Who is the Moreton Bay Access Alliance?

[Darryl]

I sent off one of them postcards they put in my letterbox as I sure as hell don't want them greenies closing up the bay but then one of me mates tells me that they are composed of commercial fishermen! So my question is who exactly is part of the MBAA and why are they so secretive? If they have commercail fishermen on it I sure as hell don't want to support them. I'll be damned if I am goign to allign myself with one of those plunderers.
Why can't we form our own recreational fishing group? We are the ones who don't do any damage to the bay and who are going to be disadvataged when the review comes in becasue of them. I don't want to go down with the commercial fishing ship.

[Shane_78]

The postcard did say keep access open for commercial use too Darryl... Though I are you sure that there are commercial fishermen on that panel? I feel very uncomfortable about that fact as if anyone is going to be targeted it will them. Why should we be connected with them? They are the reason why I go out and sometimes can't a catch a flaming fish. Have you ever seen them out there with those nets? It's a bloody wonder that there are any fish in the Bay with the effort they put in!

[fishingjew]

How the Alliance describes itself

The Moreton Bay Access Alliance is comprised of key industry and community groups that rely on access to Moreton Bay for trade, recreation and healthy family activities.
These groups together contribute millions of dollars, countless jobs and invaluable community spirit to the south east Queensland community.
The Alliance recently was established as an honorary member of the Boating Industry Association Queensland (BIAQ), and is completely independent of all political parties, members and political candidates.
The establishment of the Alliance was not orchestrated by any one particular individual, but rather reflects a joining of industry and community sectors that have a shared vision for the future management of Moreton Bay.

http://bayjournal.com.au/joomla/images/stories/people/Summit/bruce%20alvey.jpg


Bruce Alvey, chairman of the MBAA is an important stakeholder in th recreational fishing industry with a factory turning out fishing gear. He told the BayJournal this morning that jobs were at stake so the group would fight indiscriminate closure

Hope this answers your question.

[Darryl]

I already know that much. I want to know who exactly is part of the alliance? I don't want to support a group that is comprised of commercial fisherman that take away the fish I am entitled to as a rec fisher. It's my right to fish.

[webby]

The Alliance comprises all facets of the Fishing Industry from Marketing/Boating/Sales/Rec's/Commerical/Wholesale/Tourism etc.
They all have a stake in the Bay and all have a lot to loose if big closures are brought in.
This is not a one person fight but a united fight, and with this united fight we have more or a a better chance of cutting down the margins of closurers those that hang from the treees want.
As a individual fight by one sector of the fishing industry would not have the same fighting abilities as a united group.
regards

[PinHead]

I sent off one of them postcards they put in my letterbox as I sure as hell don't want them greenies closing up the bay but then one of me mates tells me that they are composed of commercial fishermen! So my question is who exactly is part of the MBAA and why are they so secretive? If they have commercail fishermen on it I sure as hell don't want to support them. I'll be damned if I am goign to allign myself with one of those plunderers.
Why can't we form our own recreational fishing group? They have..called The Fishing Party We are the ones who don't do any damage to the bay are you serious about that ..better take another look.and who are going to be disadvataged when the review comes in becasue of them. I don't want to go down with the commercial fishing ship.

I believe the MBAA is the best opportunity to have a say for all concerned. I just hope some of the big hitters come out and play...such as some more boat manufacturers, tackle wholesalers and shops, some of the big boat people who have the dollars and political grunt etc etc

[Darryl]

Am I the only one who has a problem with being on the same side as the commercial fishermen? I know people have to make a living but do they have to take so much that the average bloke can't throw a line out and expect to get nothing back. Do you see those guys out there all the time taking our fish for profit? I haven't talked to one single fisher mate who likes them in the Bay. I've seen them out there throwing 3 (dead) fish back for every 1 fish they take and I'm sick of it. I fully support a Moreton Bay Access Alliance without the commercial fishers and my mate that told me and is telling others feels the same. If we want a victory in this and everyone needs to stick together then let the commercial folk fight there own battle. There a lot of recs out there who aren't happy and unhappiness does not equal support for our greater good.

