concerned fishers

[bigbrian47]

Fishers target law plans


19 Oct, 2010 08:31 AM
A PUBLIC meeting was held at Hat Head Bowling Club last Thursday to discuss the planned new fishing restrictions off South West Rocks.
The meeting was arranged after Hat Head Fishing Club made representations to the senior conservation manager at Industry and Investment NSW, Peter Gallagher.
About 100 concerned fishers attended the meeting and came from as far as Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Heads, Port Macquarie. One even made a special trip from Sydney.
Hat Head Fishing Club publicity officer Chris Wallis said nearly everyone who attended fished in the area, with more than half regular fishers at Fish Rock.
The plans involve a review of the fishing restrictions at Fish Rock and Green Island. The government has issued just two options:
1. A ban on burleying and bait fishing in an area of about 2km x 5km. Trolling and spinning would be permitted.
2. A total fishing closure in two areas of about 1km diameter each around Fish Rocks and Green Island.
“The most disappointing aspect of this review is that it was never intended to be made public,” Mr Wallis said.
“Hat Head found out by accident not only that a review was being held, but also that comments were required by October 22.
“Fisheries held a meeting a couple of weeks earlier by invitation only with representatives of a few interested groups at South West Rocks.
“As the club with the highest number of members affiliated with the NSW Fishing Association, Hat Head Fishing Club and the Hat Head community were very disappointed at being ignored.”
Mr Wallis said a presentation at the meeting lasted about 45 minutes and explained the history of the grey nurse shark since it was made a protected species in 1984.
It explained about the research that has been done on aspects of the shark’s life and behaviour, results of protective issues, the attempts at estimating the population of grey nurse sharks and the significance of Fish Rock as an aggregation site.
The crowd was reminded that it was purely a fisheries management issue and nothing to do with proposed marine parks.
“Fisheries were a little concerned that we did not put forward any alternative proposals on the night, but we mentioned that because of the lack of notice and prior information we would like more time to consult with our membership before considering our options,” Mr Wallis said.
Oxley MP Andrew Stoner wrote to the Minister for Primary Industry Steve Whan last week, asking that the closing date for submissions be extended for at least two weeks.
As of yesterday morning he had not had a response from the minister’s office.

[nigelr]

Thanks for putting this up Big Brian. Best of luck to the local fishers.
Please keep us informed re extension of submissions end-date.
Get down there for a throw or dive occasionally, magnificent area for outdoor rec.
Cheers.

[bigbrian47]

ta mate
im from the area originally so am very interested in what happens down there
i had the good fortune to surf & fish there through the sixties when crowds weren't a problem
old mates down there are up in arms about all this
cheers

[murf]

thanks for the post

I have not fished out off Hat head since 1988/89, we used to have an inter-club do with the Red Rock fishing cub

would not mind heading back down there with the boat one week

cheers Murf

[snapperdan]

Fishers target law plans


19 Oct, 2010 08:31 AM
A PUBLIC meeting was held at Hat Head Bowling Club last Thursday to discuss the planned new fishing restrictions off South West Rocks.
The meeting was arranged after Hat Head Fishing Club made representations to the senior conservation manager at Industry and Investment NSW, Peter Gallagher.
About 100 concerned fishers attended the meeting and came from as far as Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Heads, Port Macquarie. One even made a special trip from Sydney.
Hat Head Fishing Club publicity officer Chris Wallis said nearly everyone who attended fished in the area, with more than half regular fishers at Fish Rock.
The plans involve a review of the fishing restrictions at Fish Rock and Green Island. The government has issued just two options:
1. A ban on burleying and bait fishing in an area of about 2km x 5km. Trolling and spinning would be permitted.
2. A total fishing closure in two areas of about 1km diameter each around Fish Rocks and Green Island.
“The most disappointing aspect of this review is that it was never intended to be made public,” Mr Wallis said.
“Hat Head found out by accident not only that a review was being held, but also that comments were required by October 22.
“Fisheries held a meeting a couple of weeks earlier by invitation only with representatives of a few interested groups at South West Rocks.
“As the club with the highest number of members affiliated with the NSW Fishing Association, Hat Head Fishing Club and the Hat Head community were very disappointed at being ignored.”
Mr Wallis said a presentation at the meeting lasted about 45 minutes and explained the history of the grey nurse shark since it was made a protected species in 1984.
It explained about the research that has been done on aspects of the shark’s life and behaviour, results of protective issues, the attempts at estimating the population of grey nurse sharks and the significance of Fish Rock as an aggregation site.
The crowd was reminded that it was purely a fisheries management issue and nothing to do with proposed marine parks.
“Fisheries were a little concerned that we did not put forward any alternative proposals on the night, but we mentioned that because of the lack of notice and prior information we would like more time to consult with our membership before considering our options,” Mr Wallis said.
Oxley MP Andrew Stoner wrote to the Minister for Primary Industry Steve Whan last week, asking that the closing date for submissions be extended for at least two weeks.
As of yesterday morning he had not had a response from the minister’s office.

