studies done BUT because these were inconsistant with there FIRST studies they have been ignored .

 we have scince moved on and become more aware and educated on fishing and the importance of breeding grounds like mangroves and reefs .And the damage that COMMERCIAL  fishos do ,indiscrimantly killing in the name of making a buck .Fishing comops now ARE mostly C&R
[ catch and release] in fact if u turn up at the wheigh in with a dead ..sick or injured fish u are disqualafied from the comp ....see ABT for more info .Most of the people i fish with and thats quite a few actually catch and release when fishing ie we fish for sport .

in fact recently there was a comp held down at swansea [ nsw] and in the local paper they showed a photo of a very large shark hanging from the scales . they outrage [ deserved] was thick and fast and came mostly from fellow fisho,s ..... comments like .. this sort of thing happend in the 60, there is NO need in this day and age ,and .... why are they doing this .

I remember back in the 90,s a study was released showing the damage that rec fisho,s were doing in Australia BUT when u read the report the studies were done in SOUTH AFRICA  and back then rec fishos were using dynomite in dams to catch fish ...... YES u read right and so there was very litle in the way of laws and managment that happend in that country .

if need be put up our fishing licences fees to buy back even more com licences and regeneration workthen do it .

THE MONEY RAISED BY US THE REC FISHO IS IMPROVING THE FISH STOCKS IN NSW . it is obviously working .Maybe other states should look at what we are doing and follow suit .

I say again .... rec fisho,s ARE NOT the ones doing damage to the fish stock populations in NSW.

Craig

[Jason B]

I say again .... rec fisho,s ARE NOT the ones doing damage to the fish stock populations.

Craig

I agree with most of what you said but some of your comments are very naive. The rec fisho's that you hang around with obviously have ethics and practice catch and release. I can take you on a patrol any day of the week around the Harbour and show many that don't. They catch and kill everything. And yes I book em, but still they come. Not all rec fishers share your view, call them crooks or disassociate yourself from them however you like, BUT they are still REC FISHERS.

The good thing is that its improving all of the time and rec fishing opportunities have increased with the creation of the rec fishing havens up and down the coast, the license has been a good thing. 


Regards


Jas

[Isuzumu]

We may have to have more restrictings, but I will make this clear the Greens are running this country.

[Jason B]

We may have to have more restrictings, but I will make this clear the Greens are running this country.

Will be interesting to see what the backlash is at the poles in due course.

[Isuzumu]

To true Jason

[rotare]

I agree with most of what you said but some of your comments are very naive. The rec fisho's that you hang around with obviously have ethics and practice catch and release. I can take you on a patrol any day of the week around the Harbour and show thousands that don't. They catch and kill everything. And yes I book em, but still they come. Not all rec fishers share your view, call them crooks or disassociate yourself from them however you like, BUT they are still REC FISHERS.

Just curious whether people believe that the fish taken legitimately by rec fishers, and also those that that take undersized fish, is the reason some fish stocks have reduced over the years?  Or is the bigger and and more likely reason because there is an increase in uncontrolled stormwater into our water ways, pollution from industries, ships dumping contaminated ballast tanks close to our shorelines, dredging of harbours to allow larger cargo ships to enter, the increase in salinity due to the popularity of deslination plants in some states, prawn trawlers ripping up and disturbing miles of sea grass and marine habitats...... I could go on.

If the government was serious about improving the marine environment, why not focus on the issues that science has proven are serious and detrimental? Why target the recreational fisherman.  My guess is that we're a soft and easy target.  Banning recreational fishing in some parts of our waters sounds an impressive move by the environmentalists - pity it won't address the real and bigger issues.

[Davepatrol]

Just a question,
how come I have a NSW car licence and can drive anywhere in Aus and a NSW boat licence and can use it anywhere in Aus, But I have to pay again if I go to another State to fish for a week or two even though I have a 3year NSW fishing licence?

[Jason B]

Just curious whether people believe that the fish taken legitimately by rec fishers, and also those that that take undersized fish, is the reason some fish stocks have reduced over the years?  Or is the bigger and and more likely reason because there is an increase in uncontrolled stormwater into our water ways, pollution from industries, ships dumping contaminated ballast tanks close to our shorelines, dredging of harbours to allow larger cargo ships to enter, the increase in salinity due to the popularity of deslination plants in some states, prawn trawlers ripping up and disturbing miles of sea grass and marine habitats...... I could go on.

If the government was serious about improving the marine environment, why not focus on the issues that science has proven are serious and detrimental? Why target the recreational fisherman.  My guess is that we're a soft and easy target.  Banning recreational fishing in some parts of our waters sounds an impressive move by the environmentalists - pity it won't address the real and bigger issues.

All of those things contribute for sure, however there is no denying the fact that rec fishers have an impact on various species of fish. Are marine parks the answer? Personally I don't thinks so. Better commercial regulation, yes, better education for specific groups that are over represented in compliance figures, yes. Better education in schools etc, yes. It will all assist.

I am not having a go at you champ, infact I agree with most of what you have said. But the simple fact is most (law abiding) rec fishers want to distance themselves from all of the issues associated with the undersize fish that are taken by various groups around the country and put them in a different box. They don't fit in another box they are rec fishers and they have can impact on the fishery.

