Fishing News

FISHERIES ministers from across the Pacific have converged on Mooloolaba, Queensland today to meet about the future of critical tuna fisheries. Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Anne Ruston said the 14th Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting would discuss the sustainable management of fisheries in the Pacific, particularly tuna fisheries. “In 2015 the global tuna catch was valued at …

Reef recovery, the Cairns area will be the target of a month-long compliance blitz that has recreational fishers poaching from green zones set firmly in its sights. With areas off Cairns ranked among the Great Barrier Reef’s most prolific illegal recreational fishing hot spots, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and its partners are cracking down on anyone breaking …

Full briefings and an education process will be offered for technology deficiencies. The new process might sound daunting but it’s all pretty simple and AFT has all angler anxieties covered. The all-new 2017 Evans Head Fishing Classic will run from July 7 to July 14 and AFT has introduced a slew of random prizes, a whole new schedule and its …

BIOSECURITY Queensland is conducting surveillance after a single Asian green mussel was confirmed at a site south of Weipa. Biosecurity Queensland Invasive Plants and Animals general manager John Robertson commended Rio Tinto employees for their vigilance and rapid response in reporting the pest to Biosecurity Queensland. “A marine biologist conducting routine surveillance as part of Rio Tinto’s monitoring spotted the …

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 …