WE DID IT!!!

[Heath]

Congratulations everyone.

We have been part of some pretty major changes to the way our fishery is run.

Here is the press release........

Premier & Trade

The Hon. Peter Beattie MP

5 December 2002

Netting bans will help Queensland stay hooked on fish

Future Queenslanders will have a better chance of savouring some of the State's favourite fish, following a decision to ban commercial netting of spotted mackerel.

Premier Peter Beattie announced the action today, saying it was in line with strong community feedback about proposals to reform the management of the marine fishery.

He told State Parliament the public response to proposals released in September showed many Queenslanders cared deeply about the fishery's future.

Mr Beattie said the Government received more than 1570 submissions responding to a regulatory impact statement on the general marine fishery, which was released in September.

"In some areas, the terrific response has prompted the Government to go further with reforms that we originally proposed.

"For instance, 1124 respondents disagreed with the use of ring nets to target spotted mackerel - compared to 150 who agreed with ring netting for spotted mackerel. (Ring netting is a highly efficient technique, where a school of fish is literally surrounded by a ring of nets.)

"While 95 supporters of ring netting were commercial fishers, 96 of the respondents opposed to ring netting were also commercial fishers.

"With this feedback in mind, we will ban all netting for spotted mackerel, including the ring netting method, making it a line-only fishery.

"We will also cap the commercial spotted mackerel harvest at 140 tonnes per year for targeted catches, with a commercial in possession limit of 150 fish.

"We will reduce the spotted mackerel bag limit for recreational fishers from 30 to five, and raise the minimum size limit from 50cm to 60cm. This is what we proposed in the regulatory impact statement.

"These actions will help ensure a healthy future for our fishery."

The reforms are subject to the approval of Executive Council.

The commercial haul of spotted mackerel has increased dramatically in recent years from about 130 to 150 tonnes during the 1990s to more than 400 tonnes in 2000. The annual recreational catch is estimated at more than 150 tonnes.

Mr Beattie said spotted mackerel spawn in north Queensland waters between August and October and then migrate south.

"We must ensure spotted mackerel can migrate, so fishers in Hervey Bay and further south don't miss out," Mr Beattie said.

Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said: "In terms of the other prized species, such as flathead, snapper, pearl perch, teraglin jew the majority of proposed reforms, including a common bag limit of five for each species, will be implemented.

"However, the Government has agreed that the maximum size limit to be introduced for flathead should be 70cm, rather than the 60cm proposed."

A Summary of new fish management arrangements follows.

Spotted mackerel:
* reduce the bag limit from 30 to five for recreational fishers;
* increase the minimum size limit from 50cm to 60cm;
* prohibit the catch of spotted mackerel with nets;
* introduce an annual commercial catch quota of 140 tonnes for target catches of spotted mackerel; &
* introduce a commercial "take and possession limit" of 150 fish and an allowance for incidental catches of 15 fish, which is not counted towards the annual commercial quota.

Flathead:
* introduce a new bag limit of five;
* increase the minimum size limit from 30cm to 40cm; and
* introduce a maximum size limit of 70cm.

Snapper:
* increase the minimum size limit from 30cm to 35cm;
* reduce the bag limit from 30 to five for recreational fishers.

Pearl perch:
* increase the minimum size limit from 30cm to 35cm;
* reduce the bag limit from 10 to five for recreational fishers.

Teraglin jew:
* reduce the bag limit from 10 to five for recreational fishers.


Mr Palaszczuk said: "The Government prides itself on the sustainable management of our fisheries.

"Over the last four-and-a-half years, we have introduced wide-ranging reforms to alleviate pressure on fish stocks and protect Queensland's reputation as an angler's paradise and quality seafood producer.

"More than 800,000 Queenslanders fish at least once each year. Queensland's wild-caught fishery has a gross value of more than $300 million per annum and supports local families, businesses and communities striving to supply markets across Australia and overseas.

"We are committed to the best possible management of our fish stocks for future generations."

