Rec Fishing Trust funds for forsaken fish

[Jim_Tait]

Fellow fishers,

One thing than rec fishers could do to defuse political pressure directed at us from the more extreme or irrational margins (every group has them) of green lobby power, would be to get our own runs on the board in terms of fish / habitat conservation efforts. One specific initiative that I would like to engage support for is increased, targeted expenditure of rec fishing trust funds for research, breeding and stocking programs for endangered fish species – especially what I call 'forsaken fish' i.e. ones that the rec fishers once loved but have had to give up because they're now listed as endangered and off bounds - Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod being top of the list. Some stocking effort is already going with Trout Cod but we need to go much further. I believe we should be pushing for an active program that aims to have these species sufficiently recovered to be available to recreational fisheries (perhaps only catch and release) within ten years.

It is one way to defuse the criticism of greenies - rec fishers paying for the rehabilitation of endangered species. It is not a new concept - the hunting fraternity in the US paid for the recovery of the Pronghorn antelope (once endangered) which today is an actively hunted species again - no reason why we can’t do the same with endangered fish. In fact unless resources sourced from recreational fisheries are used to help recover the species I would suggest that the chances that rec fishers will get access to recovered populations in the future may be pretty slim.

If you live in NSW, Vic or ACT and want to support the idea that more rec trust funds should be used for endangered fish programs, I have developed three sets of form letters (below) for members in NSW, Victoria and the ACT (the range of the species concerned). They are all subtly different so make sure you use the one that is appropriate to your state. One letter is addressed to the relevant minister, the other to the Chair or ED of the recreational fishing trust fund committee. In the case of the ACT there is only a letter to the Environment Minister as they don’t have fishing licenses or associated trust funds.

Feel free to use the letters as drafts and to add or subtract the points that you think need greater emphasis. The letter to the Rec fishing trust fund committees will be most effective if they come from angling clubs rather than individuals and I would encourage members of fishing clubs to download a copy to take to their club for consideration for sending out under club secretary signatures.

It would be good to keep a track of this campaign if it gets going so if individuals or clubs send off form letters please log back in to say you have done so and also to notify of any responses received.

Here’s hoping to a successful campaign and that we all get to see a Macca smash a lure or an arked up Trout Cod in a clear upland river before we kark it of old age ???.

Best regards and tight lines – Jim Tait.

PS - You will probably have to reformat the letter i.e. bullet points etc to spruce it up after you cut and paste it from the Ausfish forum into a word document

[Jim_Tait]

April 2005
Your Address

Ian MacDonald
Minister for Primary Industries
Minister responsible for Fisheries
Level 30 Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney
NSW 2000

Email: office@macdonald.minister.nsw.gov.au
Fax : (02) 9228 3452

Dear Minister,

RE: Expenditure of Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust Funds on Endangered Fish of Recreational Importance (Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod).

In reviewing past priorities and proposed commitments of Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust Funds in NSW it concerns me greatly that the recovery of endangered fish species that previously formed an important part of the freshwater recreational fishery in NSW have not been a priority for trust fund expenditure. I am specifically concerned about Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod and appreciate that while some departmental resources have been directed at the latter they have been inadequate and poorly targeted in terms of achieving a successful outcome.

Macquarie Perch were an important freshwater recreational species in NSW until the mid eighties before populations underwent major collapse and range reduction. This species continued to be an important recreational species until more recently in Victoria where they are now undergoing a similar pattern of collapse. The species is now critically endangered across its range. Funding priorities for the species include:

• Establishing a breeding and stocking program (there are currently no government agency breeding and/or stocking programs in Australia despite the demonstration of promising new techniques by poorly funded community organisations)
• Research competitive interactions with introduced species (particularly trout which continue to be stocked and supported by agency programs within the range of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod)
• Susceptibility to EHN virus (particularly its possible role in the species demise – a key research questioned unanswered)
• Taxonomy and genetic studies (to establish breeding stocks)
• The conservation and recreational fishery merits of translocated populations.

Additional funds also need to be committed to Trout Cod, specifically:

• The development of stocking strategies that deliver greater success than have been realised to date for example, the trialling of older (1+) year class stocking is warranted.
• Researching competitive interactions with introduced species (again primarily trout – no specific research on this key issue has been undertaken).
• Establishing flow / temperate regime requirements for natural breeding / recruitment success.

