Shades Fishing News

The annual four-month Murray crayfish open season begins on Thursday 1 May and anglers should ensure they know the rules for catching this prized native species, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.

Minister Macdonald said regular patrols would be conducted to check that anglers were following the rules, which aim to ensure Murray crayfish are harvested sustainably.

“The species is found mainly in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Edward Rivers and needs to be protected from over-fishing because of its slow growth rate,” he said.

NSW DPI Supervising Fisheries Officer South West Zone, Peter Tilbrook, said anglers should remember that they need a NSW Fishing Licence to fish in the Murray and all other NSW waters.

“Our officers in southern NSW will again be out in force during the Murray crayfish season to ensure the rules are being followed,” he said.

“Most fishers adhere to the Murray crayfish rules which should ensure the sustainability of the species. Crayfish measuring devices and advisory material are freely available from DPI Fisheries offices and most tackle outlets.”

Fishers are reminded of the main rules:

* A daily bag limit of five applies to Murray crayfish with a total of 10 in possession. They must have a carapace (head) length of at least nine centimetres long, but only one crayfish greater than 12 centimetres may be kept.
* Murray crayfish can only be taken during the months of May, June, July and August.
* A ban applies to taking Murray crayfish in trout waters.
* Any female crayfish taken that are carrying eggs must be returned to the water immediately. Removing claws, head or tail in, on or adjacent to water, is also banned.
* Five hoop nets per person are permitted with the user’s name and address on the float.

Media contact: Sarah Chester (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669

The fishing community is being warned against taking specially marked lobsters which are part of a new research project at Elephant Rock near St Helens.

Two thousand large lobsters are being released at the newly created research area to test their effectiveness in controlling the destructive long spined sea urchin.

The urchins overgraze on seaweeds and algae, leaving the sea floor barren and threatening other marine species like abalone.

The Professor of Zoology at the University of Tasmania Craig Johnson says the lobsters have specially marked tails and it is illegal to catch them.

“They’re clearly and distinctively different from any of the other wild lobsters that you’ll pull up from the ocean,” Professor Johnson said.

“And even if these lobsters are caught outside the closed area they have to be put back straight away. It’s illegal to possess them under any circumstances,” he said.

The Elephant Rock area will be closed to any commercial or recreational fishing by diving, or by the use of rock lobster pots and rings, for up to three years.

Source: ABC News

The Western Australian Government has been told imposing a ban on fishing during the warmer months will not increase fish stocks.

The Government decided late yesterday to extend the public comment period for the proposed ban which was due to end today.

The Government wants to restrict fishing for dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper between Kalbarri and Augusta.

Busselton fisherman Phil Tickle says fish will die anyway.

“It isn’t really a conservation measure, it’s just stopping people catching fish but it’s not stopping the killing of fish,” he said.

Mr Tickle says people will not know if they have one of the five species until they have to release them, by which time the fish won’t be able to swim to the sea floor because their bladders will have swelled.

Recreational fishers now have until May 7 to make their submissions.

Source: ABC News

The second Outback Carp Muster is being held in Brewarrina on May 3 and Bourke on the weekend of May 10 to 11.

The first annual muster was hailed as a great success with aboutz 240 people attending, and organisers are hoping to do even better this year.

There are thousands of dollars of prizes, with everything from rods and reels to outdoor adventure gear on offer to category winners.

Categories include biggest carp caught, the most carp caught and lucky door prizes

in both senior and junior sections.

Carp make up 90 per cent of fish stocks in Murray Darling Basin rivers, and are considered major pest in both the Barwon and Darling river systems.

Carp are a major threat to the future of the Murray Darling Basin’s native fish, and threaten to wipe out species including Murray cod, golden perch/yellowbelly/callop, freshwater catfish, the endangered silver perch, trout cod, olive perchlet and purple-spotted gudgeon.

Carp musters are a great opportunity for people to gain a better understanding of the threat that this introduced species poses, and the NSW Department of Primary Industries deserves the community’s support for driving initiatives such as the 2008 Outback Carp Muster.

The muster is also a great opportunity to showcase other on-ground work being done as part of the Brewarrina to Bourke demonstration reach project which is funded by the Western Catchment Management Authority.

The Outback Carp Muster is open to all people, from expert anglers to beginners.

Carp must be fished for using legal fishing methods and in compliance with all NSW Fisheries regulations.