"If we did not do these things - and some of these changes will be criticised - then we would be jeopardising fishing in the future."

Mr Palaszczuk said he would detail further fisheries reforms, as proposed in the general marine and freshwater fisheries regulatory impact statements, once they had been finalized. All fisheries reforms will be implemented by Christmas.

Contact:
Kirby Anderson (Minister's office) 3239 3000
Fiona Kennedy (Premier's office) 3224 4500

[Wesley_Pang]

Heath,

Do you have the URL(address) for press release?

I'm glad my RIS response was noted. 800,000 recs and only 1200 responses

I hope this is only the beginning.

Wes

[swano]

good stuff ay heath 800,000 queenslanders plus how many of us southeners ?? 300 million bucks should make em change things to. a great result for the future of rec fishing and tourism in general

[Heath]

Heath,

Do you have the URL(address) for press release?

I'm glad my RIS response was noted. 800,000 recs and only 1200 responses

I hope this is only the beginning.

Wes

Here it is

http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au...10035&db=media

[jack_attack]

It is the best news I have heard about fishing in QLD for a long time. Let's hope they keep trend going.

[Lucky_Phill]

This is all very good folks and congrats to all.

Let's include the QFS, Minister and Premier and their colleagues for actually taking notice of the majority.

When you consider the number of people that fish and the number of responses from RIS's, it actually sounds like the folks that really care are in the minority, but we know that ain't true.

I thought the 300 mill was a little short of the figure, I'd like to do some sums on that one.

It syas that for every fisho, they spend $375 per year on fishing.

Shoot ! I like that or I'd like to spend that little. But, as we know, that was taking into account the folks that do this once a year, but even then, they'd spend 100 bucks on tackle, 20 on bait, 3 on ice, 30 on car fuel, 25 on lunch and 5 on sunscreen and 5 on insect reppellent.

The list just goes on.........I'd like to think the figure was closer to 500 plus mill, and add in the whole box and dice and don't be suprized if that figure topped 1 billion.

8) I'm now opening that XXXX and toasting you'all ???

[Vern_Veitch]

I agree although there is concern that displaced ring netters will now shift their effort to snapper, flathead, pearl perch and teraglin among other fish. Without restricted catches on these species, there is nothing stopping a transfer of effort. Remember, there have been no licences bought out.
Vern

[seqfisho]

Great news, and a good result for the silent majority.

Interesting to see an equal number of pro's against ring netting as for it ??? ??? ???

Dont worry to much about the other species, just one small step at a time is fine so long as it is in the right direction.

Plus the point was reinforced in Picture Pete's statment about the effect on the rec fishery and general public fisherpersons

Future Queenslanders will have a better chance of savouring some of the State's favourite fish, following a decision to ban commercial netting of spotted mackerel.

Premier Peter Beattie announced the action today, saying it was in line with strong community feedback about proposals to reform the management of the marine fishery.

"He told State Parliament the public response to proposals released in September showed many Queenslanders cared deeply about the fishery's future. "

Good on ya picture Pete

One small step for a poly, one giant leap for rec fisho's

Glen

Eat Sleep FISH!!!!!!

[Smithy]

Good news Heath. Just caught the end of it on the news and didn't get the full jist of it. Press release is easy to follow which is unusual for a government document. Looks like the RIS went through as it was written except for the Spotty questions. Lets hope an increase in the Spotty population will have an impact on the Grinner explosion. That is one theory I have heard. Could be a correlation in the collapse in the Spotty fishery with an increase in the number of Grinners. We have been catching them in amongst Red Emporer and Snapper over wire weed country. Once upon a time they were only on sand.

[imported_admin]

Good news, a step in the right direction, lets just hope the government keeps taking these sort of steps with all species.

There is just one little bit in the press release that concerns me.

"We will also cap the commercial spotted mackerel harvest at 140 tonnes per year for targeted catches, with a commercial in possession limit of 150 fish."