[Darryl]

Sorry Pinhead but when we are compared to the commercial fishermen I think we come up as not doing any damage

[tunaman]

Darryl. Its just easy to blame the rec fisho for all thats happened in the fishing world, and its a lot of crap. Fishing people know just too well the rules and from what I,ll seen, We,ve made our impact very small indeed. They need someone to blame, and we are target number one. For me, I wont stand for it. I see to many people doing the right thing.



signed tunaman

[Lucky_Phill]

Darryl, I believe we are all in agreence with what you say ( basically ), but the fact of this matter is that as a ' Group " we have to join to protect the OUR Bay. We can battle with the commercial guys on another day.

Yes, trawlers create havoc with by-catch, seabed etc, but that is NOT the issue in this case. Let's fight one issue at a time and the most important one right now is The Bay itself, for if we have no Bay, we will not have to fight the commercial guys as there will be nothing to fight over.

I think we have to get a grip on the Big Picture. The Big Picture is ' sustainability and access '.

Phill

[Darryl]

Well to me this is the time for us to work together to keep access to the Bay and to get the commercial fishermen out. Why wait another 10 years for an opportunity such as this???? I'm sick of those bastards and their huge nets taking my fish! We don't need to work with them as we can do it without them. Let them fight there own battle. We can get the trawlers out of our favourite spots whilst at the same time keeping them open to us. We are much more likely to keep our areas safe if we don't allign with them. After all they are the main problem not us!

[PinHead]

Well to me this is the time for us to work together to keep access to the Bay and to get the commercial fishermen out. Why wait another 10 years for an opportunity such as this???? I'm sick of those bastards and their huge nets taking my just wondering when you gained ownership..do we need permission to catch your fish?fish! We don't need to work with them as we can do it without them. Let them fight there own battle. We can get the trawlers out of our favourite spots whilst at the same time keeping them open to us. We are much more likely to keep our areas safe if we don't allign with them. After all they are the main problem not us!

lemme see Darryl...if we get the comm fishos banned from the bay then the greens can then say...no one needs the bay now to sustain their livelihood let's close it to all as then no one will lose any money over it.

This battle must be as a united front from all concerned..as soon as there is bickering within, the greens will love it and know they will win.

[Adamy]

Darryl, I get your point and I think many people would tend to agree with you, however from a commercial reality, its the pros that have the dollars it takes to mount a campaign such as this, its the guys who either live or die by their access to the bay - such as tackle manufacturers (Bruce Alvey), the Boat manufacturers, tackle and Bait, tourism operators and yes the pro netters. These are the guys that have the political, business and economic clout to put up a decent fight. These guys are spending massive amounts of their own money to wage a battle against "them that hang from trees" (thanks Webby;D).

Recreational fishers of themselves dont have it and cant cut it - thats why collectively many of us have cast our lot with TFPQ - because these guys also have the political clout necessary - but its not a one front battle. It is being fought on different fronts because it needs to be. MBAA are non politically aligned and so can go places where TFPQ cant.

At the end of the day its the old axiom - "he who is the enemy of my enemy is my friend"

Lets win the war before we decide who gets the spoils.

Adam

[kc]

Just to add a Fishing Party perspective to this issue of Rec/Pro and the MBAA.

TFPQ understands, but does not necessarily agree with the non-political positioning of MBAA. We are happy to provide support from the sidelines and also continue to play our own role in the political process. As we get votes, we gain influence and the next Federal election will see a lot more of TFPQ in the mainstream press.

Our relationship with commercial fishing is and always will be a bit strained.

We recognise the rights of everyone to buy "our" fish in "our" shops. Non-fishers should be able to access Australian seafood and this needs to be caught by Commercial fishers. In respect of access issues and the drive to exclude fishing....all fishing...we have common ground.

Where we have, and continue to have problems is fishing practices which we believe are unsustainable. These include the deliberate targeting of billfish, inshore beam and otter board trawling (with its unavoidable by-catch) and the big issue of seafood exports (while we are force fed imported catfish).

There is a clear argument for ROFA's in high-density population areas, just as there should be a counter argument for commercial only zones. We support science, which determines commercial catch quotas, just as rec fishing is controlled by bag limits so too should the commercial catch be capped on all regulated finfish.

So Darryl while many in the rec fishing community take a view that all pro's should get the "punt" it is not something TFPQ can support. Better off management regimes which do not condense fishing pressure (zonings) and ensure sustainability. It's a balancing act, but to take the view that Mrs Jones can no longer buy local fish at the local fish shop because rec fishing closed down commercial access to the Bay is not a position we could live with.

