Fishing News

THE Queensland Government today introduced a new biosecurity regulation aimed at strengthening the containment of white spot disease and further protecting Queensland’s multi-million dollar seafood industry. Chief Biosecurity officer Dr Jim Thompson said this regulation has been introduced to contain white spot disease and prevent further outbreaks. “The new regulation provides a balance between preventing further outbreaks of the disease and …

THE Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is undertaking a review of the import conditions for prawns and prawn products for human consumption. The review will consider the biosecurity risks for these imports from all countries and recommend appropriate import conditions to manage these. This review will be conducted through a comprehensive non-regulated risk analysis of existing import conditions …

A BRISBANE recreational fisher with a history of fisheries infringements has been fined $17,000 for crabbing offences on the Logan River. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol acting district manager Mark Saul said fisheries officers intercepted the Stretton man’s vehicle leaving Marks Rd boat ramp at Woongoolba on the Logan River during a targeted operation against illegal crabbing. They found 104 …

BIOSECURITY Queensland has completed treatment on all infected prawn farm operations in southeast Queensland following an outbreak of white spot disease in December 2016. Final treatment and discharge of water from the seven prawn farms along the Logan River and in Moreton Bay finished this week. White Spot Response Program Director Kerrod Beattie said due to extensive rainfall and increased …

RECREATIONAL fishers are being warned by Biosecurity Queensland not to use tilapia or any other noxious fish as bait, particularly in central Queensland. Biosecurity Queensland officer Anita Ramage said there had been reports of people using the noxious fish as bait to catch barramundi in the Fitzroy River. “People need to understand it is illegal to use tilapia as bait …

TWO men have received fines totalling $20,000 after being caught with female and undersize crabs at night on the northern end of the Gold Coast. Illegal crabbing Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers conducted surveillance at Shipper Drive on the Gold Coast after receiving complaints from recreational fishers. QBFP officer Ryan Stove said around 10.30pm, officers intercepted two men as they …

TWO brothers were fined more than $6000 after pleading guilty in the Cleveland Magistrates’ Court to using excess crab pots in a Moreton Bay Marine Park conservation zone. The brothers, aged 18 and 19, were intercepted in a targeted operation by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service officers and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol Officers in December 2015. QPWS principal ranger …

A north Queensland recreational fisher has been fined $9000 after pleading guilty to four fishing offences including illegal netting in the Ingham Magistrates’ Court. The man was charged with unlawfully using two commercial fishing nets, possessing four commercial fishing nets and two protected sawfish rostrums, and making a misleading statement to Fisheries Queensland officers. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district …

A Mount Warren Park man has been fined $18,000 in the Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court for multiple fisheries offences on the Logan River. Logan River crabbing offence Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Rob McDonald said the fisher faced 17 charges following a three-month investigation into illegal crabbing and the subsequent sale of crabs. “The charges included taking and possessing female …

Dear fellow boaties and rec fishers, After many years of campaigning I am excited that work has commenced on the dredging around the Cleveland Boat Ramp at William St. This is great because it will provide greater access to the bay from the boat ramp. It is especially good news for the Raby Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue. They will no …