Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
FOLLOWING a state-wide telephone conference last week, a network of concerned recreational fishing activists issued the following statement:
The Sustainable Fisheries Strategy reforms Queensland Labor PROMISED us to improve our fish stocks appear to have been canned!
Reforms that would have seen fish stock level ultimately raised to those already existing in the Net Free Zones were supposed to be rolled out by last Christmas. Fishers are still waiting – and furious!
Recreational fishers up and down the State are infuriated that further restrictions have been put on THEIR fishing activities and catch, while promised catch caps and reforms on commercial fisheries have STALLED and been seemingly shelved indefinitely. Exactly the same scenario happened back in 2012!
We demand the Government delivers on their promise of fisheries reforms and regulatory amendments required to implement the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy and lock in and announce the date when this happen, well prior to the State election later this year.
These reforms must go through in their entirety, so future fish stocks can be assured and certainty provided to all sectors. These reforms aren’t ground-breaking, they are just lifting fisheries management in Queensland to the standards already in place in other States and in Commonwealth fisheries.
We ask ALL concerned fishers to support these concerns by contacting the Minister for Fisheries Mark Furner or their local member. rec fishers furious
There’s no way Labor will deliver recreational fishers their demands. Neither will the LNP. Even before covid19 Jobs in my location are like hens teeth.
I’ve been involved in requesting net removal, running petitions ect. I spoke to several local MP’s and it was only the LNP that did anything.
Reflecting on it all, im now in favour of Pro fishers making a quid. Take Rocky as an example. I caught more fish in the Fitzroy before the pro’s got locked out. I dont bother going there now. Its full of comps when the fishing is at its best.
The depletion of fish stocks is down to both sets of fishers. Catch n release is vogue, but many fish returned will die of stress.
Bait fisho’s deplete bait, Prawns and Crabs. This is before we get to the black market ones. How many species die in cast nets?
Im not above any of this either..hands up to bait and using cast nets, even catch n release missions.
But to blame the Pro’s wholely n solely is wrong.
I’ve asked to be able to raise funds to restock estuaries. But that’s not on either.
Fisheries are well funded and well managed. The continual whinging from rec fisho’s will do one thing.
End up in tighter bag and size limits. More Green zones and breeding seasonal closures.
How can you argue with that, if sustainability of fish stocks is the goal?