I suspect oldboot is referring to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which requires reviews of wild-catch fisheries every 3-5 years. There is also Queensland legislation, the Statutory Instruments Act (from memory) which requires regulations to be reviewed every 10 years. Both are applicable in this case.Originally Posted by PinHead
Jim Groves
MD
Fisheries Queensland
look out more commercial culling in the name of quota
And good on him- I have done the same and will continue to. Yes it is illegal, and the law is there to prevent it being used as an excuse for checking someone elses pots but I think most fishos with an element of care for the marine environment would agree that lost pots should be removed. They are not hard to find or identify.
I'm not sure what your problem with Trevor is Andy - Im leaning towards Scott's theory. Would you suggest you be on the panel?
The point is, here is the person who represents rec fishos doing exactly what rec fisho's detest. Its illegal and if you do it you should be prosecuted. You have no right to touch anyones pot, illegally set or not. You are not a fisheries officer.
Crabbing is one of my favourite types of recreational fishing, and I want to be represented by people who actually represent what I want. I dont want some idiot government funded org who roles over on issues, and I dont want some idiot who interferes with peoples gear..
I have discussed this with webby before on several occasions. IMO he should be on the working group.
If the fisheries department had sufficient staff to even look at crab pots I would say the above would be a fair comment.
BUT the facts remain, the state government has no money for fisheries and most of their time and money is taken up fulfilling their legal reporting obligations under state and federal law.
They have barely enough money to keep the existing inadequate number of fisheries officers on the water and fuel in the boats.
Across the state there must be thousands of escaped, abandoned or illegal pots out there.....and they keep killing day after day after day.
I recon it would be a full time job for two fisheries blokes and a boat, just to check crab pots and remove those that realy need removing...and that is just moreton bay.
Then we could start with some reasonable level of enforcement after that.
Is that going to happen.......I don't think so.
cheers
Its the details, those little details, that make the difference.
If you read my intial post you will see I clearly stated this was illegal, however as Old Boot pointed out fisheries have not got the resourses to adequately remove disused or abandond gear and the guys that do take the risk to remove this stuff are doing so for the good of the environment- not to pinch someone elses crabs or pots. Pretty basic concept Im sure most fishos dont have a problem with, much less detest.
You obviously have an issue with Trevor and you may not want him on the group however I would be comfortable saying your opinion is not one shared by the great majority of rec fishos in NQ that know of his work.
Pro-Pots to be "visible"
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