QLD Minister Rejects Pro-net Petition

[Gad]

Taken from Fishing World email newsletter

17 Aug 2015

According to the Gympie Times, Rockhampton MP and Minister for Fisheries Bill Byrne has dismissed petitions, signed by more than 5000 people, which demanded the government abandon plans to create "net free zones" off the Capricorn Coast, Mackay and Cairns.

The Gympie Times reported the petitions called for the right of Queenslanders "to buy fresh local caught seafood and oppose any fishing closures".

The petitions also said: "75% of Queenslanders cannot or do not fish and rely on net fisheries to access fresh local fish".

The minister said in response the plan was "to allow commercial trawling, line fishing and crabbing to continue within these zones".

"And therefore the general community will still be able to purchase seafood caught in other commercial fisheries and from commercial netting activities outside of these three zones."

The Minister said it was an election promise by the Palaszczuk Government and that $10 million had been set aside in the current budget to buy out commercial fishing licences "to minimise impacts from displaced commercial fishing" operations.

[STKE]

The petitions also said: "75% of Queenslanders cannot or do not fish and rely on net fisheries to access fresh local fish".

These statements shits me. Who and how many people do they survey to come up with that statistic.

[rayke1938]

At last we have a fisheries minister of the same ilk as Tom Burns.

Cheers

Ray

[Gad]

Ray, does he have a boat named "The Electorate 2"

[Gad]

Queensland Govt approves net-free zones for Central and North Queensland

Fishing World email newsletter 21 Aug 2015

THE Queensland Government will today deliver on its election commitment and move ahead on the implementation of three net-free fishing zones in Queensland before the end of the year.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne said Cabinet had considered the feedback from more than 6,300 public submissions received during the recent consultation process.

“Ninety per cent of submissions were in favour of introducing net-free zones,†Minister Byrne said.

“The net free zones will offer benefits in tourism and recreational fishing in Queensland and I am excited about the opportunities these zones will have directly on the communities along the boundaries.

“As the Minister for Fisheries I am proud to be leading the reform of fisheries management that has been talked about over the years but never progressed.

“The implementation of the net free zones is a key initiative in Queensland’s commitment to the Reef2050 Plan and today we stand by our promise.â€

Minister Byrne said the Government understood the commercial fishing industry is concerned about the fisheries reform agenda, and in particular the introduction of net-free zones, but reform is an election commitment and the Queensland Government is committed to seeing it through.

As a result of all the feedback received throughout the consultation process there have been some adjustments to the boundaries originally proposed.

“At Seaforth the boundary of the zone has been amended slightly to align with the local dugong protection area,†Minister Byrne said.

“The boundary for the Capricorn Coast zone has also been altered to reduce the overall size of the area while still including the waters of Keppel Bay and the Fitzroy River.â€

Minister Byrne said there was significant public support for the introduction of the zones and this is the first step in ensuring that Queensland takes advantage of the tourism potential of fishery resources.

“Ten million dollars has been set aside to help the commercial net fishing industry adjust to the introduction of the three zones and we’ll use some of that money to buyback licences from fishers who want to transition out of the industry.

“The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is writing to each netting licence holder and fishers who worked on those licences to advise them of the details around the settlement and buyback schemes and offering to meet with them individually to explain what it means for them.â€

The final maps for the net-free areas are available at www.daf.qld.gov.au.

[Gad]

taken from FW email newsletter

Net Free Area disallowance motion snubs rec fishers

17 Sep 2015

CAIRNS and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) has expressed dismay at a disallowance motion tabled by the LNP opposition in an attempt to derail the legislation necessary to implement three Net Free Areas in Queensland.

CAFNEC director Josh Coates said: “This is a cynical political move and is a huge snub to the many people who have worked for years to see this common sense approach to resource sharing and environmental protection in areas under significant environmental pressure."

