21 March 2003

Patrol warning for illegal bait netting of barra
Barramundi up to a metre in length are being illegally caught by people using cast nets and bait nets on the downstream side of the Bedford Weir on the Mackenzie River near Blackwater.

Department of Primary Industries Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district officer, Mike Broadsmith, Yeppoon, said the use of any netting apparatus including cast and bait nets in freshwater streams and impoundments was totally banned under the State’s Fisheries Act.

Mr Broadsmith said the reported netting activity targeting barramundi was a concern to the Patrol and to the Mackenzie River Fish Stocking Group.

Members of the 20-strong Fish Stocking Group headed by president Alan Carson had outlaid $37,000 since 1996 to stock the Bedford Weir impoundment and adjacent reaches of the Mackenzie River with 74,000 Fitzroy strain barramundi fingerlings.

Under these ideal freshwater conditions, the barramundi had grown rapidly to attain the minimum legal size of 58cm within two to three years.

Mr Broadsmith said recent flows in the Mackenzie River system had stimulated an upstream migration of large numbers of fish.

“Because there is no fish ladder on the Bedford Weir, the fish tend to congregate on the immediate downstream side of the weir wall where the bait nets are reportedly being used,” Mr Broadsmith said.

“Our regional QB&FP field officers will investigate the alleged illegal freshwater use of netting apparatus. Central Queensland anglers should also be aware that there are upstream and downstream fishing closures in place on eight Central region water storage impoundments,” Mr Broadsmith said.

Sign-posted fishing closures were enforced at Fairbairn Dam (Emerald), Rockhampton Fitzroy Barrage, six weirs on the Dawson River (Glebe, Gyranda, Orange Creek, Theodore, Moura and Baralaba) and the Dumbleton, Mirani and Marian Weirs on Mackay district’s Pioneer River.

To protect Queensland’s fisheries resource for the enjoyment of future generations, Mr Broadsmith urged community members to report suspected illegal fishing activities on the 24-hour Fisheries Complaints Hotline 1800 017 116.

For a free brochure on “Guidelines for Recreational Fishing in Queensland’s Freshwater Areas”, contact the DPI Call Centre on 13 25 23 or the Fisheries web site www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/