Proposed new NT fishing regulations

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Matt Flynn
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Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by Matt Flynn »

Everyone needs something to chew on at Xmas, and here it is. Posted on behalf of AFANT's Chris Makepeace ... see the attachment.
*************************************
Hi Everyone

Continuing the Discussion on Possession and Size Limits

As promised, we have collated your responses to the discussion paper we put out in September — and there were plenty of responses which is great. We have had discussions with many people about the options and the attached paper contains a number of suggestions for you to consider. It appears there is support for some changes and we have made suggestions based on what you have told us and what we have learned from fisheries scientists and managers.

We now need as many people as possible to comment on the suggestions in this paper so we can finalise recommendations to the NT Government in March 2011. Please let as many fishers as possible know that the paper is out there for comment and encourage them to have their say. Yes, it is a fairly long paper and yes, there are a number of changes suggested but there is a summary in the first few pages and the rest of the paper sets out what you have told us and gives the reasons for the suggested changes. You will have a couple of months to consider the issues and let us know your views. I’ll send out a reminder a week or so before we close off comment.

AFANT Office Arrangements Over the Xmas New Year Period

The office will be closed from Friday December 24 until Tuesday January 4. There will still be email and phone contact so call or email if there is anything urgent.

Compliments of the season and I hope you have a great fishing year in 2011.

Regards
Chris Makepeace
Executive Officer
Amateur Fishermen's Association NT
08 8945 6455
0415 471 600
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luke79
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by luke79 »

The proposed limits etc. are fine by me.. something needs to be done pretty quickly I think. I dont think I represent the average fisherman though, id still happily go fishing if I couldnt keep anything I caught, infact I very rarely take any fish.

Would be nicer to see peoples attitudes change towards taking fish rather than having to impose tighter limits but thats not really gonna happen up here very quickly.

A fish in the ocean is always worth more to me than on a plate.
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by BEAR »

luke79 wrote:The proposed limits etc. are fine by me.. something needs to be done pretty quickly I think. I dont think I represent the average fisherman though, id still happily go fishing if I couldnt keep anything I caught, infact I very rarely take any fish.

Would be nicer to see peoples attitudes change towards taking fish rather than having to impose tighter limits but thats not really gonna happen up here very quickly.

A fish in the ocean is always worth more to me than on a plate.


unfortunately luke your take comes from a minority group of fishermen and I dont think we can just make new rules to appease the minority. most people who go fishing do so to get a feed of fish including me. there are some good ideas here but some that I would strongly oppose also. We are heading in a good direction but we need to ask which is the right path so everyone can get there!
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by cuddlescooper »

In regards to the golden snapper, Was woundering about what percentage of fish come from shallow enough waters that they can be released. I for one have caught plenty of juviniles out in the deeper waters and it is becomming a more common occurance which would render them dead from baratrauma if released.

I ask this question in regards to putting a size limit on them. If there is a high percentage caught in shallow areas then I would support the size limit. If a greater percentage is caught in deeper water then it is really a futile idea!
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by BarraBase »

Think the fisheries boys here are worried that if the feds marine parks find out how bad it is marine parks will be where we don't want them. i was told that we need to show we are doing something .
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by cuddlescooper »

Well that is the only reason that the Shark laws were brought in. To appease the federal government because sharks were said to be endangered all over the rest of Australia. Or so I was told anyway.

Something does have to be done though for other fish! And im fuked if I want Garret :fubird: and his clowns :fubird: imposing marine parks and that bullshit in places that we dont need or want them?

Im all for Jew sporning closures on grounds set by us here in the Territory and only by Territorians to benifit Territorians. I cant see closures in other areas benifitting other species but the Jew would IMHO.
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by c9h14n »

Well firstly, I do have a coxswain's ticket so therefore am a wanker, granted. I have also hit rock bars, sand bars, logs, trees and most recently had a head on with a huge manta ray at about 60km/h heading back in to Dundee, but of course "it was his fault".

But back on track, this issue is not going to go away, and the only way of guaranteeing the protection of the jewies (or any other potentially overfished species) is to take a one in all in approach.

I just don't get it that I can be sitting at Channel Point, Charles, Caution etc fishing for my two jewies (a bag limit that I agree with for their protection) whilst right next door is a pro boat or charter boat whaling them over the side. How the fukc does that do anything to protect them. All it does is provide a better opportunity for the pros and charters to fill up.

Seasonal closures need to be looked at immediately. It just makes sense. Also, it makes it a dam sight easier for the fisheries mob to actually plan and target poachers. We all know that there are only a few of them and they have a huge coastline to watch over so by protecting the areas that we know are succeptible to over fishing it takes the focus off the other areas that are fine....at the moment.

