THIRTY Vietnamese foreign fishers from two separate vessels pleaded guilty and were convicted for breaking Australian fisheries and environmental laws in Darwin Magistrates’ Court after being caught illegally fishing in waters off north Queensland. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority conducted an investigation into the actions of the foreign fishers that resulted in the successful convictions of all crew from the vessels. Penalties included …

QUEENSLAND Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers enforce fisheries laws to ensure the sustainability of Queensland’s fisheries resources. Officers undertake patrols across the state and have powers to board and search recreational and commercial fishing vessels to ensure compliance with state fisheries laws. Last week, a Redlands man was ordered by the Cleveland Magistrates’ Court to pay $1800 for obstruction of …

RECREATIONAL fishers will have the chance to cast a line in an additional 31 dams and weirs from July 1. The Queensland Government is almost doubling the number of stocked impoundments where anglers will be allowed to fish under the popular Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme. Minister for Agricultural and Fisheries Leanne Donaldson said the expansion of the program will give fishers …

TRAVELLERS heading to national parks on Cape York Peninsula are urged to check the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service park alerts and reliable road conditions websites because some areas will be closed until mid-June or later. For the safety of travellers and to avoid road damage, many of the peninsula’s visitor sites and tracks are closed each wet season. This …

SEQWATER advises low flow operational releases from Somerset Dam into Wivenhoe Dam began at 7am today. These releases are not expected to cause the lake level in Wivenhoe Dam to increase by more than 0.5m in the next 24-hour period. Take extra care downstream of the dam due to potential hazards to the safety of people and property. Hazards could include fast flowing …

THE Haines Group and Suzuki Marine are making waves in and out of the water by introducing the Power of Choice with limited-edition white motors now available. Customers now have the choice to buy a Suzuki Marine four-stroke outboard motor in either Cool White or the traditional Shadow Black Metallic. Available through special order, the white motors offer customers the chance …

TWO years ago a unique research and development project was commissioned; the fruit of that project is the Lox Ambassador series of rods. What made this project unique was the design brief. The series would be limited to 100 units; only world’s best components and materials would be used; the return on the project was irrelevant as it simply had to …

“The court recorded a conviction, fined the fisher $6000 plus court costs and ordered the forfeiture of the man’s boat, net and fish,” he said. “Under Queensland law, a recreational fisher cannot possess a regulated commercial fishing net without an authority. “The regulations limit a recreational fisher to possessing or using a seine net that is no longer than 16m …

AN anchor serves an important purpose on a boat. When people want to stop their boat to go fishing the anchor is lowered so they can stay on one spot. For generations, anchors were manually released and taken in. This is hard work and can be a challenge, especially with a heavy boat and strong tides. A winch makes it easier …

THE Queensland Government has started conversations with key stakeholder groups on how a net-free zone could be implemented in Moreton Bay. Fisheries Minister Leanne Donaldson said exploring the best way to implement a commercial net-free zone in Moreton Bay was an election commitment. “Six months after creating net-free zones off Cairns, Mackay and the Capricorn Coast we are talking to …