TFPQ is the political voice of the recreational fishing movement. QSIA is the voice of the commercial fishing industry...they, like MBAA are apolitical. It remains to be seen which form of "lobbying" has the most influence.
TFPQ is not the enemy of the commercial industry but nor are we "mates". Perhaps "strange bedfellows" is an apt term.

Hope this makes some sense.

Regards

KC

[Matt_Campbell]

Its interesting that you blokes are happy to be on the same side as commercial fishers now to "help save the bay". At least Darryl is standing firm about his convictions no matter how ill-informed and ridiculous they are. You other blokes are hypocrites as far as I'm concerned. Its laughable that you would stand together with pros now but fight to have them removed at a later date. No wonder the rec fishing community is seen as a poor excuse for a lobby group.

[webby]

Well Matt and Darryl if your so Gun Hoo, why not get off your collective butts and get something rolling on behalf of the Rec's.
Too many are full of talk and no action.
regards

[PinHead]

Its interesting that you blokes are happy to be on the same side as commercial fishers now to "help save the bay". At least Darryl is standing firm about his convictions no matter how ill-informed and ridiculous they are. You other blokes are hypocrites as far as I'm concerned. Its laughable that you would stand together with pros now but fight to have them removed at a later date. No wonder the rec fishing community is seen as a poor excuse for a lobby group.

Maybe you need to read a little further...if you look through some of my other threads, I have always stated that commercial fishing will always be here...the majority of people do not fish yet nutritionists espouse how good fish is..so where do they buy it? From fish shops..simple.
Yes, I would stand with the pros to ensure there are no closures in the Bay...and yes...they should still be able to work but with sustainable methods...there will always be commercial fishers. As for Darryl's comment stating "his" fish..I am wondering where he got ownership from...if he means that the fish belong to all the population then don't the people that don't fish still have a right to eat fish ??

[Matt_Campbell]

Webby
I'm happy to align myself with the MBAA. My point was that whenever there is a threat from the environmental groups, rec fishers will forget their opposition to commercial fishing and stand together with them. However, once the threat goes rec fishers will again whinge and moan about commercial fishing and want them out of the bay. That is hypocritical. You're a smart bloke, surely you can see that as well?

Rec fishers are up in arms about being excluded from the Bay and are willing to fight. It makes me laugh that when the green threat goes, rec fishers are going to try and oust commercial fishers from the Bay even though they fought side-by-side on this issue. Its a disgrace, I reckon. Just my opinion for what its worth.
Matt

[DR]

'united we stand, divided we fall'

as stated somewhere in the thread, regardless of feelings towards each other we have to stick together to try & save the bay for us to use. if we try to do it as individual entities, fighting each other as well, you may as well put all your fishing gear in the For Sale section now & go & find yourself a golfing site ...
This needs to be sorted out first, then worry about pros..

[Darryl]

As for Darryl's comment stating "his" fish..I am wondering where he got ownership from...if he means that the fish belong to all the population then don't the people that don't fish still have a right to eat fish ??

I'm sorry Pinhead I did not mean just "my' fish it is our fish in the Bay just like everyone outside who doesn't have fish wants to be able to buy there own seafood but you can't tell me that all those people out there are eating local seafood! People are still going to be eating seafood no matter where it comes from. Yeah people want it to be local but do you think that is going to stop them eating it???? SEVENTY PER CENT of the seafood sold is imported so don't go on to me about people having a right to eat local seafood. THere is barely any of it around!!! It's the bloody asians that are making the killing.
I think you should all think about the fact that alligning ourselves now with the comms is shooting ourselves in the foot. I'm sure our plight would be well supported by fishing tackle and boating suppliers and we don't need the comms money. I agree that they need to make a livelihood and still be out there but there are places they shouldn't be and it's taking away from OUR (happy pinhead) rights as fishermen! How ridiuclous will we look if after this porcess is done we then start bitching and moaning about commercial fishermen again and wanting them out. Do you think anyone will listen to us then???? NO! It's our chance to allign with the people who matter and that is not the commercials. We can win without them.

