State of Origin event within the Cape Byron Marine Park

[AFO]

** This thread discusses the content article: State of Origin event within the Cape Byron Marine Park **

For all those attending the State of Origin fishing competition being held this weekend down on the Brunswick River, there is some important information that you should be aware of. The Brunswick River is located within the Cape Byron Marine Park which is one of the six New South Wales Marine Parks regulated by the Marine Parks Authority.

What does this mean for a competitor in the State of Origin fishing competition?

You need to ensure you are aware of the zoning that applies to the Marine Park and ensure at all times during the event you comply with the zones. In NSW the 'pink zones' called Sanctuary Zones are no fishing zones. The main part of the Brunswick River is in a 'yellow zone' called a Habitat Protection Zone which allows fishing but some of the creeks that come off it are Sanctuary Zones.  Fishing and gathering invertebrates is not allowed in the Marine Park Sanctuary Zones, which include most of Marshalls Creek and Simpson's Creek upstream from the Bowling Club. Along the beach down to Tyagarah there are yellow zones and there is signage in the along the beach and in the dunes demarcating the zone areas.

Please familiarise yourself with the zoning map before fishing! There will be zone maps handed out to each competitor.

Please find the Zoning Map here which shows the different zones, and explains the activities allowed in each.

Sustainable Fishing

Brunswick Heads is a very popular destination for recreational beach and river fishing and we aim to keep it that way by following simple sustainable fishing practices. To keep fishing in the future we need to maintain healthy and diverse habitats. Only catch sufficient fish for your immediate needs. Use environmentally friendly tackle where possible and dispose of litter responsibly. Please acquaint yourself with the NSW regulations covering bagging and minimum fish sizes displayed on notices and in brochures. Spearfishing is prohibited and you should know it is illegal to sell your catch.

Licences are required in NSW for hand or line fishing, bait collecting or collecting invertebrates or for possession of fishing gear near waters. (Under 18 years are exempt). Licences can be obtained from fishing outlets in town and you must carry the receipt.

You can expect to catch many species in the Brunwick River and surrounding region including estuary perch, yellowfin bream, tarwhine, sand flathead, garfish, leatherjacket, mangrove jack, luderick, moses perch, jewfish, mullet, pearl perch, tailor, silver trevally, snapper.

For those that like to use bait there are some important rules you should know about collecting pippis, yabbies and crabs. The pipi is an important food source for the ied oystercatcher. Pipi collection must be undertaken by hand and should not be taken 50m beyond the high tide mark. They should be used as bait only. Please take only what you need for the day and rebury the small ones. The bag limit is 50. The island near the Ferry Caravan Park is a good place to collect yabbies for bait. Mud, black and mangrove crabs must be under 8.5cm from front to back of carapace. The bag limit is 5.

Location and Size

Cape Byron Marine Park covers approximately 22 000 hectares, extending from Brunswick Heads in the north to Lennox Head in the south. It includes the seabed and extends seaward from the mean high water mark to the 3 nautical mile limit of state waters. The tidal waters of the Brunswick River and its tributaries as well as Belongil and Tallow creeks are also within the marine park.

Special Features of the Marine Park

Local marine habitats include exposed and sheltered sandy beaches, rocky shores, rocky reefs, submerged pinnacles, small rocky islands, coral communities, riverine estuaries, coastal creeks and lakes, and sandy seabed habitats.

Marine life includes many species of dolphins, fish, seabirds and marine plants along with threatened species such as little terns, grey nurse sharks and sea turtles. Many of the fascinating animals that inhabit the waters surrounding Julian rocks including, sharks, rays, turtles, eels, starfish, and corals can be viewed on the Julian rocks website and for video footage go to the Byron underwater website. Examples of some of the tiny marine organisms living in the shallow waters of the Brunswick River including colourful nudibranchs (sea slugs), sea snails, shrimps, crabs, corals, starfish, anemones, octopus, flat worms, sea squirts and sponges can be viewed by going to www.roboastra.com.

Humpback whales travel through the marine park on their annual migration, making the area an important site for long-term monitoring of whale populations. Sites of cultural significance to Indigenous people include Julian Rocks, Cocked Hat Rocks, Cape Byron and beaches around Broken Head.

Recreational and Commercial Use

Use of the resources is regulated through the Cape Byron Marine Park Zoning Plan which aims to conserve marine biodiversity while allowing sustainable recreational and commercial activities. The State of Origin fishing competition requires a permit to hold this event and so please ensure you abide by the regulations. Please read and familiarise yourself with the  Cape Byron Marine Park User Guide .

For more information please visit the Marine Parks Authority NSW website

[Angus]

It is fairly easy to navigate the fishable waters in the river itself. However for those going offshore please double check the map on the front page.

A permit is required for us to run this event and so it is imperative competitors abide by the rules.

Cheers.

Angus

[ellicat]

I had a look at the map last night and couldn't tell if the greenzone (pink) comes right into the beach south of the mouth wall, or if it stops a few hundred metres off the beach.

Can anyone clarify this ?

[Scope]

ellicat wrote:

I had a look at the map last night and couldn't tell if the greenzone (pink) comes right into the beach south of the mouth wall, or if it stops a few hundred metres off the beach.

Can anyone clarify this ?

It says that the "Habitat Protection Zone (yellow) extends 100m from mean high water mark"

It also marks a point that is approx 2km south from the wall at the mouth of the brunswick river where the yellow ends and the pink begins

So it looks like you can fish off the beach

Had to get the bloody hubble telescope out to read it its that small

[jeff f]

you can fish off the beach to the north of the rivermouth and for 2km south of the rivermouth

cant fish in the north arm

dont go past the bowls club in the south arm

[ellicat]

Thanks. I didn't have my hubble handy.

[mookystiks]

ellicat wrote:

Thanks. I didn't have my hubble handy.

Mine is locked and loaded

[ellicat]

Yep. Cheers Mooky. My 1am eyes couldn't see the yellow colouring under the brown "net" area :blush: