New fishing rules strike a balance

Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin today announced significant changes to rules and regulations affecting commercial and recreational fishers throughout Queensland.

Mr Mulherin said: "The new rules are aimed at ensuring that, with increasing population pressures, the State’s fisheries remain sustainable while also maintaining a catch share balance between the two sectors.

“Changes to the Inshore Fin Fish Fishery - the largest and most diverse fishery in the State, the East Coast Trawl, East Coast Tropical Rock Lobster, Crab and Freshwater fisheries have now been finalised," Mr Mulherin said.

“Consultation on these changes has taken place over the past two years. More than 150 public meetings were held during this time with more than 2500 attendees. My Department also received over 3500 written submissions.

“A range of options were considered through this extensive consultation process. The final measures received both public and scientific scrutiny before they were approved by the government. The first phase of the review dealing with state-wide issues has been completed. A second phase will commence in 2009 to address regional fisheries issues.

“I would like to thank all those who participated in this process. The feedback received was invaluable in reaching the final management arrangements.

"The majority of these new rules will come into affect on March 1, 2009.

“Queensland's population has doubled in the last 30 years to 4.3 million. Most of that growth has occurred along the coast - placing greater pressure on our fishing resources. Our outdoor lifestyle has led to an increase in boat ownership among Queenslanders. This factor, as well as improvements in fishing technology, gives greater capacity for catching fish.

“First and foremost, these critical changes will ensure the sustainability of our fish stocks.

“We also want to ensure that commercial fishing remains viable and recreational anglers can continue to enjoy the Queensland fishing experience. It is about striking the right balance.

"The changes include new bag and size limits for some of our most popular bread and butter species like bream, whiting, tailor, and flathead.(See attached table)

"Changes to crab pot rules will also apply to all fishers. Possession limits for crab pots now apply for recreational and commercial fishers. For example recreational fishers will not be allowed to have any more that four crab pots in their possession at a time. Fishers may also need to make adjustments to the openings of their crab pots as openings can now only be 45cm in circumference.

"The use of 'witches hat' dillies will also be phased out, as this equipment easily drifts away and has been seen entangled around turtles' flippers.”

Mr Mulherin said the recreational sector would benefit from three new dams to be added to the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme.

"As part of the scheme, these dams will be stocked with native fish to enhance the recreational fishing experience. As with other dams on the scheme, anglers will need to purchase a permit to fish in these water bodies.

"The dams are Fairbairn Dam near Emerald, Theresa Creek Dam near Clermont, and North Pine Dam on Brisbane's north side."

The changes are on the DPI&F website now and new recreational fishing guides, which will include all the new management changes, will be available from early 2009.These guides will be available from DPI&F offices as well as a number of bait and tackle stores.

Mr Mulherin said changes had also been made to the commercial fisheries in Queensland, including the East Coast Net Fishery which targets shark, grey mackerel and barramundi; the East Coast Trawl Fishery, which targets prawns and scallops; and the East Coast Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery.

"The East Coast Net Fishery has been reviewed during the past two years and most of the new rules will be introduced from July next year. Some of the most significant changes relate to shark, which are slow growing and highly susceptible to overfishing," Mr Mulherin said.

"In response to an independent expert review of the fishery commissioned by the Commonwealth Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett MP a 600 tonne commercial total allowable catch of shark is proposed. This is a 350 tonne reduction from the current catch. This will be progressed in early 2009 and I intend to have it in place by July 2009 when the quota year will start.

“I am also committed to implementing a netting closure to the Normanby, Bizant, and Kennedy Rivers that flow into Princess Charlotte Bay. These three rivers represent critical habitat areas for sawfish and the only known remaining habitat of the speartooth shark.

“In other changes, the number of commercial net fishing days will be monitored annually to ensure that they do not exceed past a new yearly level of fewer than 30,000 days.

“Recreational fishers wanted a total allowable catch limit placed on major species taken commercially. However, this is not practical given the multi-species nature of the fishery and the monitoring required for such a scheme. Monitoring the net fishing days is a more sensible compromise.

“The management arrangements for the fishery will now be submitted to Minister Garrett for consideration for export approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

"Changes are also being introduced to protect the sustainability of eastern king prawn and tropical rock lobster, two of our most highly valued seafood products. These changes are in response to concerns expressed by our fisheries scientists about the sustainability of these stocks.