I don't disagree that more needs to be done it does. The banning of Kingfish traps has had a major impact on the fishery, with a massive return in kingy's along the east coast. This has provided a great increase in recreational opportunities. The Rec's may even impact on this species more as a result (as commercial effort/catch has decreased) but that doesn't mean the species over all is in decline or that Rec fishers are the bad guys. There has just been a shift in the harvesting of the resource.

Regards


Jas

[craigtempo]

I agree with most of what you said but some of your comments are very naive. The rec fisho's that you hang around with obviously have ethics and practice catch and release. I can take you on a patrol any day of the week around the Harbour and show thousands that don't. They catch and kill everything. And yes I book em, but still they come. Not all rec fishers share your view, call them crooks or disassociate yourself from them however you like, BUT they are still REC FISHERS.

The good thing is that its improving all of the time and rec fishing opportunities have increased with the creation of the rec fishing havens up and down the coast, the license has been a good thing. 


Regards


Jas

I wish i had your job .

But this just proves my point ....u say u can show me 1000,s of rec fishos a day not fishing by the rules and yet the fish populations are going through the roof in the harbour .

you must have seen it yourself .what was the harbour like 20 years ago compaired to now ?

look at lake macquarie some of the best bream fishing in the state ... why is that ?the same with the tweed river .. richmond river ...clarence river...camden river...manning river...bellinger river ..hastings .... lake conjola ...st george basin..[ both have some of the best flathead fishing in the country ]narrawella and birril lake . these systems have had most if not all the comercial fishing licences bought back by rec fishing licences money . IF the nsw gov wants to put up our fees so u guys can get more staff to police its laws u would here no complaint from me or my bretheren .

20 million in the last few years spent on nsw waters ... all from the rec fishing licence .How much has the green groups spent on waterways ? they seem to only want to spend money on propagander .

have a look at this http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/202349/NSW_SWG_2012.pdf.

to cope with as u put it the rec fisho that takes everything ,well why dosnt the government put out hefty and i mean hefty fines ie $10000 + confication of ALL fishing gear .ALL moneys raised to go back into fisheries.Surely if as u say u can show me thousands of rec fishos every day of the week doing this then imagine the amount of money that could be raised .

OR .... why not have no take zones were u are aloud to fish with lures and sp,s only but not aloud to take fish home .

studies proove that most if not all fish taken this way survive even swim off unharmed.

mate i have even seen rec fishos,[ new to the country ] trying to take home a sea gull that they caught .For this they coped a beating and there gear was kicked into the water and not by me .

and what about the no take pipi zones being lifted on stockton beach . its the rec fisho that is screaming to the government NOT to let the comercial fishos back in BUT it seems to have fallen on death ears .

Again i say the rec fisho is not the ones doing damage to the fish populations in NSW.

craig

[Jason B]

Just a question,
how come I have a NSW car licence and can drive anywhere in Aus and a NSW boat licence and can use it anywhere in Aus, But I have to pay again if I go to another State to fish for a week or two even though I have a 3year NSW fishing licence?

Dave

I agree mate that it is hard to swallow and maybe one day there will be a national system, but I doubt it. To answer your question one of the issues is that each state has fisheries that are unique to it. Some are overlapping but some are totally unique to that state. This creates the need to have specific management strategies to suit those fisheries. There are Lobster, prawn trawl, abalone, trap and line, oysters, aquaculture, longline, fish trawl, recreational fishing, stocking and educational programs unique to those fisheries and states etc etc.

Each state has different size and bag limits for various species, set according to their abundance, distribution, breeding cycle etc, which can differ from state to state also.

With all of these issues to consider, each state wants its financial resources (licences etc) so that it can implement these strategies.

The NSW licence has, created recreational fishing havens (bought out commercial fishers) in many coastal river systems, provides funds for education and the running of a number of inland fish hatcheries used to restock millions of fish each year. Payed for FADS for rec anglers, research into breeding Mulloway, bass, and snapper, and many other initiatives.

The other thing about the NSW system is that it is managed by a panel made up of rec fishers. These guys decide how the money will be spent to benefit the rec fishery best.

Regards


Jas

[Jason B]

I wish i had your job .

But this just proves my point ....u say u can show me 1000,s of rec fishos not fishing by the rules and yet the fish populations are going through the roof in the harbour .

you must have seen it yourself .what was the harbour like 20 years ago compaired to now ?

look at lake macquarie some of the best bream fishing in the state ... why is that ?the same with the tweed river .. richmond river ...clarence river...camden river...manning river...bellinger river ..hastings .... lake conjola ...st george basin..[ both have some of the best flathead fishing in the country ]narrawella and birril lake . these systems have had most if not all the comercial fishing licences bought back by rec fishing licences money . IF the nsw gov wants to put up our fees so u guys can get more staff to police its laws u would here no complaint from me or my bretheren .

20 million in the last few years spent on nsw waters ... all from the rec fishing licence .How much has the green groups spent on waterways ? they seem to only want to spend money on propagander .

have a look at this http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/202349/NSW_SWG_2012.pdf.

craig

Thanks Craig.

Carefull mate your post just sounded like the perfect add for the implementation and benefits of a marine park.......LOL

Not disagreeing with you here, the decrease of commercial fishing has had benefits in these areas to rec fishing catches and fish populations. 

I just wanted to balance the argument a bit, most rec fishers don't consider what I have put out there (or don't want to). When you see it day in and day out you get a sense of balance. Things are definitely on the improve and education into these communities is the key. The overwhelming majority of rec fishers are responsible anglers.


Regards


Jas