Waldo's Bycatch Photos

[Derek_Bullock]

Waldo has asked me to post these up for him. They show quite clearly that the bycatch is much less than what some are saying.


Derek

Photo 1 shows the codend about to be released.

[Derek_Bullock]

In the sorting tray

[Derek_Bullock]

Fresh prawns with little bycatch present. Will let Waldo talk about it from here.

[Jeremy]

good onya Waldo, but just because he can do it without bycatch, doesn't mean everyone (or even anyone) else can. From the water colour and size of the trawler, I'd say that is the ocean not a river too.

Jeremy

[tshort]

Day time, Bananas up north maybe, spotter planes, target specific maybe. Can all trawl fisheries operate at this level?

[Gazza]

Waldo , buy your photos mate soooo what "law" is making these people catch (SMALL dia.) whiting in their nets .....elsewhere
???????????????????????????????????????????

The Independent Trawlers Association says current laws are contributing to bycatch kills.

YOU would surely?? agree ......100% of "that" bycatch was by no means ...washed 100% up the beach...in camera view.

p.s. deepwater...beautiful 'colour'

[fish-n-dive]

No disrespect to Waldo intended but....................Anyone can show anyone any photo they want them to see and put all the rest in the rubbish bin!!!

Is EVERY netfull like this???? I wonder

Cheers

[serene_lady]

Photo 1 seems to have more by catch in the net than after it has been tiped out.In photo 2 it looks like by catch floating beside the boat. Has the catch been sorted. Photo 3 is not a close up of 2 as in 3 this photo shows the divider in the tray is covered, also the broom for pushing the catch around and take the by catch out. Agree with Fish-n-dive on this one. And Derek probably does not have to buy prawns this week. Bob.

[waldo35]

yes the fotos are from the gulf . no they are not mine although i have heaps of similar shots and not just banana fishing. no serene lady nothings been sorted at all. my estimates of bycatch to prawn ratio shown in those paricular shots wud be maybe a coupla hundred kilo of fish to 3-4 tonne of prawn. im not trying to disprove the fish on the beach at all just to offer an alternative to the 6k prawn 1 tonne fish hysteria that was echoing thru this site. dont let urselves be blinded by the green antifishing hysteria cos u 2 r in the sights.
and no jeremy it wasnt a river boat refer to webbys article for fotos of their by catch. funny how u guys will accept the word of an unnamed decky yet fotographic evidence is sum how faked or taken out of context.
blinded by preconcieved ideals or just unwilling to open ur minds to new possibilities.

[waldo35]

and serene lady if ur suggesting that dereks posting of these fotos involved sum prawn transaction well mate i let u take that up w/ him as is no skin of my nose but im sure hed be unhappy at the suggestion. ud really argue that black was white wouldnt u.

[dazza]

hi waldo,
is there any research that looks at trawling and bycatch survival rates.
are the thoughts behind exclusion devices, if the fish escape they must survive (it has to be better than landing on the sorting table) or xx% survive
there has been a bit done re survival rates in tagged fish etc which are pretty good.
i must commend you on enlightening us about trawling and industry practices. i will never agree that inshore beam and otter trawling is sustainable, but i think for the survival of out respective "industries" rec and commercial guys need to find a common ground becuse like it or not we both share a common intrest and face the same threat
cheers
dazza

[waldo35]

dazza thanx for ur openess and willingness to discuss rationally matters that have [4 both side] a definite emotive cvharge . still tryna work out this foto posting thing but i have sum very exciting fotographic evidence as to the efficiancy of modern brds. they come from a trail of a , well not really a new device more a modification of an existing device, new brd i used in the bay 2 weeks ago. i cud prob. send em thru derek again but id miss the satisfaction of conquering technology and poor derek would be accused of not needing prawns for a while[whats with that]. in regards to wether the fish survives if it is excluded of course they do.....they swim out the openings......exclusion gaurentees survival. anyway soon as i can ill put up these fotos chz.

[rando]

Hi Waldo
My concern is the " couple of hundred kilo of bycatch", mate you may not think so, but that is a shit load of fish. I have been fishing for more than a decade and dont think I have accounted for a couple of hundred kilos, let alone bycatch.
This is precisely where the problem lays. You blokes accept a couple of hundred kilos a shot as minimal damage. THAT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE HORRIFIES ME.
I think you( commercial operators) need to reassess what your ACTUAL impact is.
Please dont try to justify this, I know the arguments. "Progress being made, Blah blah blah" it is still too much and still an inexcusable waste, sorry if I offend but thats my view.
kind regards
rando

[waldo35]

mmmmmmm rando u dont mention the huge losses of habitat, decreases in water quality etc all the other major enemies to biodiversity only fishermen...again were an easy target. imagine if we worked 2gether to force a real addressing of these issues say for example every canal developement in the bay 2 b reafforested w/ mangroves [ 1 of my personal favourites] just imagine the huge boost all marine life would recieve from this. im not trying to argue the rights or wrongs merely to provide an alternative to the media hysteria.how many jobs did that coupla hundred kilo of fish and the 6-7 tonnes of seafood provide both directly [boatcrew] and indirectly [transport, chandlery,stores boat slipping,processing,netmaking,engineering etc]. not trying to rationalize ur horror as that is ur business but please remain open minded . thanx for ur opinion

[Gazza]

coupla hundred kilo of fish and the 6-7 tonnes of seafood

waldo ,you aint claiming a 30:1 ratio are ya??????

i.e. 3% by-catch are ya???

Keep it real