[Shane_78]

'united we stand, divided we fall'

as stated somewhere in the thread, regardless of feelings towards each other we have to stick together to try & save the bay for us to use. if we try to do it as individual entities, fighting each other as well, you may as well put all your fishing gear in the For Sale section now & go & find yourself a golfing site ...
This needs to be sorted out first, then worry about pros..

United we stand with comms and then what? We turn on them and try and get them out of areas in the Bay? This review only happens once every 10 years and who is going to take notice of us after us alligning ourselves with the ones we hate most? No one. We can still fight united without the comms. We have bait and tackle, boat suppliers why do we need the comms? We should be open and truthful about our agenda in the Bay or we'll never be taken seriously as a group! Compared to the comms we don't do much damage to the Bay so why should we align ourselves with the ones who do and who the greens will be gunning for? If they have so much money let them fight their own battle and we'll do ours without them. United we stand is how we need to look at. United as recreational fishers that is. We can win this. We have a right to fish in the Bay and we can prove that without 'em.

[DR]

United we stand with comms and then what? We turn on them and try and get them out of areas in the Bay? This review only happens once every 10 years and who is going to take notice of us after us alligning ourselves with the ones we hate most? No one. We can still fight united without the comms. We have bait and tackle, boat suppliers why do we need the comms? We should be open and truthful about our agenda in the Bay or we'll never be taken seriously as a group! Compared to the comms we don't do much damage to the Bay so why should we align ourselves with the ones who do and who the greens will be gunning for? If they have so much money let them fight their own battle and we'll do ours without them. United we stand is how we need to look at. United as recreational fishers that is. We can win this. We have a right to fish in the Bay and we can prove that without 'em.

if it was done properly, & we had a gov. with some balls,(neither major party has ) they would ban exporting OUR fish. they would also ban importing inferior crap.
this would cut the need for so many greedy commercial fishermen. My personal feelings are to take it one step at a time, get rid of the green problem first, then worry about the pros.
do you seriously think that the recreational fishos as a group can defeat both the environmentalists & the pros at the same time..not going to happen, you might have a bunch of supportive people on here & those that support TFPQ. they are just a drop in the bucket to what would be needed. In time you may have all the support required, but by then it will be too late & you will not get back what you have already lost..you know what they say " keep your friends close, but your enemies closer"

[bob_newbie]

Hi fellas. I just moved here from the south... looks like a controversial time to be arriving. (Sigh) I hate it that the average joe now has to become involved in political crap just so he can keep his rights to fish...
I hate to agree with extreme anti-comm (Darryl) but I've seen it in the south too. Recs will never be united with comms happily and therefore they are doomed to fall. If you can keep support together without the comms and keep yourselves backed then you are much more likely to succeed. Rec fishers can succeed as we are the ones being injusticed by this saga. If we align ourselves with the big guns (like Bruce Alvey) then we have a much better chance then with the comms. I guarantee you the comms are the ones that people are going to be gunning for. Why should someone target the honest blokes who just want to take their children out on the tinnie to catch a fish for supper?

[PinHead]

Okay Darryl...what does "it is the Asians who are making the killing" have to do with this. You have lost me on that one.

My suggestion for you Darryl is to go and join the Greens...they want the commercial fishos out also. I have no problem with commercial fishos at all....they have a RIGHT to carry on their legal business also...hopefully they will devise and use more sustainable methods. I do not have the RIGHT to try and force someone out of their business. There is always talk of rights..how about some talk about responsibilites...such as the responsibility in a democratic country to allow others to carry on their lawful business without trying to destroy them. If you are so anti commercial fishing then go and make them all an offer for their licenses then once you have them all then you can do what you want..as in not use them. Until then I believe they can continue. Too many people have been thrown out of their businesses due to beaurocratic whims in recent times. Before long we will all just end up working for some huge corporations and they will all be similar...damn that sounds just like a socialist country to me...I will pass on that one thanks.

