Shops and leagal size limits

[caveman]

what is the legal size for barra i was at the supermarket the other day and they had some really small barra in the display window

[jewies]

its either 56 or 58cm and max size is 90cm

[philip_thomson]

i got this of the DPI website
in QLD east coast it is 58 min., 120 max.
in gulf it is 60 min., 120 max.

hope this helps

[NeilD]

Farmed fish don't have limits as far as I know.

[caveman]

THX GUYS NEILD YOU MIGHT BE ON THE MONEY THERE AS THATS WHAT I WAS THINKING BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY THESE FISH WERE ANY WHERE NEAR 56 CM

[raefpud]

Farmed fish definately dont have a size limit - they are often sold pan size whole and it is quite common practice in resaturants. Often they are imported from SE asia and are extensively farmed there and in the north of Australia. Farmed Barra can often have a slightly muddy tainted flavourless flesh as the grow larger, and larger specimens dont pack, travel or process as well for international market.

No need for alarm caveman, as selling farmed barra this way can bemore viable for the farmer and consumer.

[MY-TopEnder]

Thats right, anything farmed has no limit... and as i'm aware the whiting that i saw at a questionable sunnybank store AGAIN weren't farmed.

[megan]

Too right - there are many undersized fish being sold in the gong area - from snapper to bream and flathead. How do these fish co-ops not get fined for selling undersize fish, and the commercial fisherman should be following the rules as well - or are there different rules for commercial fisho's?

[TonyM]

I agree that the stores should be held liable.

Re the Barra, I noticed a supermarket here at the Bay had "Baby Barramundi" for sale around the 30cm mark. These were actually Sand bass (aka Jewel Eye, or Reef Barramundi) and were legal fish as there is no size limit - they generally grow to about 34-35cm. One of my preferred eating fish actually as I know where to catch plenty and they taste fantastic.

[firetruck]

Yes agree. Suggest you ring fisheries or ask the sellers.

Hey TonyM, are they reddish in colour. Same shape as Barra?

[twc]

i have also seen undersize fish in supermarkets, and was also wondering how they get away with this, then i read somewhere that because the fish are bycatches from comercial fishermen that they can offload it.

[MY-TopEnder]

Thats a myth... if its undersize, its illegal. You can call the Fishwatch hotline and they should be well aware of this kind of report by now.