Proposal to take female mud crabs

[tunaticer]

If they are going to screw with the laws to any extent, why not make it a uniform size for both male and female and 16cm for both, 2 females and 3 males, or 5 males?
By raising the min size it would ensure a better number of breeding cycles before harvesting and in three years the average size will attain the new legal size for the majority.
The jewfish certainly have not suffered from raising the minimum size limit, nor have the snapper (they could go to 45 IMO).

[Thepato]

Main Roads, Fisheries and Marine Infrastructure
The Honourable Craig Wallace
Friday, December 23, 2011
Jennys to stay off the menu in Queensland

Female mud crabs will remain off-limit in Queensland following passionate feedback from fishers all over the state, Fisheries Minster Craig Wallace announced today.
Mr Wallace said 439 Queenslanders had their say on the proposal for a limited take of ‘Jennys’ by recreational fishers.
“Queenslanders have spoken on the question of whether we should allow a restricted take of female mud crabs for recreational fishers and the answer is no,” Mr Wallace said.
“439 Queenslanders called, emailed or wrote to me about Jenny mud crabs, with the final tally 287 against and 152 for changing the rules.
“The clear message from Queensland fishers is that the current system of regulation for mud crabs works well, so it will remain.
“That means there will be no Jennys on Queenslanders’ plates for Christmas lunch this year or at any other time.
“The feeling from Queenslanders is that any take of female mud crabs would harm our breeding stocks and harm long-term sustainability.
“Queensland is well-known for the quality of its mud crabs, so I want to ensure the community is comfortable about the way they are managed.
“It has been illegal to take female mud crabs in Queensland for over 100 years and following the public feedback, we won’t be changing the law.
“Fishers are still able to catch male mud crabs larger than 15 cm, with a bag limit of 10.
“I would like to thank every Queenslander who contributed to the discussion on the important issue of mud crab sustainability.”
A take by commercial fishers was not under consideration.
Media contact: Jen Zemek 0437 113 241

[Lucky_Phill]

Thanks to all the Ausfishers who submitted feedback to the Minister for this.

cheers LP

[Scott Mitchell]

Thanks to all the Ausfishers who submitted feedback to the Minister for this.

cheers LP

And Sunfish for thier support

Merry Christmas - Scotto

[Gazza]

Jennies @ 15cms was NEVER going to get the nod

[bondy99]

What a scam and porkies. I know I submitted cmments and have never been approached or contacted by mail, email, phone, or telex to comment further.

[Horse]

To me its good news but I am disturbed to think that they would base a decision of this magnitude on the opinions of 439 people who decided to respond. The normal party machine for groups like the Greens can put hundreds of responses on an issue just by sending an email to their data base. If this is how they are going to run the decision making process for future fishery management policy then iots pretty sad

[PinHead]

I agree Neil..if there is supposedly 750000 rec anglers in Qld that 400 odd makes up about 0.065%..decisions are now based on such a small percentage..scary thought really.

[Lucky_Phill]

Just goes to show how much rec fishoes really give a %$# about thier past-time.

Sunfish would have made submissions on behalf of their membership ( Hence accounting for hundreds more, if not thousands ). This sentence is not up for debate.

There have been numerous Govt requests for submissions on all sorts of issues over the last 2 years or so and the feedback / submissions etc from rec anglers have been nothing short of pathetic. These requests have been made known to the fishing public through many media outlets, Ausfish, talk back radio shows ( Nuggets ), newspaper ads, Fishweb site, other online fishing forums, fishing magazines etc etc...

It matters not the number of responses, as long as the result sits well with those that took the time and effort to respond. Those that care enough to give up 60 seconds of their time to attempt to assist themselves, their fishing buddies, kids and the Government.

I'll give up fishing the day 750,000 anglers respond to a FQ request or actually do something.... anything to help our industry grow and or survive.

Once again, thanks to those that did respond. You have made a difference for yourself and many, many others.

Cheers LP

[fishing111]

LP i think people don't respond because they are sick of rules changing all to frequently. Add to that people ( myself included ) figure why bother because Governments S&F will do exaxctly what they want regardless, so why bother even wasting 5 mins. Yeah i know it's not what you and many others like to hear, but i think people are just to busy now days to be answering questions knowing that what ever they write/fill in surveys etc etc, the decision has already been made and that it is just a big ploy by the Government of the day to say " yeah well you could have filled this out " bla bla..