[dazza]

Hi all,
some interesting points.
There will never be harmony between rec and commercial fishers, but i believe this issue is bigger than the 2 groups
i did a quick google and every article i read expousing the benefits of closing areas to ALL fishing aligns both commercial and rec sectors
below is a small bit from an anti fishing article specifically relating to moreton bay

With 3% of the Queensland coast we are harvesting 20% of the commercial catch and an estimated 300,000 recreational fisher frequent the Bay.

those that want us out don't differentiate between the 2 groups.
the greenies etc, couldn't be more happy that rec and commercial sectors are at odds, divide and conquer.

i am not a huge fan of some commercial fishing practices, i also believe that people should be able to eat fresh seafood (not imported crap) but we won't pay the prices exporters pay. its called a market

imho for our common survival we need to be together on this one, then once sorted i believe both sectors need to have a hard look at sustainability of catch etc

cheers
dazza

[webby]

Im all for the reduction in the commerical harvest from the Bay, but the problem is if you dont align with the Commerical, you start loosing the support of the Marketing and Seafood Industry sectors and with this will come the infighting and cat fights and at present this is what we dont wont.
We need a united front till this fight is over, then sort the problem out about reducing the harvest from the bay.
I've been out with a couple of the Bay trawlers and even did a write up on them.
They no that some of lively hoods are on the line, and they are working in conjunction with fisheries in trying to reduce their by catch, so its not as if their turning a blind eye to the situation, they no if they cannot improve their harvest and reduced the by catch their businesses are on the line.
They also no their are a few rogues out their amongst them, and believe me every effort is being done to reduce these rogues.
regards

[Luc]

Have to agree with Webby.

There's a place for both recs and comms and the access to the bay is best handled as a united front with ALL industries that have a stake in the bay.

Like recreational practices, commercial practices are changing for the better of the industry. Correct management and looking after the environment (polution, over development of foreshores, sustainable practices, etc) is what is needed.

Both camps have their share of cowboys and both camps want then out.

We want real decisions based on real science. Not pseudo science and outright lies.

Luc

[Darryl]

Okay Darryl...what does "it is the Asians who are making the killing" have to do with this. You have lost me on that one.
legal business also... I do not have the RIGHT to try and force someone out of their business. There is always talk of rights..how about some talk about responsibilites...such as the responsibility in a democratic country to allow others to carry on their lawful business

Interesting that you talk about legal rights Pinhead. I wouldn't want them out of the Bay if they were following the rules and being LEGAL however anyone who has seen those guys out there with their nets knows that what they are doing is not legal! I don't want them out of all areas of the bay and I know everyone deserves the right to a living but it has to be LEGAL and a loto f the things those guys are doing are not legal. Especially when we get started on netting... And yes when people go out with them they follow by the book but it's what you see when they don't think your looking that m,akes me so mad. You wouldn't by any chance be a commy yourself pinhead would you? Certainly explains a lot. And if people say "we'll get them later" then that's a load of crap. We'll continue to mutter to ourselves about the bloody comms and there unsustainable, illegal (yes sometimes illegal) use of the bay yet will never be able to do it anything about it becasue we are all to gutless.

[Darryl]

Okay Darryl...what does "it is the Asians who are making the killing" have to do with this. You have lost me on that one.



My point pinhead (gee I wonder why you call yourself that:D) is that when I go to my local shop I only see asian seafood.

[straddie]

Heya Darryl

Gee if you think pinhead is a pro wait till you get me started you'll think I drive 3 trawlers at once while running out long lines and beach nets at the same time.

But if we are going to throw accusations around, is it just me or does anyone else think Darryl and Shane_78 are the same person or at the very least two mates sitting beside each other on the same computer. Come on fess up Darryl/Shane_78 you're a troll.

I'd be interested to know what fish the pro's are stopping you from catching in the bay? Or share with us what the pro's are doing when we aren't looking?

Just for the record I support sustainable fishing in whatever it takes. If it can be shown certain commercial or recreational fishing is unsustainable then it needs to be changed so that is so or phased out.

[Moonlighter]

I’ll respond on behalf of MBAA to state for the record our position on the issues raised in this forum.

Who really is MBAA and what do they stand for?
The Moreton Bay Access Alliance is a non-politically aligned group whose aim is to ensure that the zoning arrangements that come out of the current review meets environmental objectives whilst not diminishing access to commercial, indigenous, tourism and family recreational fishing and boating activities. We are working inside the process with Government (the EPA, State Development and Fisheries) and other stakeholder groups to achieve this goal.

MBAA and our members acknowledge the important role that is played by the MBMP in ensuring that the Bay is sustainable into the future. After all, our members’ lifestyles and businesses directly depend on the Bay and we, more than any other group, are 100% committed to looking after its health so it can be enjoyed by our children and families in the future.

