Snapper update

[dayoo]

The Chairman of Sunfish invited Bill Corten and myself to attend a Sunfish meeting with the new Fisheries Minister at Hervey Bay last Wednesday week. Bill had work commitments so I drove up to explain the RRFF working groups involvement in the snapper review and to listen to what Sunfish and the Minister had to say.

Sunfish is of the view that the sustainability of Snapper and other rocky reef species can be managed at this stage through bag and size restrictions, and by ensuring that only hand lines and rod & line are the only methods used by all three sectors.

The management option put forward by Sunfish for the recreational fishing sector is:

• The recreational bag limits for each of the three Rocky Reef species (Snapper, Pearl Perch and Teraglin) should be 5 of each species in possession.
• The minimum size limits should be Snapper 35cm, Pearl Perch 35cm and Teraglin 38cm.
• Within the bag limit of 5 for snapper, only 2 snapper over 70cm per person.
• Catch and fishery monitoring of the recreational sector to be done as at present by Fisheries Queensland via the State-wide annual recreational fishing surveys held about every 3 year to 4 years to estimate catch and effort parameters, and by the long term monitoring program to monitor recruitment and by collecting and analysing the size and age frequency of fish taken by anglers.
• Sunfish supports an additional voluntary monitoring program whereby experienced snapper anglers will keep logbooks of their catches. The aim is to establish a time series of catch and effort data from these anglers.
• Sunfish supports the RIS proposal for a stock assessment of rocky reef species done in a mid-term review in five years.

Sunfish position on a TAC is that it does not support a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) but if Government persists with a TAC then a breakdown of allocations needs to be done fairly and strictly in accordance with the recent history of catch-shares in the Snapper fishery. Sunfish is of the view that seasonal closures and or very low bag limits as put forward in options 3 and 4 are not warranted.

The Minister to his credit listened to what was said and engaged in dialogue with all those present.

The submissions to the RIS close today and the matter now rests with the Minister.

Cheers
Barry

[tropicrows]

Thanks Barry for attending this meeting and giving this update. What sunfish are suggesting seem fair enough to me at this stage. I hope the minister takes it all on board.

[indy]

Thanks barry sounds like a good idea re snapper size ect i would be more than happy to fill in a log book of snapper catches and sizes if this would put a end to the bands and two snapper over 70cm if very fair.

I would volunter for this just to prove to these guy's that there is plenty of snapper out there you just have to be there at the right time and have half an idea what your on about.

sign me up

cheers pete...

[Captain Incredible]

Thanks Barry. I think we need a TAC or Fisheries may be too tempted by the long closure option.

[PinHead]

amazing CI..you appear to enjoy sinking the slipper into rec anglers..without us what sort of business would you have? Answer..a non existent one. Perhaps some charter operators would be better off trying to work with rec anglers and not continue the snide remarks.

[Far side]

Thanks barry for letting us know the outcome of the meeting
Sounds like a common sence approach to managing the resourse

Unusual for this government

[Gazza]

CI , Commercials & Charters need a TAC....you make money from the Fish.
RecFishos spend money on Fishing.

[Lucky_Phill]

Thanks Barry,

Our ( ECOfishers ) position is similar to the Sunfish one with only minor variations.

It seems strange that the vast majority of rec, pro and charter people have very similar ideas on what needs to be done as far as havind a sustainable RRFF fishery, but the RIS proposals were so different.

There are many well educated ( fishery wise ) people involved in this process and the voices of those people need to be heard. I sincerely hope the new Minister listens to those voices.

I have said it before, but again, a big thank you to Barry, Bill and Ray for their invaluable input into this process and the time they have given to put forward a true recreational fisho representative perspective.

We now wait and see what the minister has in store for us.

No matter the result, let us not forget the " issues " and the way we have been treated in the past few years by the powers that be. No matter the result, there will be a political overtone to any decision made.

Regards

Phill

[PinHead]

well said PHill...just hope the new Minister can stand on his own and not bow to pressures from others above him.

[TheGurn]

Checked out the Hansard 06/04 ?

Big Jim called to task over snapper and a police investigation requested.

It's still getting air time in parliament

[Chris Ryan]

Checked out the Hansard 06/04 ?

Big Jim called to task over snapper and a police investigation requested.

It's still getting air time in parliament

Its a matter of public record now mate.

http://parlinfo.parliament.qld.gov.a...2576/2/hilite/

[rando]

Chris
That link does not want to load for me .
I am interested to read what that debate is about,and why a police involvement is being called for.
Can you please repost the link ,,, or, give me the "guts" of what the debate has been.
Cheers
Rob

[rando]

Cancel That request Chris I just gave it another go & it has load the hansard report. Thanks.

Very interesting point made by Seeny

[Chris Ryan]

No worries mate. Be interesting to see what the results will be...

[TheGurn]

Ahh, the results will be ...

All legal and blessed by the 'Precautionary Policy' ...um... I mean the 'Precautionary Principle'.

Unless the legality of the 'Precautionary Policy' is the crux of the investigation ....

Might be interesting after all..

Cheers