Crab Pot Ban

[Mike Delisser]

I switched to collapsible pots for sandies ages ago and I'm happy with the results so this change won't bother me. I didn't switch for the sake of the turtles, even though I did cut 1 free once, I switched because I was sick of f'n around in the swell trying to untangle crabs, esp undersized crabs and jennies. If you recon you don't damage some of these untangling them you either don't crab much or you're in denial.
IMO this Qld Labor Gov has made plenty of unfair and outrageous decisions that infringe on anglers rights, but to call this legislation "outrageous" is a massive stretch and would probably cause those who appose it to lose some credibility with the non-crabbing fisho (and that's most of them) and the public in general. Particularly as we can still go crabbing, we just have to use a different apparatus.
Also to urgently call for anglers to write to the Minister 12 days (and during the Tinny&Tackle Show) before the change takes place smells like grandstanding to me. He is using us to get what he wants and it should be the other way around, they won't change their minds and he knows it, this change was anounced well over a year ago.
Tim, ask Mark Robinson if the LNP will revoke this "Witches Hat" legislation when they win power next election, I'm sure they'll get up and I'm sure he'll have that portfolio. Post his answer here and we'll see if he's grandstanding and using us,or if he is deeply concerned about this new reg. I bet he won't make a guarantee.
Qld anglers have bigger fish to fry than this one.

Also if any of us pulled up a dead turtle in our dilly, would we phone the DPI and report it??????
Cheers

[Fafnir]

Queensland Government
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Media Release
22 March 2010

New crabbing gear laws from 2 April

Inverted crab dillies also known as witches’ hats will be banned in Queensland from 2 April 2010.

Fisheries resource manager Mark Lightowler said the ban was in place to combat ‘ghost-fishing’ and reduce entanglement and death of non-target marine species.

“Inverted dillies are made of a light gauge mesh, which can easily entangle marine species such as turtles, sharks, rays and fish,” he said.

“It is difficult to release these species and female and undersized crabs from this mesh unharmed.

“Inverted dillies are light weight in their construction and have a tendency to drift and become lost.

“They then continue to ‘ghost-fish’ until they become buried or breakdown.”
Mr Lightowler said other types of crab pots or dillies allowed fish and unwanted crabs to be easily released unharmed.

“They are also far less likely to entrap protected marine animals such as turtles,” he said.

“The phasing out of witches’ hats was announced back in December 2008 as part of an overhaul in recreational and commercial fishing rules for inshore fisheries.

“A long lead-in period for the ban was in put in place to give both suppliers and consumers time to update their crabbing gear.

"Other crabbing apparatus including hoop dillies (sometimes called lift dillies) and crab pots can still be used.

“Fishers should also remember to mark their crab apparatus with an identifying tag bearing the owner’s surname and address.

“Individuals should not use a total of more than four items of crabbing apparatus, including any combination of crab pots or dillies per person.

“This applies if you are using crabbing gear from a boat or from the shore.”

[robersl]

I think too many undersized crabs loose nippers,legs etc when they are removed from witches hats apart from small crabs that are destroyed by some impatient users. Thankfully these people are the minority and would not be part of a forum like this. cheers

The crab claws and legs do grow back when lost as the do when they change shells ect

if they were fair dinkum about protecting turtles and dugong they would ban indiginus hunting of them as a food source and if they allow them to hunt them they should only be allowed to hunt using a bark canoe or dugout using a paddle and not a 40 hp motor to propell it and a spear made the traditional way after all it is 2010 not 1770 but they say it is a traditonal food source

shane

[sagair]

The crab claws and legs do grow back when lost as the do when they change shells ect

if they were fair dinkum about protecting turtles and dugong they would ban indiginus hunting of them as a food source and if they allow them to hunt them they should only be allowed to hunt using a bark canoe or dugout using a paddle and not a 40 hp motor to propell it and a spear made the traditional way after all it is 2010 not 1770 but they say it is a traditonal food source

shane

Cheers Mate, I am well aware the claws and legs grow back but with missing nippers and legs it is difficult for the animal to sustain it's self with regular food and to swim either to hunt or escape many will not make the next moult. Let's face it some are just smashed as they are too difficult to remove.
In the Torres Strait you will find Turtles and dugong are hunted using the traditional waap however there are not many Kano's nowdays. The greenies could probably use the canoe argument to stop us reef fishing.

