Fishing News

IN what is a first for Queensland, an ‘early warning’ detection system has been placed in the water at the Port of Mackay to find any traces of exotic marine pests. Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said Queensland boasted some of Australia’s and the world’s best marine environments, but they were at risk from unwelcome visitors. “We need to keep …

MARINE Parks helicopter patrols across north Queensland are continuing to catch fishers poaching in green zones, with several offenders fined and convicted in the past month. A series of no-take green zone poaching offences recently went before the Cairns, Townsville and Mackay Magistrates’ Courts, with fines up to $2850 and four convictions recorded — three out of the four were detected by aerial surveillance. …

THE longest-serving Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol Officers have welcomed a new generation of recruits to Parliament House on their induction day. The fisheries compliance officers are part of a new intake under the Queensland Government’s $20 million Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017-2020. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the inductees included three Indigenous officers and an …

THE latest round of surveillance tests conducted by Biosecurity Queensland show no signs of white spot disease in southeast Queensland waters, more than two-and-a-half years after the virus devastated the big prawn farms on the Logan River. It’s a big relief for the prawn farmers whose stocks were destroyed after white spot disease was first discovered two-and-a-half years ago, and …

CAN Australia successfully manage a pest fish population such as carp by commercial fishing? And would it have a lasting success? The answer is probably not on its own, at the continental scale. Commercial harvesting to control carp could be used to support biocontrol methods such as the virus control being investigated by the National Carp Control Plan. The research …

FISHERIES officers from the NSW Department of Primary Industries have continued to put the blowtorch on illegal crab fishing and black-market sales. NSWDPI A/Director Fisheries Compliance Brett Andrew said several people including a restaurant owner are in hot water for allegedly dealing illegally in crabs. “Fisheries officers inspected a restaurant in South West Rocks on May 28 and seized a …

CREATING more sustainable fisheries for future generations is at the heart of a discussion paper released for public comment by the Queensland Government. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said anyone with an interest in Queensland’s world-famous fisheries could now have their say on proposed amendments to the Fisheries Regulation 2008. “The Queensland Government is committed to …

A BURNETT Heads father and son have been fined $19,000 for significant black market fishing activity involving more than 90 illegal transactions. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the pair were unlawfully selling thousands of dollars worth of prawns and mud crabs, and were found in possession of regulated fish and commercial fishing apparatus. “This prosecution …

SOUTHEAST Queensland fishers are set to reel in a bigger catch with the installation of fish-aggregation devices along the Sunshine and Gold Coasts and in Moreton Bay. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the devices, called FADs, were a floating buoy that gets tethered offshore and attracts fish. “We’re investing $1 million in rolling out a …

THE Queensland Government is investing an additional $17.1 million over four years in its Shark Control Program in the 2019-20 budget to ensure even greater swimmer protection and safety at the state’s most popular swimming beaches. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the funding would continue the operation and maintenance of the Shark Control Program, while …