“These changes include the introduction of a commercial total allowable catch in the tropical rock lobster fishery. Limits on trawl activity will be applied in the middle of the year if fishing effort exceeds specified levels between January and March annually.

"I have also listened to the commercial fishers concerns about facing difficult times with increased fuel prices and competition from imports.

"As a result the government has lifted some restrictions to give fishers more flexibility in running their business, while ensuring sustainability of our fisheries. This includes allowing trawl operators to retain a small number of other species which are not taken by recreational fishers. This catch can be sold by commercial operators, rather than discarded."

Mr Mulherin said a number of new rules would have a strong conservation benefit.

"As part of the new rules, all sawfish and speartooth shark are no-take species, given their international and national listing as endangered species," Mr Mulherin said.

"The 'witches hat' crab pots which are being phased out, will have a benefit to our dugong and turtle populations, particularly in areas such as Moreton Bay and Hervey Bay.

"In addition, commercial fishers will need to be in attendance of their nets at all times, which will help to ensure that if the nets interact with a protected species such as a whale or dugong, they can be released unharmed."

For more information on the new rules visit - www.dpi.qld.gov.au - or phone 13 25 23. Further information will be mailed out to organisations and individuals registered with DPI&F in the coming weeks.


Media: Mark Symons 32396530

Effective 1 March 2009

Species	Current size limit	Current bag limit	New size limit	New bag limit
Amberjack and samsonfish	No limit	No limit	75cm	Combined bag limit of 2 for amberjack and samsonfish
Barred javelin (spotted grunter)	30 cm	No limit	40 cm	10
Black jewfish	45 cm	10	75 cm	2
Blackspotted rockcod (estuary cod)	35–120 cm	No limit	38–120 cm	5 (all cod species)
Blue threadfin (salmon)	40 cm	No limit	No change	10
Camouflage cod	50–100 cm	5 (all cod species)	50–70 cm	No change
Cobia (black kingfish)	75 cm	10	No change	2
Diamondscale mullet	No limit	No limit	30 cm	20
Dusky flathead (mud flathead)	40–70 cm	5	40–75 cm	No change
Flathead (apart from dusky flathead)	30 cm	No limit	No change	5
Flowery cod	50–100 cm	5 (all cod species)	50–70 cm	No change
Garfish	No limit	No limit	No change	50
Giant queenfish	No limit	No limit	50 cm	5
Golden snapper (fingermark)	35 cm	10	No change	5
Goldspotted rockcod (estuary cod)	35–120 cm	No limit	38–120 cm	5 (all cod species)
Grass emperor (grass sweetlip)	30 cm	No limit	No change	10
Grey mackerel	50 cm	10	60 cm	5
King threadfin (salmon)	60 cm	10	No Change	5
Luderick	23 cm	No limit	30 cm	10
Mahi mahi (dolphin fish)	45 cm	No limit	60 cm	5
Mangrove Jack	35cm	No limit	No Change	5
Mulloway	45 cm	10	75 cm	2
School mackerel	50 cm	30	No change	10
Sea mullet	30 cm	No limit	No change	20
Shark mackerel	50 cm	No limit	No change	10
Silver javelin (small spotted grunter)	30 cm	No limit	No change	10
Swallowtail dart	No limit	No limit	30 cm	30
Trevally	No limit	No limit	No change	20
Trumpeter whiting (winter whiting)	No limit	No limit	No change	50
Wahoo	75 cm	10	No change	2
Whiting (all whiting except trumpeter whiting)	23 cm	No limit	No change	30 combined
Wolf herring	No limit	No limit	No change	10
Yellowtail kingfish	50 cm	No limit	60 cm	2

Effective July 1 2009

Species	Current size limit	Current bag limit	New size limit	New bag limit
Sharks and rays	No limit	No limit	1.5 m max	1

Effective 1 March 2010

Species	Current size limit	Current bag limit	New size limit	New bag limit
Bream (yellowfin and pikey)	23 cm	No limit	25 cm	30 (combined limit with tarwhine)
Tailor	30 cm	20 (extended limit for Fraser)	35 cm	No change
Tarwhine	23 cm	No limit	25 cm	30 (combined limit with bream)