The high level of interest that exists for both these species in the angling community is not currently reflected in Rec Trust Fund expenditure or Departmental programs generally. The potential recreational fishery benefits that would be associated with the successful recovery of these species can be gauged by looking at the fishery success associated with the breeding and stocking of other native species i.e. Bass, Murray Cod and Yellow Belly all of which are gaining increasing popularity in comparison to exotic salmonid species.

The recovery of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod should be pursued under a departmental goal driven policy (supported by concomitant resources) of making these species ‘available’ (within constraints as deemed necessary) to the recreational fishery within ten years. It is a concern to recreational fishers that unless these species are actively recovered for the recreational fishery using adequate recreational fishery resources their future value will only be realised in terms of biodiversity conservation and only small protected populations will be maintained.

It is noted that through the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 the Commonwealth Government is currently establishing a national recovery plan for Macquarie Perch. I ask that you use this recovery plan as an opportunity to work with your Ministerial Colleagues in the Victorian and ACT Governments to work toward the urgent and complete recovery of the species to the recreational fishery.

I look forward to your response and action on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

--------------------------------------------

April 2005
Your Address

Bruce Schumacher
Chairperson Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFFTEC)
C/- Manager-Recreational Fisheries
Department of Primary Industries
PO Box 21
CRONULLA NSW 2230

Email: bryan.vanderwalt@fisheries.nsw.gov.au
Fax : (02) 9527 8536


Dear Mr Schumacher,

RE: Expenditure of Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust Funds on Endangered Fish of Recreational Importance (Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod).

In reviewing past priorities and proposed commitments of Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust Funds in NSW it concerns me greatly that the recovery of endangered fish species that previously formed an important part of the freshwater recreational fishery in NSW have not been a priority for trust fund expenditure. I am specifically concerned about Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod and appreciate that while some Recreational Fishing Trust Fund resources have been directed at the latter it has been inadequate and poorly targeted in terms of achieving the successful recovery of the species.

Macquarie Perch were an important freshwater recreational species in NSW until the mid eighties before populations underwent major collapse and range reduction. This species continued to be an important recreational species until more recently in Victoria where they are now undergoing a similar pattern of collapse. The species is now critically endangered across its range. Funding priorities for the species include:

• Establishing a breeding and stocking program (there are currently no government agency breeding and/or stocking programs in Australia despite the demonstration of promising new techniques by poorly funded community organisations)
• Research competitive interactions with introduced species (particularly trout which continue to be stocked and supported by agency programs within the range of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod)
• Susceptibility to EHN virus (particularly its possible role in the species demise – a key research questioned unanswered)
• Taxonomy and genetic studies (to establish breeding stocks)
• The conservation and recreational fishery merits of translocated populations.

Additional funds also need to be committed to Trout Cod, specifically:

• The development of stocking strategies that deliver greater success than have been realised to date for example, the trialling of older (1+) year class stocking is warranted.
• Researching competitive interactions with introduced species (again primarily trout – no specific research on this key issue has been undertaken).
• Establishing flow / temperate regime requirements for natural breeding / recruitment success.

The high level of interest that exists for both these species in the angling community is not currently reflected in Rec Trust Fund expenditure. The potential recreational fishery benefits that would be associated with the successful recovery of these species can be gauged by looking at the fishery success associated with the breeding and stocking of other native species i.e. Bass, Murray Cod and Yellow Belly all of which are gaining increasing popularity in comparison to exotic salmonid species.

The recovery of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod should be pursued under a recreational fishery goal driven policy (supported by concomitant resources) of making these species ‘available’ (within constraints as deemed necessary) to the recreational fishery within ten years. It is a concern to recreational fishers that unless these species are actively recovered for the recreational fishery using adequate resources sourced from the recreational fishery their future value will only be realised in terms of biodiversity conservation and only small protected populations will be maintained.

I look forward to your response and action on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Jim_Tait]

April 2005
Your Address

Bob Cameron
Minister for Agriculture.
GPO Box 4440,
Melbourne
Vic 3001

Email: bob.cameron@parliament.vic.gov.au
Fax : (03) 9658 4631

Dear Minister,

RE: Expenditure of Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Funds on Endangered Fish of Recreational Importance (Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod).