Brewarrina registrations will be at Brewarrina Bakery, Dowles Service Station and the Brewarrina Newsagency.

Bourke registrations will be taken at Frank’s BP, the Tourist Information Centre and The Northy.

Let’s hope that many anglers from the central west can attend. It will be a fun day out west, and great to take the kids to.

A solid ‘mud marlin’ might even see you coming back to Dubbo with a new rod, tackle box, or even a swag, given the prizes that Explore Outdoors has been rounding up.

For more information, pick up an Outback Carp Muster information sheet at Explore Outdoors, 46 Erskine Street, Dubbo.

Phone 6882 0233

Source: Daily Liberal

A Queensland researcher says a survey of recreational fishing operators shows support for protected areas on parts of the Great Barrier Reef.

Dr Stephen Sutton from James Cook University’s Fishing and Fisheries Research Centre says about 1,700 anglers were part of the study.

He says most recognise the importance of managing the reef, but are concerned about consultation methods.

“Recreational fishers seem to not be very happy with the consultation process and the process that was used to implement the 2004 zoning plan and that appears to have resulted in sort of a decreased level of trust among the recreational fishing community for the marine park authority itself,” he said.

Source: ABC News

PHOEBE STEWART

TWO fisherman “from the desert” have been left high and dry after losing their boat and utes — and being fined $2500.

Alice Springs Fishing Club members Paul Coffey, 55, and Scott Davenport, 37, were caught with an illegal bounty of barramundi, golden snapper and fillets as they left King Ash Bay.

They asked police to settle the matter over “a beer”.

“Can’t we just have a beer and forget about this … so we can get on our way,” Coffey asked Constable Wade Rogers on the side of a road, about 40km from Borroloola in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The beer offer was rejected — and yesterday the pair were found guilty in the Darwin Magistrates’ Court of possessing 65 barra, 46 golden snapper and 157 fillets from a fishing trip in December 2006.

And to add a sting to the trip, the fishos have surrendered to police their 600 Ocean Sport Quintex boat, Coffey’s LandCruiser and Davenport’s Holden Rodeo worth $70,000.

Magistrate Vince Luppino said the pair “colluded” in their evidence, including their excuses that they did not see or properly read bag-limit signs.

He also criticised the men for evidence given by Davenport’s 14-year-old son Brandon, who was also on the fishing trip, which showed “he was coached” in his answers, leading to an important slip-up when the teen was under pressure.

“Both (men) lack credibility and I reject their evidence,” Mr Luppino said.

Prosecutor Georgia McMaster said the pair had shown “deliberate dishonesty” after being “caught red-handed by police”.

Defence lawyer Alan Woodcock said the five-barra bag limit disadvantaged Alice Springs fishermen, who could not transport their daily catches home.

“They are men from the desert who have gone out and done what could lawfully be done by two fishermen from Darwin in a week,” Mr Woodcock said.

Mr Luppino said he was “troubled” by the legislation.

“The first time I heard of this legislation I was a bit troubled by it because it is so easy to thwart the intention of the legislature,” Mr Woodcock said.

He fined the men $2500 each, and the pair have to pay $590 each for prosecution costs.

Source : Northern Territory News

An exotic fish species commonly kept as a tropical aquarium fish has been discovered in the wild for the first time in NSW near Newcastle, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) fisheries ecosystem research technicians discovered six live Platys at Medowie, when undertaking survey work in a drainage channel at Ferodale Park.

“The Platy is native to northern and central America and is known to have been introduced to 18 other countries,” Minister Macdonald said.

“It has also been found in creeks around Brisbane and far North Queensland.

“While these fish may look cute, this discovery is concerning as it is a new alien species which has been either purposely or accidentally released into the waterway.

“Platys have a high reproductive rate and if they breed and spread they have the potential to impact native fish species by competing for food and space. They may also spread disease and parasites.”

Minister Macdonald said the Campvale drain, the artificial channel where the fish was found, leads into Grahamstown Dam - Newcastle’s main water supply.

“DPI is investigating just how the Platys got there by conducting surveys within the Campvale drain and Grahamstown Dam,” he said.

“Waterways in the area are also affected by the invasive noxious weed, Alligator weed, another exotic pest.

“The keeping of aquatic plants and ornamental fish in aquaria or ponds is popular, but it is vitally important these organisms are never released into any waterways.

