Reply With QuoteApril 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,