"The LNP is saying there has not been enough consultation but this is just not the case as there has been much opportunity for input and discussion in recent months and years. The recent submission process showed overwhelming community support - in the order of 90% support for the Net Free Areas," said Coates.

"Arguments that compensation is not adequate do not stand up to scrutiny with figures being mentioned well in excess of the amounts offered in recent net buy-back processes.

"Net Free Areas will help protect local fish populations, marine mammals like dugongs and will be good for recreational fishers and fishing tourism. Commercial fishers will still be able to operate in less heavily fished areas and the scare campaign regarding supplies of fish for local markets does not hold water.

"CAFNEC is proud to stand alongside recreational fishers including the local CAREFISH group in calling on the LNP to support the environment and recreational fishing community in implementing these zones.â€

[Gad]

Seafood industry bites back at Nets Out Queensland claims
/>http://www.qt.com.au/news/seafood-industry-bites-back-nets-out-queensland/2782392/

22nd Sep 2015 12:53 PM

THE Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) hasn't been hooked by data provided by Nets Out Queensland (NOQ) last week which suggested many seafood outlets in the region did not stock locally sourced fish.

The data was intended to answer community concerns that local shops would no longer be able to stock fish after the net-free areas come into effect.

NOQ's sample survey anonymously visited 44 retailers in the region including fish and chip shops, restaurants, taverns, pubs, specialist outlets and supermarkets to inquire and record their fish stock.

But the QSIA said the report should not be considered scientific, open or transparent.

"There are two retail/whole businesses in the Capricornia region that were never interviewed for the survey,

Glenmore Seafoods and Rosslyn Bay Fishermans Market," a spokesman said.

"Both stores have indicated that as well as barramundi they sell triple tail, sea mullet and diamond scale, flake, silver jew, mangrove jack, fingermark, tongue sole, pomfret, flathead, blue threadfin, king threadfin, flat threadfin, bream, grey mackerel, grunter, queenfish and whitting - all are net caught.

"Fresh fish product is available year-round at many locations (that) may not have (been) surveyed (in the) report."

After the NOQ claimed only four to six of the 44 local outlets surveyed may experience a slight short-term reduction in species currently supplied by commercial netters fishing the proposed new net-free areas, the QSIA have labelled the claim a "downplay" of the region's product.

"Queensland and Australian consumers are set to miss out on 850,000 serves of fresh local fish," he said.

"It's not fear that generated over 27,000 petitions signatures collected across Queensland... it was the stupidity of the situation."

The spokesman said those looking for data on the sustainability of fisheries could visit the stock status assessments on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website.

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Recreational fishermen not taking the net bait
/>http://www.qt.com.au/news/recreational-fishermen-not-taking-the-net-bait/2783813/

23rd Sep 2015 6:00 AM Updated: 6:39 AM

THE region's keen recreational anglers took the Fitzroy River yesterday with a strong message - free the 200 tonne of fish currently trapped behind nets.

Nets Out Queensland led the fleet of close to 80 boats in representing the region's 25% of the population who are actively involved in recreational fishing in net-free fishing zones.

Nets Out Queensland spokesperson Nathan Johnston said fishing of the Fitzroy's large barramundi concentration would encourage the sport along with tourism.

"There are 200 tonne of fish (in the Fitzroy River) per annum and barramundi make up 150 tonne and king salmon the other 50," Mr Johnston said.

"When you talk about barramundi, people say they've caught it or eaten it at a restaurant.

"We want to see more of those fish available and better quality."

Yesterday's rally formed part of an ongoing debate between recreational and commercial fishermen who are warning the community net-free fishing areas could reduce the supply of fresh fish available for purchase in Rockhampton.

But Barra Bounty organiser committee member Kim Martin isn't taking the bait.

Mr Martin said the Rockhampton region represented 0.1% of the national supply of fresh fish.

"Fresh food works on a national supply chain," Mr Martin said.

"They are saying if the nets go, they won't have fresh fish but there isn't any there now."