Shades Fishing News

Residents of Colac in Melbourne’s south-west, might be closing their windows over the next fortnight, because of the smell from thousands of fish left to rot in a nearby lake.

Around 300 tonnes of dead or dying carp now line a four kilometre stretch of Lake Colac.

The fish are dying because of rising salinity levels in the lake, caused by the drought.

Salinity is now five times what it was before the drought.

Carp is an introduced species in the waterways and local authorities have been trying to eradicate them for decades, but this is not what locals were hoping.

What is worrying residents more is that there are no plans to remove the carcasses, as the council claims it is too hard to clean them up.

‘It’s very difficult because of the terrain that we’re walking on here is very unstable under foot and makes vehicle access very difficult,’ said Stewart Anderson of the Colac Otway Shire Council.

Local fishermen who use the lake to catch eels are moving as many fish as they can to the dry sand, so they can decompose faster.

Source: Sky News Online

Three tiers of government have worked together to ensure a healthy environment and happy fishermen in the Macquarie River.

Native fish stock received a boost with the release of 15,000 Murray Cod and 11,500 Golden Perch yesterday.

The release included two sites, one upstream of Dubbo’s weirs at Butler’s Falls and one downstream at Terramungamine Reserve.

The funding for the fingerlings, about $8500, was delivered equally from Dubbo City Council, the State Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Federal Government’s Recreational Fishing Community Grants Program.

“The restocking is one of a number of initiatives council implements to ensure biodiversity of the river,” Council’s Parks and Landcare business support, Craig Giffin said.

“Not only will this have a positive effect on fish numbers but it will also help reduce numbers of introduced European carp because the cod and perch are carnivorous and feed on small carp.”

Local fisherman George Loudon said the latest restocking was fantastic.

“It’s outstanding that the three levels of government are working together on this project,” Mr Loudon said.

“Since restocking began people are catching a lot more fish than they used to.

“They’re a lot smaller which suggests the higher catches are due to these recent breeding programs.”

Mr Loudon owns a local fishing store and said several fishing stores and clubs throughout the region contributed to restocking.

“The Yeoval Fishing Club is releasing fish into the Little River, which flows into the Macquarie, this weekend,” he said.

“There is a fishing tournament in Burrendong Dam next month raising money towards replenishment.

“There are also carp competitions these days to help rid the waters of them.”

Source: Daily Liberal

In one of NSW’s largest abalone busts, the owner of an Ashfield grocery store has been caught by DPI Fisheries officers with an alleged illegal haul of 2,437 black-lip abalone, worth more than $26,000, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today.

Minister Macdonald said it’s believed that all of the abalone seized were supplied by illegal abalone syndicates on the NSW south coast.

“DPI Fisheries Officers inspected the grocery store in Ashfield and allegedly found all of the abalone stored in chest freezers,” said Minister Macdonald.

“The abalone seized amounts to over half a tonne of live abalone, and is valued at over $26,500 on the legitimate market.”

The 44-year-old Ashfield man allegedly had no licence, permit or authority to receive abalone.

“Illegal fishing and black market sales of abalone in NSW threaten valuable stocks, undermine licensed commercial fishers and the regional economies they support, and endanger the health of those of us who love to eat seafood,” said Minister Macdonald.

“Under NSW fishing laws, only authorised commercial fishers are allowed to catch and sell abalone.

“Strict licensing conditions also apply to people who receive abalone. They must maintain and supply prescribed records to Fisheries Officers on demand.

“Anyone illegally catching abalone faces penalties of up to $11,000 and three month’s imprisonment or both. Failure to produce a prescribed record for receiving abalone attracts a fine of up to $22,000.”

Recreational fishers are allowed a bag limit of two abalone per day. Each abalone must be at least 11.5cm in length.

The Iemma Government through DPI officers regularly conduct covert and overt operations along the NSW coastline using both marine craft and motor vehicles.

Any illegal diving or fishing activity should be reported immediately to DPI Fisheries Officers or the Fisher’s Watch Line on 1800 043 536.

Media contact: Jason Bartlett, 0438 209 281