dasher
21-12-2005, 09:08 AM
Anglers reminded to remove pectoral fins
News release | 19 December, 2005
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With Christmas holidays fast approaching, anglers landing coral reef fish are being reminded to cut off the pectoral fin before icing down or freezing their catch.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Bob Koch said the pectoral fin regulation aims to prevent the black market trading of these fish.
"Clipping off the pectoral fin allows officers to distinguish between fish that have been caught by anglers and those caught for commercial trade.
"Most of the fish landed by recreational fishers in our off-shore and in-shore tidal waters are coral reef fish, so anglers must be aware of regulations or they could face fines which would make it an expensive fishing trip."
Mr Koch said pectoral fins were located on each side of a coral reef fish, however, only one fin needed to be removed.
Other regulations for recreational fishers in place for these species include:
Coral reef fish may be kept whole or gilled and gutted.
Coral reef fish may only be filleted at sea if the fillet is 40cm or greater (two fillets equal one fish).
If kept whole, fish must have a pectoral fin removed before being placed in cold storage.
Coral reef fish must not be possessed alive on a boat.
The skin or scales from a fish fillet must not be removed until it is brought ashore.
If the skin is removed from a fillet once ashore it must not be returned to the boat.
Chinese footballer (blue-spot) trout must be retained whole.
"These regulations are part of the Coral Reef Fin Fish management plan which was introduced two years ago to protect and conserve this fishery," Mr Koch said.
For more information about the rules and regulations visit the DPI&F Fishweb site at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb or phone the DPI&F Call Centre on 13 25 23.
News release | 19 December, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With Christmas holidays fast approaching, anglers landing coral reef fish are being reminded to cut off the pectoral fin before icing down or freezing their catch.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Bob Koch said the pectoral fin regulation aims to prevent the black market trading of these fish.
"Clipping off the pectoral fin allows officers to distinguish between fish that have been caught by anglers and those caught for commercial trade.
"Most of the fish landed by recreational fishers in our off-shore and in-shore tidal waters are coral reef fish, so anglers must be aware of regulations or they could face fines which would make it an expensive fishing trip."
Mr Koch said pectoral fins were located on each side of a coral reef fish, however, only one fin needed to be removed.
Other regulations for recreational fishers in place for these species include:
Coral reef fish may be kept whole or gilled and gutted.
Coral reef fish may only be filleted at sea if the fillet is 40cm or greater (two fillets equal one fish).
If kept whole, fish must have a pectoral fin removed before being placed in cold storage.
Coral reef fish must not be possessed alive on a boat.
The skin or scales from a fish fillet must not be removed until it is brought ashore.
If the skin is removed from a fillet once ashore it must not be returned to the boat.
Chinese footballer (blue-spot) trout must be retained whole.
"These regulations are part of the Coral Reef Fin Fish management plan which was introduced two years ago to protect and conserve this fishery," Mr Koch said.
For more information about the rules and regulations visit the DPI&F Fishweb site at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb or phone the DPI&F Call Centre on 13 25 23.