In reviewing past priorities and proposed commitments of Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust Funds in Victoria it concerns me greatly that the recovery of endangered fish species that previously formed an important part of the freshwater recreational fishery in Victoria have not been a priority for trust fund expenditure. I am specifically concerned about Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod and appreciate that while some departmental resources have been directed at these species it has been inadequate and poorly targeted in terms of achieving a successful outcome.

Macquarie Perch were an important freshwater recreational species in Victoria until recent decades when populations have been observed to undergo major collapse and range reduction. This species was also important recreationally in NSW up until the mid eighties when its numbers in that State also collapsed. The species is now critically endangered across its range. Funding priorities for the species include:

• Establishing a breeding and stocking program (there are currently no government agency breeding and/or stocking programs in Australia despite the demonstration of promising new techniques by poorly funded community organisations)
• Research competitive interactions with introduced species (particularly trout which continue to be stocked and supported by agency programs within the range of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod)
• Susceptibility to EHN virus (particularly its possible role in the species demise – a key research questioned unanswered)
• Taxonomy and genetic studies (to establish breeding stocks)
• The conservation and recreational fishery merits of translocated populations.

Additional funds also need to be committed to Trout Cod, specifically:

• The development of stocking strategies that deliver greater success than have been realised to date for example, the trialling of older (1+) year class stocking is warranted.
• Researching competitive interactions with introduced species (again primarily trout – no specific research on this key issue has been undertaken).
• Establishing flow / temperate regime requirements for natural breeding / recruitment success.

The high level of interest that exists for both these species in the angling community is not currently reflected in Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Fund expenditure or Departmental programs generally. The potential recreational fishery benefits that would be associated with the successful recovery of these species can be gauged by looking at the fishery success associated with the breeding and stocking of other native species i.e. Murray Cod and Yellow Belly both of which are gaining increasing popularity in comparison to exotic salmonid species.

The recovery of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod should be pursued under a departmental goal driven policy (supported by concomitant resources) of making these species ‘available’ (within constraints as deemed necessary) to the recreational fishery within ten years. It is a concern to recreational fishers that unless these species are actively recovered for the recreational fishery using adequate recreational fishery resources their future value will only be realised in terms of biodiversity conservation and only small protected populations will be maintained.

It is noted that through the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 the Commonwealth Government is currently establishing a national recovery plan for Macquarie Perch. I ask that you use this recovery plan as an opportunity to work with your Ministerial Colleagues in the NSW and ACT Governments to work toward the urgent and complete recovery of the species to the recreational fishery.

I look forward to your response and action on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

--------------------------------------------
April 2005
Your Address

Mr Robert Krix,
Executive Officer,
FRAC,
PO Box 500
East Melbourne
Victoria 3002

Email: robert.krix@dpi.vic.gov.au
Fax : (03) 9412 5731

Dear Mr Krix,

RE: Expenditure of Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Funds on Endangered Fish of Recreational Importance (Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod).

In reviewing past priorities and proposed commitments of Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust Funds in Victoria it concerns me greatly that the recovery of endangered fish species that previously formed an important part of the freshwater recreational fishery in Victoria have not been a priority for trust fund expenditure. I am specifically concerned about Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod and appreciate that while some RFL Trust resources may have indirectly benefited these species it has been inadequate in terms of providing for their successful recovery.

Macquarie Perch were an important freshwater recreational species in Victoria until recent decades when populations have been observed to undergo major collapse and range reduction. This species was also important recreationally in NSW up until the mid eighties when its numbers in that State also collapsed. The species is now critically endangered across its range. Funding priorities for the species include:

• Establishing a breeding and stocking program (there are currently no government agency breeding and/or stocking programs in Australia despite the demonstration of promising new techniques by poorly funded community organisations)
• Research competitive interactions with introduced species (particularly trout which continue to be stocked and supported by agency programs within the range of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod)
• Susceptibility to EHN virus (particularly its possible role in the species demise – a key research questioned unanswered)
• Taxonomy and genetic studies (to establish breeding stocks)
• The conservation and recreational fishery merits of translocated populations.

