QLD size and bag limits Vs NSW size and bag limits

[Dubbzy]

In the process of planning a few fishing trips in northern nsw and I was checking out the size and bag limits while applying for my fishing permit. To me I would like to think that size and bag limits are based on science and a lot of other environmental factors, but looking at the bag and size limits on common bread and butter species in QLD and NSW, it’s amazing that not one fish out of the common ones I looked at has the same size and bag limit. Does a fish swim from the gold coast across the tweed and all of a sudden change its breeding habits? There must be a reason whys its so, but at first glance it seems very strange to me.

[table]

[tr]

[td]Bream QLD 25cm Bag 30[/td]

[td]Bream NSW 25cm Bag 20[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Whiting QLD 23cm Bag 30[/td]

[td]Whiting NSW 27cm Bag 20[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Flathead Dusky QLD 40cm-75cm Bag 5[/td]

[td]Flathead Dusky NSW 36cm (1 over 70cm)Bag 10[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Flathead Other QLD 30cm Bag 5[/td]

[td]Flathead Other NSW 33cm Bag 20[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Tailor QLD 35cm Bag 20[/td]

[td]Tailor NSW 30cm Bag 20[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Mulloway QLD 75cm Bag 2[/td]

[td]Mulloway NSW 45cm (2 over 70cm) Bag 5[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Snapper QLD 35cm (1 over 70cm) Bag 4[/td]

[td]Snapper NSW 30cm Bag 10[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

[Seiran]

It's about trying to find the balance between good science and keeping the public happy.

The Moreton Bay Green Zones are a good example. The proposed zones are very different to the zones which were eventually proposed and were set more on keeping the public happy than good science.

[Jords]

I think the way to do it is does a fish in FNQ behave the same way as central/southern nsw? there are always going to be issues in blanket regulations for a state.

[Gad]

Not to sure what you mean,there is certainly a lot of science and consultations go into determining these things,especially south of the Tweed.The below media release shows that their doing a good job. :dry:

MEDIA RELEASE

South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association

NSW allow unrestricted commercial flathead fishing

21 May 2013. For immediate release.

On May 3, in what has been described by Commonwealth fishing operators as “..a shock move..â€, the NSW Minister for Primary Industries the Hon. Katrina Hodgkinson signed a notice removing commercial catch limits for many fish species in NSW, including flathead. This means that state licensed vessels can now take unlimited amounts of flathead, while the same fish are regulated and catch limits imposed on NSW recreational anglers along the coastline of NSW, and that limits remain on Commonwealth commercial fishers in waters outside 3 miles off the NSW coastline.

It also means that NSW commercial fishing licenses that are currently not used may now become active, as unscrupulous operators seek to maximise the loophole created by these legislative changes.

The South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association’s CEO, Mr Simon Boag explained, “It amazes us that NSW would allow their commercial fishers to take unlimited catches of many species including flathead. To this point Australian fisheries have been the best managed in the world but doing this jeopardises their sustainability in NSW particularly.â€

Mr Boag added that, “We’re disappointed that NSW did not talk about this with the Commonwealth fisheries management authority and, worse, we understand that NSW officials may have misled Commonwealth officials and told them that the NSW government would not introduce unrestricted catches. No agencies from NSW spoke with Commonwealth fishers or SETFIA.â€.

Commonwealth quotas are an asset that sits in the balance sheet of many companies, and are a strong and valuable property right in well managed fisheries. Mr Boag said that, “Strong property rights promote environmental stewardship. In this case, Commonwealth quota owners are motivated to look after flathead because they rely on it for a living, and want to ensure the value of their quota remains strong, by having a lasting, sustainable, healthy fishery. By allowing uncontrolled catches of flathead by State vessels, NSW has significantly reduced the value of this quota, and put at risk the sustainability of the fishery at the same timeâ€.

“This action is bewildering to us, given NSW have suggested that the bag limit on flathead for NSW recreational fishermen should be halved - in the very same waters that they are now allowing uncontrolled commercial fishing accessâ€.

SETFIA calls on Minister Hodgkinson to restore the trip limits on NSW vessels, and ensure that fisheries for flathead remain sustainable. It also calls on the Federal Minister for Fisheries, Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig, to protect the Commonwealth industry’s property rights and sustainability of the fish stocks, by mediating a resource sharing arrangement between NSW and the Commonwealth.

For more information contact Mr Simon Boag 0428-141591, simonboag@setfia.org.au or www.setfia.org.au

Background information:

Fisheries in Australia are managed either by a State or by the Commonwealth. Commonwealth fisheries are supported by fish stock assessments that set sustainable catches, which are then controlled by quotas allocated to individual fishermen. The catch from NSW state fisheries is controlled by limiting the number of fishing vessels, their size, their fishing gear and, until recently, the amount of fish they can take per trip. NSW do not undertake a flathead stock assessment and instead rely on the Commonwealth assessment.

More details about flathead can be found on the FRDC website.

[sehrguht]

10 snapper per person is a joke especially at 30cm they have no meat on them. And 5 jewies i'm surprised they have any left.

[muzz]

Doesn't NSW have an aquaculture program breeding and restocking mulloway and snapper?

[efc]

The jewie laws in nsw are strange. A fish that grows to 180cm can be caught and kept at 45cm is crazy.

[tugger]

mmmmmm nsw liberal state govt open slather on flathead for pro's its looking after a few getting them rich while destroying the fishery yeah that's typical of the Lib's

[Gad]

mmmmmm nsw liberal state govt open slather on flathead for pro's its looking after a few getting them rich while destroying the fishery yeah that's typical of the Lib's

along with Labor shutting everything up in marine parks and green zones we`ll soon only have the choice of eating imported African 'barra' and Mekong Delta basa.

Oh well,when there`s no fishing to be done in time to come,the money we would invest in our fishing pusuits,can still benefit the economy,by buying knitting needles and wool yarn.

If Binder is reading this,he may be inclined to start a Knitting for Dummies thread.

[JarrydA]

mmmmmm nsw liberal state govt open slather on flathead for pro's its looking after a few getting them rich while destroying the fishery yeah that's typical of the Lib's

and Mekong Delta basa.

Maybe not even that, I heard today on about a study released by the world bank stating that asian fish stocks such as these will be down 50% in the next 20-30 years due to global warming.

[aussie123]

This article is a bit of a beat up against the offshore prawn trawl industry.

The law has always banned the taking of finfish by the OPT boats from Crowdy Head to Barrenjoey.

Every night any fish caught are thrown over the side of the boat dead and all they are allowing now is those fish to be sold and not wasted.

I think it is great that fishermen are now allowed to sell those dead fish instead of dumping them overboard.

Changing the law will not have a great impact on stock levels as prawn trawlers do not and never will chase flathead as it is an unviable proposition.

They must use BRD's which eliminate 50% or more of all finfish and only a very small amount make it right down in to the nets cod end.

They also only work over sand therefore they catch very little other species of fish.

The majority of their catch is sand flathead and red spot whiting.

Dusky flathead which is the main flathead for recs is rarely seen in a prawn net.

The same should happen here in Qld.

In this day and age,forcing fishermen to dump dead fish on a daily basis is ridiculous.

You can cut down the numbers and size of fish caught by a trawl net but you cannot build a trawl net that does not catch some fish so why make laws that say you must dump a precious resource over the side of the boat to feed the sharks and dolphins.

This change is just a bit of commonsense if you know the industry and the laws around it.

[Gad]

unfortunately commonsense and politics are usually,foriegn to one and other

[Dubbzy]

it just struck me as strange, but some good points there,