no wonder mackerel are in short supply

[ifishcq1]

I try to stay away from pro bashing because without pros the non fishers would not be able to eat fish like those of us lucky enough to have it regularly
but somethings need to be aired
Here is part of an email I got earlier this week and the mind boggles at why some greedy pricks try to wipeout a species with no thought about the past or more importantly the future.
"The Bowen area was heavily netted in the early 1970’s to the extent that the stock failed. This had serious effect on the community, both the recreational and the commercial sectors, not to mention the environment. The once annual massive schools of grey mackerel disappeared for almost forty years. Large schools finally returned to this area last year and again this year. They were met with nets. A reported 101 tonnes (or 15,000 fish at average 7 kg) were taken out recently. The commercial price of mackerel plummeted from $13.50 to $5.00 per kilo foolishly affecting all commercial mackerel fisherman both here, interstate and export. Similar scenarios are occurring at Sarina and Port Douglass right now."
They hit Yeppoon over the school holidays even netting Conical and several other local hotspots. We had a very promising start to the season with doggies, spotties and medium greys moving inand then the netting now they are very scarce in local waters
there is a push for limiting mackerel to line fishing only professionals which makes a lot of sense if you care voice your concerns to your local memeber
cheers

[Spaniard_King]

IFISHCQ I Thought netting Mackeral was banned a few years back?????

Are you sure this news is up to date??

[ifishcq1]

Yeah Garry,

it is from a top source
it wasn't banned everywhere

by the way the honda just gets better and better

cheers

[rando]

I am not sure if this is correct,but I thought that mackeral were a single population that migrates up and down the coast.
Seems pointless to ban netting in one location only given its a migrant population.
Does anyone know if thats the case

[Moffy]

they still do net Grey macks - and the Greys school up to breed in certain locations - like off Bowen and off Snapper Island (out from the Daintree - where I grew up and still fish).

Local guys have an agreement in place not to net the spawning aggregations as they can see what it does (and historically did) to the overall stocks. but non-locals are coming in to these areas every year and smashing the place. Its been all out war on the water apparently with run ins between the local pros, recreational guys and the "non-local" netters.
(very topical in the papers lately)

The pro association has been taking the line that those opposing the netters are just greedy and want to stop the general public from getting a feed of fish...........Its inconceivable that they take this stance - cause what is being asked for is the protection of the breeding stocks - not an all out ban on netting..."that's a whole other issue"

Again its the greedy few who are after short term windfalls who are wrecking it - but in this case they are being supported by the pro fishing association - when the majority if not all of the pros in the areas affected are against the netters.

Moffy.

[nigelr]

Good on you for posting this ifishcq1.
People need to know what is happening.
Good luck to all the locals, I'm sure it is very stressful to see history potentially repeated, let alone that the damage is being done by non-locals.

[bg1000]

Just a few points to consider.


1. The Grey Mackerel fishery on the East Coast of Qld is capped with what is called a TAC (Total Allowable Catch) of 240 tonnes when this is reached then the fishery is closed for the year. This means that the catch of Grey Mackerel caught of Bowen represents 40 % of the total fish that will be taken for the year if the TAC is reached.

This TAC is monitered by fisheries. The idea is that if the effort it takes to catch the TAC increases then the stock mabye falling. In such a case they can lower the TAC to ensure sustainability. I'm sure it's a bit more complex then that but thats the basic's.

2. Lower prices are not such a bad thing. Just like a farmer of cattle/fruit prices fall when supply rises. This just means that consumers are able to access the resource at an more affordable price.

3. Netting of Narrow Barred Spanish Mackerel is prohibited.

4. The targeting of spotted mackerel is prohibited. Some can be keep as by-catch. But the commercial catch for both line and net is regulated by a TAC of 140 tonnes.

So either way the commercial sector is governed to certain catch limits. Fish are a public resource. The rest of the community who don't fish regulary have right to their share. No one individual group has a right to the fish stocks. As long as everyone follow's the law's set by fisheries managers I don't see the issue. These guys take fisheries observers out in there boats, are restricted by quota plus the many other legislative rules that are in place to manage fisheries.

It really does seem a shame that commercial fisherman have to go through this type of ridicule to simply supply fish to the public.

[GES]

Just a few points to consider.

So either way the commercial sector is governed to certain catch limits. Fish are a public resource. The rest of the community who don't fish regulary have right to their share. No one individual group has a right to the fish stocks. As long as everyone follow's the law's set by fisheries managers I don't see the issue. These guys take fisheries observers out in there boats, are restricted by quota plus the many other legislative rules that are in place to manage fisheries.

It really does seem a shame that commercial fisherman have to go through this type of ridicule to simply supply fish to the public.

I have no concerns at all with commercial fishers providing fish for the general public.
This is only fair and proper use of a public property resource.

What I DO OBJECT TO is commercial fishers catching public property fisheries resources and sending them overseas to supply an insatiable Asian market.
This was the practice for years, with netted mackerel being shipped overseas in large quantities, prior to the recent bans on mackerel netting.

