Today ended submissions for the RR RIS. What now?

[Captain Incredible]

The time to submit submissions the RR RIS ended to day.

The RR RIS has generated unprecedented conflict between sectors but also between the Minister and Fisheries and a newly energised and oppositional recreational sector.

Previous Minister Mulherran departed leaving the poisoned chalice for a new Minister, Where's Wally. Wally probably won't drink from it but there is a huge possibility that Fisheries managers including Jim Groves may be forced to sup from the deadly cup and kill their careers.

The problem with Wally is even though he is "listening", the only thing off the table is the recreational fee of $80/$90. A very recent article in the Courier Mail pointed out quite bluntly that closures were still on the table and were still the preferred option of the conservation groups.

No joy can be taken from the recent Wally/ Sunfish meeting at Hervey Bay I reckon. Unless there is some agreement on a TAC of sorts the only option for a fishery classed as "OVERFISHED" is to restrict effort by temporal closures.

The real problem is how to remove the "OVERFISHED" status from Snapper. Forget the arguments over dodgy science, wankers on the Gold Coast, etc, Fisheries won't have the balls, its all the pros fault, etc, after July 1 Qld faces the real possibility under Bob Brown's Prime Ministership from the Senate that there will be Federal intervention in State matters of sustainability and resource allocation between the extractors (us) and the "common good" (Green expediency").

Do you think we have done enough in our submissions to convince Wally on a course of action? And what is that action going to look like for us?

Will it supplant Labour's quest for Green preferences which Labour will be trying to accumulate ahead of the "anytime soon" State election.