When will it end. I thought this state was run by the sicilian mob not the byron shire council.

1. A ban on burleying and bait fishing in an area of about 2km x 5km. Trolling and spinning would be permitted. Will trolling live bait be allowed?

Has any member of this forum caught a grey nurse shark? Be interesting to know.

[Rocks_Fishing_Chick]

A copy of the letter I have sent to Peter Gallagher Senior Conservation Minister NSW Fisheries. peter.gallagher@industry.nsw.gov.au
(I borrowed the letter from another concerned fisherman)

I live and fish in South West Rocks

I am writing to register my disgust at the propsed closure of large areas around Fish Rock and Green Island using what is reported to be "Scientific Evidence" that Grey Nurse Sharks (GNS) are being hooked at an astonishingly successful rate of 87% if dimersal fishing is carried out closer than 10 meters to their aggregation site.
In addition, to assert that there is a risk that caught fish attracts attack from GNS on a regular basis, is complete rubbish, the sharks aggregate during the day and are resting, not actively feeding.
How many times did your "research" vessel fish to get this percentage? There are a number of buoys around the southern side of Fish Rock where up to 5 dive charter boats anchor.
I can't see a safe or practical reason for any recreation fishing boat to be within 60 metres of those divers or so close to the rock. In fact NSW boating regulations require boats traveling faster than 10knots to keep at least 60metres away from dive flags, well away from the GNS aggregation sites.
I have NEVER caught a Grey Nurse Shark, and knowing a lot of local fisherman, can only recall one other fisherman accidentally catching one during that time.
How long has this "research" been going on? I can only recall a "research" vessel around the rock in the last few years and have never seen anyone diving from it.
Perhaps the anecdotal "scientific" evidence has been supplied by Dive Charter Operators?
What type of hooks are supposedly embedded in the jaws if these sharks, the only ones I have seen photos of, are very large circle hooks, ie long line hooks?
There must be photographic evidence of a deceased shark autopsies that can unequivocally that cause of death was by a hook? Any chance of seeing that?
How many sharks have you documented that have died conclusively from hooks and have been caught at Fish Rock and Green Island?
I can also state from my observations, the degradation of Fish Rock Cave because of diver interaction, its a bit hard to blame the recreational fishers for that, complete depletion of soft corals from the cave roof and the harvesting of resident crayfish. There's nothing left, and illegal harassment of GNS, tail pulling and photo flashes in the face of resting sharks. I'll bet you do not intend to curb that behavior.
In closing I think this "research" is politically motivated and wouldn't stand a snowballs chance in hell, if peer reviewed by unbiased scientists. In fact there has already been one case, to lock up Fish Rock, thrown out of court because of this type of "evidence".
Yours answers to the above questions will be eagerly awaited.

[Chris Ryan]

I spent 15yrs of my life fishing for 3 weeks during the Christmas Holidays at SWR during the 70's & 80's. I thought it the most awesome place in the world and whenever we went there every transient visitor kept the place tip top with regards to the waterways and we never saw freezers of fish taken; just what you needed for tea tonight. We could always go back and get more tomorrow so what was the point.

Seems because a) it is now a very popular holiday spot and b) it is a little "outta the road" they want to make these designations and hope the smaller population won't make too much fuss. Sorry Mr Politican - these are passionate people and even though I live in QLD now, I too am making a fuss.

I get the feeling a revolution is coming from the people - not just fishing but all the other costs in life that spiral upwards even though we get told from the pollies "competition will reduce prices" - crap - they own both the competition and the majority of the private enterprise.

Keep fighting.

[4x4frog]

Good luck to all involved.
RFC, sounds like, from what you have written that the people concerned with the push for the bans down that way have been consulting with the grubs from the WPS who faked the picture of the platypus in the Opera House pot. They appear to think they can just write any garbage that sounds like fishos are doing terrible things and the public will believe them and support their proposals. IMO, it's time we not only attacked the proposals but the science these people are using.