The only people to gain from such a self-interested practice, is commercial fishing business interests ... to the detriment of all other members of the community and the fish stock itself.

GES

[Camhawk88]

BG, I think the main issue here is the targeting of spawning aggregations of mackeral rather than the number caught or debating who has the right to catch fish.

A TAC is all well and good but, if the majority of the TAC is taken from spawning aggregations rather than waiting a week after then there will be serious recruitment issues and that is where a fishery can fail. Also targeting spawning aggs can alter the CPUE data which may result in no decrease in TAC the following year where in fact there is a drop in numbers- it just isnt picked up in the data.

As the local pros have realised this and decided to make a pact to not fish until after the spawning run , it is unfair and unethical for out of towners to come in and take advantage of this- harming the fishery. This happened in certain areas of the QLd coast with prawns a number of years back. The locals realised there is more money to be made with less effort if they waited a few weeks for the prawns to increase in size before harvesting- along come pros from other regions who take advantage and start fishing a week or so before the locals. This meant the locals had to drop comitment so they could get their share. Due to this new regs were brought in so that a boat had to spend a certain amount of time docked in a given region during the closed season to be allowed to fish it during the open season. This pretty much solved most of the issues and is probably the best approach to the current issue with the macks.

[bg1000]

Fair point. Pretty sure the first post saying that the fsih prices dropping from $13.00 to $5.00 is refering to the Sydney Fish Market. This kind off price drop happens every year around this time for a number of reasons, not just because some fish were caught at bowen. Reasons include the Gulf Grey Mackerel season occurs, Spot and schoolie Mack season aronud the mission/kurramine beach area.


If you go to your local woolworths/coles the most common type of mackerel available is Grey Mackerel. They will not stock Spanish Mac. due to the risk of Cigaturia poisoning.

[bg1000]

Also as for Mackerel being in low numbers. SE Qld/ North NSW just had one of it's best Spanish Mac season's in years. Some pro line guy's are saying best ever.

This report just came through ther QFM i quote
"The terrific run of school mackerel we have been experiencing should certainly continue. Broad-barred mackerel and a few bigger Spanish have joined the schoolies in some areas. Try the fairway, the grounds off Toogoom, Gatakers, out from the Burrum or reefs like Maringa, Coongul, Sammies or Mickies. In fact, the way the macks have been, you'd be doing well to head out and NOT find any."

Mackerel move alot just cause there in one spot today doesn't mean they'll be there tomorrow regardless.

the commercial side has it's take of mackerel limited by Quota's and TAC's. The only way for pressure to increase on these stocks of fish will be from the recreational side. With more and more boats on the water as the population increases state wide. Everyone wants to blame the pro's but really any increase in pressure canv only come from one way.

[deepfried]

Also as for Mackerel being in low numbers. SE Qld/ North NSW just had one of it's best Spanish Mac season's in years. Some pro line guy's are saying best ever.

Last season i got out on one of the local pro boats and got into those mackeral but one thing i asked is this normal and has it been like this for long. The short answer was no. Last years run doesnt mean the mackeral are back or in great numbers, it was just a freak year and who knows if it will happen next season or of it goes back to the way it was the previous years.

Who knows but one good season in years doesnt mean they are abundant, its more than likely due to seasonal variations with the currents and available food.

[bg1000]

Totally agree. Even though quota's, TAC's are in placxe for pro and bag limits for the rec side every year is different for who know's what reason's. Like you say currents, food. Also who knows what effects flooding has. I know I'm saying this without any facts/science but isn't a drought on land a drought in the ocean

[ifishcq1]

This isn't hacking on the genuine pro that does take a common sense aproach and thinks about the future there are good points on both sides
It is the greedy bastards in any field that cast a bad light over the others
I recieved a few good and bad emails about this subject this week and a couple of the local blokes want to talk about the other side of the coin, and fair enough
some of the info on local Yeppoon stuff may have been exaggerated by the original sources

cheers

[kc]

Be nice to see the TAC on Grey macks spread over a range with each range restricted into the number of pros who can work that area. Only those pros with a demonstarted history in the fishery.

Typically the "fly by night" guys care little about long term sustainability of the stocks if they can hammer Bowen one year and then go to Yepoon another.

Pros who live and fish in one region are a bit like farmers and they have a vested interest in looking after "their patch". No such ethics exist with blow ins. Not really a critisism, just human nature.

In my area the grey mack season has been a complete dud (both recreationally and commercially) as we are next seasonal stop over for the schools after Bowen.

Pick the known regional sectors and designate a % of the TAC based on history. Seems somewhat silly that 40% of the state total TAC can come from just one small area. This HAS to do damage to the stock by way of reduced spawning recruitment.

I have no basis in guessing what the TAC should be, maybe the number is OK but clearly the concentrated targetting in one area can't be good for the stock, or good for rec/pro relationships. It certainly will do Bowen no good in the long term as fishing related tourism is a much bigger economic driver than out of town commercial fishos who visit to hammer the macks for a few weeks and then bugger off.

KC