[rayken1938]

Obviously Mr Lighttower has never used a dilly.
"Inverted dillies are made of a light gauge mesh, which can easily entangle marine species such as turtles, sharks, rays and fish,” he said.

“It is difficult to release these species and female and undersized crabs from this mesh unharmed. "
I have been using dillies for around 40 years since they first became popular and have never had a problem releasing entrapped undersized crabs,sharks and fish.
I always have carried a netting needle with me and if I have a small black tip shark in the net and I dont want to keep it for a feed I just cut the net and release it with no damage to the fish. The only difficult bye catch to release are the small coral crabs but with a bit of patience they can be released.
" Inverted dillies are light weight in their construction and have a tendency to drift and become lost.

“They then continue to ‘ghost-fish’ until they become buried or breakdown.”"

Only an inexperienced person uses the light weight dillies .
The ghost fishing only would continue until the bait breaks down which would only be a matter of a couple of days.
On quite a few occasions I have seen dillies floating along in a deep channel and when after looking for an possible owner moved them to shallower ground I have never encountered any evidence of them having ghost fished.
I also find it a little strange that when the banning was first promoted the main reason given was to protect the turtles and now that that reason has been discredited they have had to come up with all the other dubious reasons which are also probably based on someones " gut feeling" and no proper research.
I know it is too late to change anything but still have to have my say. I have also written to the minister.
Cheers
Ray

[TheRealAndy]

Interestingly, I was talking to an older fellow at the tinnie and tackle show, who used inverted dillies. I mentioned how I dont use them because I hate untangling things. He went on to try and explain how he makes his 'witches hats' that use wire mesh and dont trap anything but crabs. I couldn't quite follow how he did it, but would be interested to see them.

[TimiBoy]

Mark Robinson MP
LNP Member for Cleveland

23 March, 2010

Fisheries minister proves an inverted dilly

On 2 April 2010 the Bligh Labor government will outlaw the use of inverted crab dillies all across Queensland. The crab dillies are one of the most popular and cheapest crab fishing devices - with thousands of them in boats and backyard sheds in coastal areas of Queensland.

Today during Question time in parliament the minister for fisheries became an 'inverted dilly' himself when he rejected the call from the LNP Opposition and boaties and fishers all over Queensland to reverse this harsh and unnecessary ban.

LNP Member for Cleveland, Mark Robinson has continued to condemn the government's planned ban as it is based on 1 turtle death in five years.

Dr Robinson said, "the minister has made this decision based on 1 turtle death in 5 years - hardly a sound scientific basis to support his ban. While any turtle death is regrettable, it is bad government practice to make this far-reaching decision on such a negligible number."

"The minister today proved he is living with the fairies when he stated that 75% of people supported his ban. He obviously didn't listen to anyone at the Tinnie & Tackle show over the weekend, if he attended at all.

"His refusal to stop the ban shows that the fisheries minister has also come under the same spell as the Sustainability minister and captain of the Tiwi Pearl disaster. They have both shown how dizzy and inverted they are, acting under the influence of Green fairy dust, instead of hard fisheries science.

" First we have the sustainability minister describing schools of fish suddenly swimming to their new home at the Tiwi Pearl wreck. Now in parliament today, the fisheries minister stated that 75% of people supported his ban. What next, more Green zones in Moreton Bay or no-take fishing zones in the Coral Sea?

"It's time the Bligh government and its ministers stopped beating up on mum and dad boaties and fishers and started using real science in their decision-making, not wacky Green magic.

END

MEDIA CONTACT: Ryan Murphy 32862726 0412 215 371

[FNQCairns]

Starting to like this Mr Robinson a little more and more!

cheers fnq

[Mike Delisser]

The ghost fishing only would continue until the bait breaks down which would only be a matter of a couple of days.
Cheers
Ray

Ray I think the term ghost fishing refers to when things get tangled and then become the next bait and so on and so, like those drift gill nets that get lost up in the Gulf and lost snapper traps down south.

Tim, any news on if Mark Robinson will bring back dillies when the LNP get up????