If the everyday rec fisher is anything like myself, then all i can say is that he is totally pissed off trying to keep up with all the changes and proposed changes.

[tunaticer]

LP i think people don't respond because they are sick of rules changing all to frequently. Add to that people ( myself included ) figure why bother because Governments S&F will do exaxctly what they want regardless, so why bother even wasting 5 mins. Yeah i know it's not what you and many others like to hear, but i think people are just to busy now days to be answering questions knowing that what ever they write/fill in surveys etc etc, the decision has already been made and that it is just a big ploy by the Government of the day to say " yeah well you could have filled this out " bla bla..

Paul, your comment is typical of those who choose not to participate and they are mostly the ones that cry the loudest when changes do come around. The more people that raise thier hand the bigger the influence to get a popular ruling. Everybody has a chance to be a part of the group that actually forms a decision making force to be reckoned with, most could not be bothered though.

FWIW this decision is reflective of how i voted.

[Lucky_Phill]

Thanks for your honest response paul251, but you are not exactly right.

There are many examples of people power making a difference. ( Beach netting for Tailor, Spotty mack netting now banned, arti reefs, reduced size on Trag, Female mud crabs, no RFL, no Snapper permits, to name a few )

Sure, decisions will be made from time to time based on preference deals and individual thoughts by various Govt departments.

While ever Rec fishos hold the opinion that they will not participate because they won't make a difference, the stronger the feeling is in Govt that they can do what they want , when they want, because............ rec fishoes will simply apply more vaso and take it.

You really have to understand that Fisheries Queensland and the Government of the day, are two seperate entities. FQ can, will and have done great research, adopted good practices, developed many good management tools and more, only to be king-hit by some ego-tripping politician who, for all the wrong reasons , has the last say, and that say can vary greatly to what FQ put forward on behalf of Qld Rec Fishos.

Sooner or later rec fishos will have the numbers to make a difference, but only if those numbers speak up and stand up to be counted.

There are apparently 750,000 rec anglers in Qld and the vast majority have differing opinions on different subjects. This group of people has more numbers than all trade unions put together, of all business and commercial rep groups put together, of all resource reps put together and of all primary producers put together......... but where do we sit in the pecking order ? We sit so far away, we can't even see the tea room that suplies iced vo-vos to the limo drivers of the union and other sector reps.......... in other words.... we are nothing and mean nothing............ because we are not heard.

Thing is FQ also have the same opinions ( collectively ) , but we are all after the same objective.

A healthy, happy and sustainable fishery for all fishing sectors.

IMO as a Rec fisho, anyone who has been made aware of any intended changes to Rec fishing rules and does nothing, should hang up the rod and buy some knitting needles.... but having said that, it is your choice and I accept that you are entilted to make that choice. What I will not accept is someone having a whinge, when they had the opportunity to do something and chose not to.

LP

[fishing111]

LP fishing and boating is more or less a favorite past time and something i enjoy. What i don't enjoy and never will is scouring for new or proposed changes to my recreation time. That has been my beef and i didn't really think i was whinging. Can someone not have an opinion about Afghanistan without signing on the dotted line and recruiting? As for the knitting refrences, no one will tell me when i should hang up the old rod and reel.

[Lucky_Phill]

Think ya missed my point Paul, the post was not aimed at you at all.

OK, so you don't like " scouring " for new proposals or changes. Then go to the FQ website, you already have internet , and click on the area that will send you updates and news, automatically to your email address...... No more scouring.........

better stil, I'll save you some time..><> ><> ><>l:-

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/30_12859.htm



cheers LP

[fishing111]

Sorry mate if i read you wrong, but i thought you having a dig for not standing up for Rec fishers and proposed laws in that i have just accepted without challenge. I have done so in the past sending emails off to Bligh and fillling in petitions but for all the good they did i wonder why i bothered. I guess that is the point i was trying to make in that people are of the thinking that my little email or filiing in a petition counts for squat when the Government just over ride public opinion. I fully get there are lots of rec's out there, and every email counts on current issues, but alot may be thinking along the same lines as myself. nhfte cheers