Why work together?
MBAA was formed when our stakeholder groups finally realised that only by being united and putting aside old traditional rivalries can we really achieve a real impact on these reviews. In the past, it has been too easy for those groups who want see 30 – 50% closures everywhere to play one group off against the other. For recreational fishers, it’s been even worse because we have not had the degree of organisation nor the resources available to take the issues up with Government any where near as effectively as other groups.

I respect the rights of people to take opposing views, but I would ask a question of those who think that recreational anglers should go it alone: that approach has been tried before and it has failed every time, so why would this time be any different? MBAA believes a new approach is needed, and that’s why we’ve come together. Whilst it’s a cliché, the big picture is what counts. Further, you’ve only got to look at the last Qld election to see what happens when you bicker amongst yourselves and can’t present a united, credible alternative. Your make your opponents’ job that much easier, it's as simple as that.

Our stakeholder organisations:
Include Australian National Sportsfishing Assn, the Boating Industry Assn of Qld, Charter Boats Association, the Eco-Tourism Industry, Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association, Power Boat Anglers, Qld Industry of Recreation Fishing, Qld Seafood Industry Assn, Redlands Boat Club, Seafood Lovers Australia and Seafood Marketers Assn and NNCH representing Traditional Owners. Whilst we represent these different groups, I can say with 100% certainty that when we meet our focus is totally on the big picture and the collective good.

Benefits of the Alliance for Recreational Fishers
The strengths of this alliance are numerous, but looking at it from a recreational angler’s perspective the following points are worth considering:


MBAA members have agreed that there will be no decisions taken or positions advocated by MBAA that we don’t ALL support. One in, all in!
The commercial and industry associations have been gathering data and information on Moreton Bay for many years, and they have readily agreed that they will share and make available this information to benefit all groups, and they have backed this up with action. This is data that the rec sector could never have accessed or gathered itself without the goodwill of these groups.
The established reputation and credibility that MBSIA has with the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation was critical in our application for funding for our major research project being successful, especially given the tight timeframe in which the application had to be prepared, a research team put together and the application submitted. In fact it’s fair to say that without MBSIA and the work done by their CEO Kelly Williams, we would have had virtually no chance of getting this application in and approved in time. Facts Vs Perceptions of Commercial Fishing in the Bay in 2007.
As a recreational fisher with 35+ years fishing in the Bay behind me, serving on MBAA I have learnt more about commercial fishing in the last 10 months than I care to admit, and I can say with certainty that it has changed dramatically in the past 20 years – it’s a bit like comparing modern farming practices with the old days, there’s light-years of difference.

I have a new respect for them, they have improved their act up to the point that they now have award-winning and internationally recognised environmental management plans, effort limits and strategies are in place that have, amongst other things, dramatically reduced bycatch and injuries to endangered species – and they’ve done this off their own bat because they know that the Bay fishery needs to be long-term sustainable for them to stay in business and be able to pass it on to their children.


Facts Vs Perceptions of Commercial Fishing in the Bay in 2007.
If you are interested in testing facts against your perceptions of commercial fishing in the Bay, at the monthly meeting of the Redlands Boat Club in April, we have done the unprecedented and invited a professional fisherman and MBAA member John Page to come along and talk to our members about commercial fishing in the Bay in 2007, and to answer many questions that us rec types will have.

If any Ausfish contributors would like to attend to hear John’s talk, visitors are welcome – just turn up to the RBC building at 1 William St Cleveland at 7:30pm on Monday 23 April – all we ask is that you listen, ask relevant questions and remember that John is our guest.

How Can Rec Anglers Help re the Marine Park Review?
MBAA’s major research project is about to get underway and the research team tell me that they will have a comprehensive rec angler survey ready to go so that we can get it to you at the Tinnie and Tackle Show in Brisbane from 30 March to 1 April.

Come to the MBAA stand at te Tinnie and Tackle show and fill in the survey, you will be helping us to develop the best case possible to put forward to the Government during this review.

Finally, any questions anyone has about MBAA can best be answered by sending an eial to us at mbaa@biaq.com. We will respond to you directly of if there are common questions, we will put a posy up here on Ausfish.

