From a report I just recieved the dpi and the government has rejected the submissions in the last RIS and gone with the pros, hitting the recreational and shooting a lot of estuary fishers in the foot. Here is part of an email I just got from a high ranking Sunfish member;
"We have received unofficial feedback from the Inshore MAC regarding the changes likely to go thru. In essence, the commercial sector will enjoy a status quo situation, with no species TAC’s, while the rec sector will cop all the new bag and size limits proposed in the RIS. The result is we’ve been slugged yet again, while the commercial sector can go about plundering the resource relentlessly as usual.
They even ignored our suggestions re particular species bag limits and will crucify the estuary rec fishing scene in particular. For example, grunter will have a minimum size of 40cm, with 5 bag limit. Better get out and get a few now, because you won’t be allowed to keep too many you catch in the creeks in future. Fingermark will be 45cm and King threadfin 60cm – so much for the kids catching King in the river.
I don’t know the details of any netting changes, but I’m pretty confident they haven’t been reduced in any way. The N4 offshore 1200m net fishery is going ahead despite everyone’s objections, including GBRMPA and the conservationists. Seems they’ve basically ignored all input that didn’t agree with their prehistoric philosophy.
I’m personally shattered after all the work and time we put in. There won’t be another opportunity to change things for probably 15 years I reckon.
Sunfish’s relevance must be seriously questioned as a result of this debacle. We did our best, but have been treated with distain by the DPI&F and government. I see little point in continuing in our current form".