* Important - Snapper Stock Assessment -Register your interest

[Scott Mitchell]

Team - If you enjoy fishing for snapper I suggest you register your details @ http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/30_18088.htm to be kept in the loop with a series of announcements due out in the next few weeks


Traffic lights used to rate Queensland fish stocks

Extract from Press release - Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland. The Honourable Tim Mulherin
17/07/2010

"Snapper is one of our most popular commercial and recreational fish species, and this report has shown it as overfished.

"Stock assessments show snapper at less than 35 per cent of its unfished levels - it is internationally recognised that fish stocks at 40 per cent or less of their 'unfished levels' are classed as 'overfished'.

"This means snapper in Queensland is being harvested at unsustainable levels," he said. Mr Mulherin said this is alarming for industry and recreational fishers and we need to take steps now to reduce fishing pressure on this stock to ensure its future sustainability.

"We need to save our snapper now, to protect it for future generations.

"We have been consulting with industry and recreational fishers and will conitnue to consult on options for managing snapper into the future.

"Fishers are also being urged to help protect Queensland snapper by registering their details online with Fis heries Queensland and getting involved in future consultation," he said.

Mr Mulherin said Queensland is not the only place where snapper stocks are declining.

"In Western Australia, snapper is overfished and closures of several months are in place, as well as limits on total annual take in some areas," he said.

"In New South Wales, a recovery strategy is being developed to address the overfished status of the snapper stock.

"Queensland Fisheries are now assessing, with a matter of urgency, what their options are to protect snapper for future sustainability."

Mr Mulherin said despite the concerning results for snapper the Stock Status Report showed strong results in the other 61 stocks.

Summary details @ http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_18069.htm

I believe we need to keep a close eye on this one - Scotto