“Exotic fish and plant species have the potential to devastate the environment and native species, and cost millions of dollars to control.

“Heavy penalties apply in NSW for illegally releasing live fish and aquatic plant species into waterways.”

How you can help:

* Don’t dump unwanted fish or plants into waterways. Give unwanted aquatic plants or fish to friends or an aquarium shop;
* Take care when cleaning aquaria to prevent water, weed or other waste materials ending up in any waterways, including drains;
* Prevent accidental escapes by screening outdoor ponds to prevent overflow during heavy rains;
* Keep a lookout for suspected new pest fish and plant species in local waterways;
* Report suspected aquatic pests to NSW DPI’s Aquatic Biosecurity Unit on the 24 hour recorded hotline (02) 4916 3877 or email aquatic.pests@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Lyndall Derrig 0400 462 447

Ermington’s Wharf Rd boat ramp will be upgraded after winning a $455,000 State Government grant under the new Better Boating Program.

The grant will enable Council to widen the ramp, replace the existing pontoon, and improve traffic flow. It will also enable detailed design for further improvements at the facility.

NSW Maritime awarded the grant following after receiving a joint application by the City of Ryde and Parramatta Councils.

This grant is part of more than $1 million awarded to Sydney Harbour Councils for seven projects in this round of the Better Boating program, Artists impression of Ermington Wharf

NSW Maritime’s Better Boating program offers 100 per cent funding to improve boat ramp facilities at suitable sites within Sydney Harbour.

Better Boating funding was offered for the first time in March last year, and is available for improvements to new and existing boat ramps, including facilities such as car/ trailer parking, pontoons or jetties, lighting, signage and landscaping.

Initial grants should lead to total works and grants in excess of $3 million subject to satisfactory completion of designs and development approvals.

Boat ramps are owned by local councils and maintenance has been their responsibility.

This new funding package will ease the burden on local councils so they can make sure the existing ramps are in top condition. This is part of the State Government’s plan to continue to improve the facilities and services available to the people of NSW.

The Wharf Road boat ramp is the first access point to Sydney Harbour for trailer boats coming from the city’s north western suburbs.

The boat ramp is popular with boaters and surveys undertaken by the Ryde Council indicate an upgrade is highly supported.

Source : NSW Maritime

Tasmanians have the chance to land a Fishwise Community Grant, with more than $158,000 available for projects that improve the management of recreational sea fisheries and community understanding of fishing issues, the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, announced today.

“Fishing is one of Tasmania’s most popular recreational activities with one in three Tasmanians involved in recreational fishing every year,” Mr Llewellyn said.

“Through Fishwise Community Grants, individuals and community groups can receive funding for projects that will protect and promote recreational fishing activities for future generations.

“I urge anyone with an idea on how to improve recreational fishing in their community to submit an expression of interest for a Fishwise Community Grant by 6 June.

“If the expression of interest is found suitable the applicant will be invited to provide a full project proposal for further assessment.”

Mr Llewellyn said that since 1996 more than $1.2 million in Fishwise Community Grants has been provided for recreational fishing projects throughout Tasmania.

“Fishwise Community Grants are funded through the sale of recreational sea fishing licences with funds used for activities that benefit recreational fishers,” he said.

Previously funded projects include the Fishcare Volunteers program; educational programs on responsible fishing practices; events such as Take a Kid Fishing days; recreational fishing infrastructure; and surveys and research on recreational catch.

More details, including expressions of interest forms, are available online at www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/fishwise or by contacting the grants office on 6233 7042 or by email at fishwise@dpiw.tas.gov.au

Two Northern Territory fishermen have forfeited their cars and a boat, and been fined $2,500 each for exceeding fishing bag limits.

Alice Springs based Paul Coffey and his stepson Scott Davenport were caught red-handed in December 2006 with 80 barramundi and 61 golden snapper after an extended fishing trip to King Ash Bay, near Borroloola.

The pair were fishing with Davenport’s son and legally the trio were allowed 15 of each species in total.

The defence argued that the men had done what lawfully two fishermen in Darwin could catch over 8 days, so long as they returned home each night.

Magistrate Vince Luppino said he was initially troubled by the case because of how easy it is to thwart the intention of the legislation.

The men also have to pay $590 each in court costs and a $120 victims levy.

Source : ABC Northern Territory