Fishers reminded: know the rules or risk hefty fines
Published Tuesday, 23 December, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Fishers who don’t know the current fishing rules and regulations before they cast a line from land or water over the Christmas period could be at risk of facing hefty fines.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said fishers would be fined if they were caught with undersized fish and crabs, fish regulated by gender and for exceeding bag limits.
“Now more than ever, recreational fishermen need to know how to identify the fish they catch, as well as know their legal size and bag limit,” Mr Mulherin said.
“If fishers breach any rule or regulation they may suffer heavy on-the-spot fines, the maximum fine being $75,000 as determined by a Magistrates Court for possessing more than four fish regulated by gender, such as female crabs.”
Mr Mulherin said a common oversight was lack of understanding of size limits and misidentification of some species.
“Many recreational fishers believe all flathead species have a size limit of 30cm and no bag limit in Queensland waters. However, the mud/dusky flathead has a legal size of between 40cm and 70cm and a bag limit of five – a change that occurred several years ago.
“Many fishers struggle with differentiating between a mud/dusky flathead, sand flathead and bar-tailed flathead – a common mistake that can prove quite costly.”
Mr Mulherin said misidentification also occurred with other common species, including snapper, whiting, spangled emperor, grass emperor, tusk fish and parrot fish.
He said it was important fishers had a fish guide and accurate measuring equipment in their possession.
“All fishers must possess and use a ruler, snap gauge (crab gauge) to measure catch and they must know how to measure the fish and crabs correctly,” Mr Mulherin said.
Fishers can download rules and regulations by visiting the ‘Fisheries’ section of the DPI&F website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QPFP) district officer Mathew Davidson from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ (DPI&F) said fishers needed to pay particular attention to rules this season surrounding fishing apparatus such as crab pots.
“Crab pots and dillies must be marked by an identifying tag bearing the surname and address of the owner,” he said.
“The crab pot or dilly must have a float attached to it. This float must be light in colour and no less than 15cm in any dimension, with the name of the owner clearly inscribed on it.
“When fishing for blue swimmer crabs, mud crabs and spanner crabs in tidal waters, no more than four crab pots or dillies – or a combination of both – may be used per person.”
Mr Davidson also said fishers would be fined for possessing dead coral reef fin fish unless the pectoral fin had been removed from the fish.
“Removing the pectoral fin identifies the fish as a recreational caught fish and helps prevent the black market trade,” he said.
“The recreational fisher must not possess on board a boat a fish other than in any of the following forms: whole, gilled, gutted or filleted.
“In regard to fin fish other than coral reef fin fish, a recreational fisher must not remove the skin of fin fish on a boat until the fish is brought to shore.
“They also must not divide a fish into portions other than in a way that allows an inspector to easily count the number of fish.”
QBFP officers will be patrolling waterways and enforcing rules and regulations over the coming months.
“Officers will also be patrolling areas where most people would least expect us to be,” Mr Davidson said.
“They will be patrolling over various hours of the day and night; on weekends, public holidays and throughout the holiday period.”
Media contact: Matt Watson 3239 3120
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said fishers would be fined if they were caught with undersized fish and crabs, fish regulated by gender and for exceeding bag limits.
“Now more than ever, recreational fishermen need to know how to identify the fish they catch, as well as know their legal size and bag limit,” Mr Mulherin said.
“If fishers breach any rule or regulation they may suffer heavy on-the-spot fines, the maximum fine being $75,000 as determined by a Magistrates Court for possessing more than four fish regulated by gender, such as female crabs.”
Mr Mulherin said a common oversight was lack of understanding of size limits and misidentification of some species.
“Many recreational fishers believe all flathead species have a size limit of 30cm and no bag limit in Queensland waters. However, the mud/dusky flathead has a legal size of between 40cm and 70cm and a bag limit of five – a change that occurred several years ago.
“Many fishers struggle with differentiating between a mud/dusky flathead, sand flathead and bar-tailed flathead – a common mistake that can prove quite costly.”
Mr Mulherin said misidentification also occurred with other common species, including snapper, whiting, spangled emperor, grass emperor, tusk fish and parrot fish.
He said it was important fishers had a fish guide and accurate measuring equipment in their possession.
“All fishers must possess and use a ruler, snap gauge (crab gauge) to measure catch and they must know how to measure the fish and crabs correctly,” Mr Mulherin said.
Fishers can download rules and regulations by visiting the ‘Fisheries’ section of the DPI&F website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QPFP) district officer Mathew Davidson from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ (DPI&F) said fishers needed to pay particular attention to rules this season surrounding fishing apparatus such as crab pots.
“Crab pots and dillies must be marked by an identifying tag bearing the surname and address of the owner,” he said.
“The crab pot or dilly must have a float attached to it. This float must be light in colour and no less than 15cm in any dimension, with the name of the owner clearly inscribed on it.
“When fishing for blue swimmer crabs, mud crabs and spanner crabs in tidal waters, no more than four crab pots or dillies – or a combination of both – may be used per person.”
Mr Davidson also said fishers would be fined for possessing dead coral reef fin fish unless the pectoral fin had been removed from the fish.
“Removing the pectoral fin identifies the fish as a recreational caught fish and helps prevent the black market trade,” he said.
“The recreational fisher must not possess on board a boat a fish other than in any of the following forms: whole, gilled, gutted or filleted.
“In regard to fin fish other than coral reef fin fish, a recreational fisher must not remove the skin of fin fish on a boat until the fish is brought to shore.
“They also must not divide a fish into portions other than in a way that allows an inspector to easily count the number of fish.”
QBFP officers will be patrolling waterways and enforcing rules and regulations over the coming months.
“Officers will also be patrolling areas where most people would least expect us to be,” Mr Davidson said.
“They will be patrolling over various hours of the day and night; on weekends, public holidays and throughout the holiday period.”
Media contact: Matt Watson 3239 3120