Heard on the ABC this morning.
It gives an idea of where we're heading. Organizations like these keep chipping away and before we know it the rules will have changed.
"The Australian Marine Conservation Society says the practice of crab pot fishing must be phased out because it is killing threatened turtles.
The society's Craig Bohm says he is disappointed that Queensland Fisheries is not planning to review the practice in its proposed changes to the industry.
He says crab pots entangle and drown threatened species trying to get at the bait.
"South-east Queensland alone, and this is only within the bounds of the Moreton Bay Marine Park, over 20 turtles a year are drowned in crab pots and most of those turtles caught in the crab pots wash up on the beaches and are found by the general public,' he said.
"We were hoping that the current review of the crab fishery would see the Government committing to phasing out turtle-killing crab pots.
"Unfortunately the review has not even mentioned turtle deaths in crab pots."
The Department of Primary Industries says it is planning on phasing out specific types of crab pots in an attempt to make the industry more sustainable."
Mate, believe little that you hear and only a quarter of what you see. Mr Bohm has a well earned reputation of being, at the very least, unreliable. He would be far better of casting for a part in one of Lloyd-Webber's productions.
No crab pots would mean no crabs (mudcrabs) for anyone. Yeah right.
Cheers mate
Dave
I wonder how many turtles turn up in total dead each year on beaches. One minute it's boat strikes next it's crab pots. Probably using the whole 20 each year to fight all thier causes. What next "turtles will survive 1000 years if fishermen weren't around"
Cheers Chris
Democracy: Simply a system that allows the 51% to steal from the other 49%.
I have been crabbing with all types of pots from Townsville to Gosford for 50 years and have never caught a turtle or seen anybody else or heard of anyone catching a turtle in a crab pot. I have caught them on a fishing line but never a crab pot. The only ones of have heard of was those taken by our indigenous brothers.
Some of this research is a case of here is the question, and here is the answer so fill in the middle to substanciate our claim.
However, I do agree tthat he rectangle large mouth fold-down pots could be a problem to a turtle so I wont use them again.
If it is explained to fishermen, most will adapt to suit but no government are determined to use the big stick on everything.
I wish they would all go and take a funny run.
Chappy
G'day
I have caught one turtle on one of my pots. It had drowned and it was in one of the cheap collapsible rectangular ones where the entrance are as wide as the pot.
This was in around 1998, Hadn't before and hadn't since .
Sure it can happen but to ban all pots is simply stupid. Better regulation of design may be a better way.
Dave
Hi,
I understand the risks of using crab pots and dillies, and how they might harm our marine life, but if the day ever came where they were banned completely I beleive this would be a really sad day. I like many others am a keen crabber, and can't really comprehend not being able to go and get a feed of muddies or sandies during summer.
Just my opinion.
Cheers
Scott
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