Cheers

[TimiBoy]

Tim, any news on if Mark Robinson will bring back dillies when the LNP get up????

Cheers

I haven't asked him, but I know that all Fishery Policy will be examined in the light of science... at least that is the promise, let me tell you Mark's ears are bruised from me bashing him with "you change your mind after the election and you'll cop it!!!"

Mark is a trained Marine Scientist, and knows things are not as they've been painted.

Cheers,

Tim

[TheRealAndy]

Mark Robinson MP
LNP Member for Cleveland

23 March, 2010

Fisheries minister proves an inverted dilly

On 2 April 2010 the Bligh Labor government will outlaw the use of inverted crab dillies all across Queensland. The crab dillies are one of the most popular and cheapest crab fishing devices - with thousands of them in boats and backyard sheds in coastal areas of Queensland.

Today during Question time in parliament the minister for fisheries became an 'inverted dilly' himself when he rejected the call from the LNP Opposition and boaties and fishers all over Queensland to reverse this harsh and unnecessary ban.

LNP Member for Cleveland, Mark Robinson has continued to condemn the government's planned ban as it is based on 1 turtle death in five years.

Dr Robinson said, "the minister has made this decision based on 1 turtle death in 5 years - hardly a sound scientific basis to support his ban. While any turtle death is regrettable, it is bad government practice to make this far-reaching decision on such a negligible number."

"The minister today proved he is living with the fairies when he stated that 75% of people supported his ban. He obviously didn't listen to anyone at the Tinnie & Tackle show over the weekend, if he attended at all.

"His refusal to stop the ban shows that the fisheries minister has also come under the same spell as the Sustainability minister and captain of the Tiwi Pearl disaster. They have both shown how dizzy and inverted they are, acting under the influence of Green fairy dust, instead of hard fisheries science.

" First we have the sustainability minister describing schools of fish suddenly swimming to their new home at the Tiwi Pearl wreck. Now in parliament today, the fisheries minister stated that 75% of people supported his ban. What next, more Green zones in Moreton Bay or no-take fishing zones in the Coral Sea?

"It's time the Bligh government and its ministers stopped beating up on mum and dad boaties and fishers and started using real science in their decision-making, not wacky Green magic.

END

MEDIA CONTACT: Ryan Murphy 32862726 0412 215 371

Maybe mark should ask the minister for evidence of the 75% of people that support the ban... A bit like the 70% of marine bay has green zones signed...

[PinHead]

Tim, do you really think that Mark Robinson will be anything other than what he is now, after the next election. I hope I am wrong but I cannot see the LNP getting up..they seem to lack leadership and direction.

[TimiBoy]

Tim, do you really think that Mark Robinson will be anything other than what he is now, after the next election. I hope I am wrong but I cannot see the LNP getting up..they seem to lack leadership and direction.

I share the concern about the LNP getting up. They need to do better, we've just seen in the SA and TAS elections that without strong leadership, the electorate will choose the status quo.

Regarding Mark? I think he's on the level (as much as a Pollie can be). I'm not convinced he's a career politician - he has something to fall back on, so he feels fairly safe. Means he can make some tough decisions. At some point, in any case, we have to accept that someone talking change will walk change, otherwise we will continue to get what we have been getting.

Cheers,

Tim

[mudrunner]

you blokes are still chopping at the branches......

when you should be chopping at the root of the problem!!!!!! and the root of the problem is this.....

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...d.php?t=162210

Big Population theory.
Big cities can reach 10m population: Ken Henry

• Michael Stutchbury, Economics editor
• From: The Australian
• March 19, 2010 12:00AM

TREASURY secretary Ken Henry has suggested that Sydney or Melbourne could sustainably expand to 10 million people if governments corrected the national failure of infrastructure planning exposed by the global financial crisis.

That is much higher than the seven million population projected for the nation's two biggest cities by 2050 in last month's Intergenerational Report and would require an increase in Australia's "very low" levels of housing density.

[Mike Delisser]

I haven't asked him, but I know that all Fishery Policy will be examined in the light of science...

Tim

I would have if he recons it's such an "unfair and outrageous decision" it would be an open and shut case.
I rang his office last week and I can't get an answer either.

Don't let go of his ghoulies Tim, even squeeze a litter harder if you can.

Cheers
Mike