Would need to find out a bit more detail but it sounds like there is a bit of a loop hole. It sounds like a pro can catch up to 140 tonnes per year while he is activly targeting the species and while he is not targeting the species he can still have up to 150 fish in his possession.

So, how would anyone know when a pro is or is not targeting spotties. Could he just call some catches bycatch, god I hate that word. Who determines if it should count to his yearly total or not.

[Wesley_Pang]

Steve,

I hope it isn't a loop hole too. We will have to wait for the legislation.

The devil is in the detail.

Is the 140 tonnes made up of - take and possession limit of 150 fish caught without net. Does it mean the pro's that are targetting spotties with line, have to go back to port after catching 150 fish and sell their catch before they can fish again.

Is the bycatch with net - 15 fish??

At least 140 tonnes is down from the 406 tonnes caught in 2000.

What other species do they ring net?? Hopefully they don't go after the Northen Bluefin(longtail) Tuna.

We will just have to wait and see.

Wes

[bugman]

Congratulations to everyone that filled in the RIS and fought for this one.
It's a STEP in the right direction but by no means the end. I wonder how many rec fishos will fail to abide by the new size and bag limits. Don't forget the onus is on us here as well to do our bit. But I must admit I cracked the odd beer last night with a smil on my face. Makes you almost feel good.

Have look at this two points of view:


ABC 5/12/2002

Seafood group attacks new fishing limits

The Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) is critical of new limits on commercial and recreational fishing in Queensland.

The commercial netting of spotted mackerel is banned with the commercial harvest to be capped at 140 tonnes a year and the commercial possession limit set at 150 fish.

For recreational fishers, the bag limits for spotted mackerel, flathead, snapper, pearl pearch and teraglin jew will all be reduced to five fish.

The QSIA's Dennis O'Connell says there is no need for such restrictions, which will reduce supply and force up prices.

ABC 5/12/2002

Sunfish welcomes spotted mackeral netting

Recreational fishing organisation Sunfish has welcomed a ban on the netting of spotted mackeral, announced by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today.

The ban is part of a range of new limits placed on commercial and recreational fishers in Queensland, including further reduced bag and catch sizes.

Sunfish chairman John Doohan says while some recreational anglers will bemoan new bag limits for a range of species, the changes are generally fair and reasonable.

"We think it's a move in the right direction after a fairly long delay in getting very much out of fisheries as far as recreational anglers are concerned," he said.

"The initiative to stop spotty mackeral fishing and make it a line-caught fish is a good one. The mackeral was just getting decimated."

Well done everyone

Bugman

[Wesley_Pang]

Bug,

I hope the tide has turned. If the Pro are not happy about it, it is the right direction. The Pro lobby has been too powerful for too long. Its good to see the Recs having a say.

It will be a long battle.

I'm happy with the bag limits. The days of wholesale slaughter are over.

Wes

[Vern_Veitch]

W_P.
the 150 fish is effectively a bag limit as I understand it. When they get to that they must come in and offload. That is a lot of fish to store on a boat so not a big limitation.
15 fish is what they can catch without declaring it in their TAC. In my view, it should have been the recreational bag limit of 5.
Still this is better than we had 12 months ago and will hopefully lead to rec fishers having a chance of getting a few fish.
My biggest concern is where the effort will be transfered to as no licences have been bought out.
As for the scare tactics of increased prices - most of the spottie catch goes overseas anyway so the impact on consumere will be 3/5ths of 5/8ths.
Vern

[jaybee]

I agree with vern, a few weeks ago a tv show had the co op on down at redcliffe. The story was about sea food for Christmas. The manager stated that they have to supply interstate and overseas demand before putting any prawns (rejects) in the window. He was whinging because interstate and overseas prices were 15 to 18 dollars a kilo, while the prawns in the window to the locals was $26 a kilo. I cant beleive those prices are right,(more like $40 a kilo overseas) especially when he said its been the best season ever for Tiger prawns due to the lack of rain and overseas demand outstrips local demand. They said it not me.
cheers
joe.