Regards

Grant Bennett
Deputy Chair, MBAA

[Darryl]

Heya Darryl

Or share with us what the pro's are doing when we aren't looking?

Just for the record I support sustainable fishing in whatever it takes. If it can be shown certain commercial or recreational fishing is unsustainable then it needs to be changed so that is so or phased out.

Straddie, the problem with commercial fishing in the Bay is that when the authorities come out to check them out they are doing everything by the book. The 'law' in the Bay are lazy bastards that work 9-5 and can't be assed waiting for the tide to subside to see how sustainable the fisheries are.
YOu want an example of what the commercial fisherman are doing that is illegal? Why don't you head down to the entrance of pummicestone passage and see it for yourself? THose guys are out there with their tunnel nets and are supposed to be sorting the bycatch fish in the water and disposing of them there. Do you think they do? NO They haul them ALL up on the boat with the target species and place them in the ice then throw the non target species off the side. Are they still alive? NO. One in every three fish are kept.
Before you guys allign yourselves with these bastards take a reality check and think about what you are really getting yourselves into. Just because there policies say that they do one thing doesn't mean they don't do another thing when peoples backs are turned.
And as for your attack on me being 2 members if thats what you need to say to make others believe I'm the lone one against the commercials then knock yourself out. I'm not alone in my opinions and I certainly don't need to be two people or have my friend on the forum with me to make my point.
If the commies fished legally in Bay and always followed the rules then I would have no problems with there presnce in the bay and I would no problems with being on there side but I refuse to be on the side of cheaters who are taking away our fish just so they can make an extra buck by not following the rules that they insist they abide by. The Moreton Bay Access Alliance is a great idea without the commercials. When there with us we are just cop outs and as long as they keep doing what they are doing in the bay there will always be fighting within as a lot of recs have seen them with there own eyes.

[kc]

Grant makes a good fist of this and it is important to demonstrate just how “we” fit into the picture, or at least how we see ourselves fitting in.

The involvement of organised and co-ordinated lobbying in the fisheries and environmental management is taking a leaf from the environmental lobby.
Just as the various arms or “pieces of the pie” of the environmental lobby are “apolitical”, groups such as the Wilderness Society, WWF, Queensland Conservation Council, National Parks Association and AMCS, so too should MBAA remain apolitical (to a degree).

What the greens have, within their broad church of lobby groups, is a political arm. A group whose job is to gather votes and trade politically for a better deal (and access for the lobby groups)
It is the job of the varied arms of the environmentalist to do the work, lodge the submissions, sit on the various industry councils and advisory boards, not the political wing. You will notice on any advisory board there are no representatives of the political system but most certainly representatives of the various lobby groups who are in turn supported by the influence of the votes gathered by their political wing.

Some may have noticed the “square up” which occurred after the last Federal election when the funding to many and varied environmental lobby groups was cut. The influence of the political wing, the Greens, was no longer as important.

So, as we evolve and learn the lessons of 25 years of environmental activism and political influence where are “we”

In our “pie” we have QSIA, Sunfish, Sunfish NQ, Recfish and now, most certainly MBAA.
We have TFPQ, which has now demonstrated, both federally and at a state level, that it can muster 7% of the vote.
TFPQ has, in the last 3 years, tried to be all things. It has written the submissions, sat on the panels and tried to be lobbyists. All we should be doing is working on maximising votes, which in turn empower the lobby groups.
In political circles we have had very significant results in areas which are of little interest to average fishos and little interest to the lobby groups. Things like the changing of the law in respect of mandatory criminal convictions for fishing offences and the structural adjustment payouts to businesses affected by rezonings.

It was described to me at the start of all “this” that ultimately, and to use the exact analogy. This is a bit like a BBQ. The peak bodies and lobbyists are the BBQ plate. They do the work, they, to some degree get the headlines and the kudos and the party is the fire underneath. The more heat (votes) we can provide the better the plate can do its job.

Personally, I am delighted to see MBAA taking the lead on the Bay. They have a good cross section of representation. A well respected chair in Bruce Alvey and, I would like to think, some understanding of the level of influence they have being linked to the growing political activism of the fishing industry.