Additional funds also need to be committed to Trout Cod, specifically:

• The development of stocking strategies that deliver greater success than have been realised to date for example, the trialling of older (1+) year class stocking is warranted.
• Researching competitive interactions with introduced species (again primarily trout – no specific research on this key issue has been undertaken).
• Establishing flow / temperate regime requirements for natural breeding / recruitment success.

The high level of interest that exists for both these species in the angling community is not currently reflected in Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Fund expenditure. The potential recreational fishery benefits that would be associated with the successful recovery of these species can be gauged by looking at the fishery success associated with the breeding and stocking of other native species i.e. Murray Cod and Yellow Belly both of which are gaining increasing popularity in comparison to exotic salmonid species.

The recovery of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod should be pursued under a recreational fishery goal driven policy (supported by concomitant resources) of making these species ‘available’ (within constraints as deemed necessary) to the recreational fishery within ten years. It is a concern to recreational fishers that unless these species are actively recovered for the recreational fishery using adequate resources sourced from the recreational fishery their future value will only be realised in terms of biodiversity conservation and only small protected populations will be maintained.


I look forward to your response and action on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Jim_Tait]

April 2005
Your Address

Jon Stanhope
Minister for Environment
GPO Box 1020,
Canberra
ACT 2601

Email: stanhope@act.gov.au
Fax : (02) 62050433

Dear Minister,

RE: Recovery of Endangered Fish of Recreational Importance (Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod).

It concerns me greatly that insufficient resources are being committed to the recovery of endangered fish species that previously formed an important part of the freshwater recreational fishery in the ACT. I am specifically concerned about Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod and appreciate that while some Environment ACT resources have been directed at these species it has been inadequate in terms of achieving a successful outcome.

Macquarie Perch were an important freshwater recreational species in the ACT and NSW until the mid eighties before populations underwent major collapse and range reduction. This species continued to be an important recreational species until more recently in Victoria where they are now undergoing a similar pattern of collapse. The species is now critically endangered across its range. Funding priorities for the species include:

• Establishing a breeding and stocking program (there are currently no government agency breeding and/or stocking programs in Australia despite the demonstration of promising new techniques by poorly funded community organisations)
• Research competitive interactions with introduced species (particularly trout which continue to be stocked and supported by agency programs within the range of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod)
• Susceptibility to EHN virus (particularly its possible role in the species demise – a key research questioned unanswered)
• Taxonomy and genetic studies (to establish breeding stocks)
• The conservation and recreational fishery merits of translocated populations.

Additional funds also need to be committed to Trout Cod, specifically:

• The development of stocking strategies that deliver greater success than have been realised to date for example, the trialling of older (1+) year class stocking is warranted.
• Researching competitive interactions with introduced species (again primarily trout – no specific research on this key issue has been undertaken).
• Establishing flow / temperate regime requirements for natural breeding / recruitment success.

The high level of interest that exists for both these species in the angling community is not currently reflected in ACT Environment expenditure. The potential recreational fishery benefits that would be associated with the successful recovery of these species can be gauged by looking at the fishery success associated with the breeding and stocking of other native species i.e. Murray Cod and Yellow Belly both of which are gaining increasing popularity in comparison to exotic salmonid species.

The recovery of both Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod should be pursued under a departmental goal driven policy (supported by concomitant resources) of making these species ‘available’ (within constraints as deemed necessary) to the recreational fishery within ten years. It is a concern to recreational fishers that unless these species are actively recovered for the recreational fishery using adequate resources their future value will only be realised in terms of biodiversity conservation and only small protected populations will be maintained.

It is noted that through the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 the Commonwealth Government is currently establishing a national recovery plan for Macquarie Perch. I ask that you use this recovery plan as an opportunity to work with your Ministerial Colleagues in the NSW and Victorian Governments to work toward the urgent and complete recovery of the species to the recreational fishery.

I look forward to your response and action on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Fitzy]

Hi Jim,
Good on you for taking the ball up.

Recon its a worthy cause & encourage everyone to take a few minutes to copy, print & send a letter to the relevant ppl.

Cheers,

Garry Fitzgerald