Had TFPQ not been active would Andrew Laming have started the ball rolling with MBAA in the first place? Would we have the current profile of fishing and the bays rezoning? Would fishing be news? Take as a case in point the boat rally. MBAA did all the work, we did our bit getting politics (and politicians) involved…they bring the press and TFPQ gets their head on every TV station (even though they interviewed others) and the rezoning issue is news.

Look at Traveston Dam….the local Dam Busters do the work and organising, Bob Brown shows up with the media circus, Dam Busters get the publicity and images and Bob Brown does the sound bites for TV. That’s how it works!!!

As has been pointed out. We are in this together, even if some refuse to understand this. I have had a few discussions with QSIA who just don't get it. I have had similar talks with other groups who absolutely do! I have had a good chat with Bruce Alvey who was amazingly illinformed about the facts of the NQ experience but at the same time totally open to new opinion and ideas. The whole, rec pro thing will be a debate which never goes away and I am sure there is often disagreements within the broad church of the environmental lobby but this has not stopped them being enormously effective, at our expense.
TFPQ can stand by its policy statement since day 1. We oppose any form of fishing which is unsustainable. If that is unsustainable rec pressure OR commercial pressure then we oppose it.

There are going to be disagreements, head buts and growing pains along the way……..for sure, but as at right now, the fishing “movement” is a whole lot different to what it was 3 years ago when the reef was rezoned and public input into the process ignored.
This will not happen in the Bay.

Support MBAA as the peak body representing your rights on the Bay and, far more importantly working on the inside.
No such opportunity ever existed when the reef was rezoned. The environmental lobby had a ring side seat but fishing was absolutely excluded.

TFPQ will do its bit come election time. We will again gather enough votes to determine who wins the last Senate seat in Qld and this in turn empowers the fishing industry and it’s lobbyists. If we have learnt one thing it is to lobby without offering something in return is really just begging. Votes are the only thing that matters to a politician. It is not about right, wrong, just or fair. It is always about votes and staying in power.

This will be an interesting ride for the next few years. Either the start of significant change or the beginning of the end for fishing, both as an industry and recreation.
They can not do again what they have already done to North Queensland.

KC

[Reel Magic]

That is the wrong attitude I'm afraid Darryl,

The pro and the recreational fisherman NEED to stand united on this front, if we fight amongst ourselves then what chance have we got of beating the pollies to keep the bay open.

The MBAA consists of Trevor Higgins the commodore of the Redlands boat club,
Bruce Alvey, Owner of Alvey Reels, I think Andrew Laming was a part of that too.

Regard's..

[bob_newbie]

Geez this topic is getting pretty heated! I think everyone needs to take a step back and calm down :) We are all on the same side... but I wonder if that will still be the case when the zoning comes out and us recs have more access then the comms. Will we still be united and fight just for the comms or will we break and just concentrate on the areas we want to keep? I know a lot of Darryls out there and unfortunately they are not a minority! I've never seen comms and recs work together so excuse me for being skeptical of this working...

[bob_newbie]

P.S. Maybe darryl should attend the meeting with the commercial fisherman and challenge him directly...???

[straddie]

Heya Darryl


If the commies fished legally in Bay and always followed the rules
Tell me of any group that always follows the rules? politicians? priests? There is always a small percentage that will always play by their own rules when no one is watching.

By your benchmark why would anyone align with us recs? Take a look on any jetty and watch the undersize fish getting stuffed into bags, check out some of the over bags being brought in at boat ramps or have a read of the shamateurs thread in the general section. We all have our bad eggs but on the whole most of us rec, pro or whoever do the right thing.

This is about retaining access to the bay against a group that given the chance would lock up everything, and stop fishing of every kind. Regardless of what you, I or anyone else says all groups wanting to retain access to the bay will mount a defence. Don't you think it would be better potential outcome if there was unified defence of that access by all stake holders?.

[435_Mark]

Who is this DILL!!!???? "Darryl" sounds to me like a greenies dream. The pro's do this.... The pro's do that. What a load of rubbish. Will the moderator do us all a favour and give the goose the flick, Please!!

[mod5]

Who is this DILL!!!???? "Darryl" sounds to me like a greenies dream. The pro's do this.... The pro's do that. What a load of rubbish. Will the moderator do us all a favour and give the goose the flick, Please!!


Everyone is entitled to their view

[BR65]

Interesting thread.
Maybe more interesting that so far there are 5 new members posting on this??