Now I need to get going and find someone in a small creek in a 3.75m tinnie that I can wash over the sides :D
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by AM »

Hi c9h14n,
good to hear from you again.
I agree with the statment about the Jew etc with commercial fishing.
The changes are coming there is no doubt and the overall limit is worth looking at as well else the pressure just gets spread over the entire fishery. When looking at how thing will affect what I do, I firstly check how they would have effected me in the past. Sure we spend a lot of money to go on trips for a few days but the reality is I have been on a few this year with some pretty resonable fishamen and if you take the jew (and for most people the snapper ) out of it we could scarsly have have looked after any more fish properly and were still 20 fish short of the overall limit and we didnt have a boat full of people. It just seems a shame to not support these limits , and the fish on the principal of the thing approach when in practice they may effect an individual fisherman (Jew and snapper asside) once or twice a decade.
Have I missed somthing with this coxswains thing as I am a card carring member as well. They gave em out for free in Qld when the the Small vessel operators certificate was abolished for commercial fishers a few years ago. But like you the fick finger of fate draws me to my share of go bads on the water as well. Though, no wa888ing so far. Have a good xmass see you on the water when the weather has improved.
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by c9h14n »

Yeh, the reference to the Coxswains thing is from the other topic about the charter industry. Both are linked though. Bring on the good weather I say, I'm getting cabin fever.
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by BarraBeast »

BarraBase wrote:Think the fisheries boys here are worried that if the feds marine parks find out how bad it is marine parks will be where we don't want them. i was told that we need to show we are doing something .


exactomondo!



here's my initial thoughts in size and bag limits. -
Reduce take for Mangrove Jack to 3(inline with snapper).

Reduce take for Red Emperor to 3. (inline with snapper).

Grass Emperor, reduce to 3 both (inline with snapper). to keep the rules simple and to cater for increased pressure on this species as a result of new take limits to popular fish.

Blue Salmon, reduce to 3(inline with snapper). to cater for the future pressure etc.

Coral trout – I think minimum size is waste of time.

I still believe the jewfish take is too generous at 2 per day. IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING THE SPECIES TO RECOVER TO PREVIOUS NUMBERS, WE SHOULD CUT IT BACK AGGRESSIVLY NOW, WHEN NUMBERS RECOVER IT CAN BE REVIEWED.

Circle hooks! Yes.

Barra – when limit is reached – you must switch to barbless hooks or single barbed hook.

*not sure what were going to do about Charter Boats and their take. There’s too many operators and the sheer frequency of there tours is frightening. This needs to be analysed in depth.
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by BarraBase »

am the coxswain thing is cuddles and me trying to put some life in the forums,,
how about areas closed to pros - charters so it's a 1 km box here and there along the coast for amateur only ( like closed rivers) that could p..s a lot charter off me include ,but it would be good for fish and you wouldn't mind leaving when you got your bag limit .
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by seano »

I think when people think charters they are thinking about 40-60 footers with 15 -20 people on board hitting marks for jew and snapper not guided barra boats.
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by c9h14n »

I don't disagree with any proposal to reduce or implement catch limits on things like Jack and Emperor but with Barotrauma and the release v/s survival rate of a lot of our catch, the desired protection is not going to be there just because we can only take two or three fish. The fishing pressure of continuing to catch and release is still there. Add to that the by-catch of bagging out on Jewies, so trying to get your bag of Goldies and you keep pulling jewies up from 20m etc.

Thats charters as well. The shear fishing pressure that the charters put on the area is enormous, They hit the place day in and day out with non stop action. They may not be taking a poop load but they are dragging a poop load around by the lips.

If there is nobody in a particular area for a set time, then there is no fishing pressure on that part of the environment, from anyone. To me it just makes sense.
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by AM »

BarraBeast wrote:
BarraBase wrote:Think the fisheries boys here are worried that if the feds marine parks find out how bad it is marine parks will be where we don't want them. i was told that we need to show we are doing something .


exactomondo!



here's my initial thoughts in size and bag limits. -
Reduce take for Mangrove Jack to 3(inline with snapper).

Reduce take for Red Emperor to 3. (inline with snapper).

Grass Emperor, reduce to 3 both (inline with snapper). to keep the rules simple and to cater for increased pressure on this species as a result of new take limits to popular fish.

Blue Salmon, reduce to 3(inline with snapper). to cater for the future pressure etc.

Coral trout – I think minimum size is waste of time.

I still believe the jewfish take is too generous at 2 per day. IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING THE SPECIES TO RECOVER TO PREVIOUS NUMBERS, WE SHOULD CUT IT BACK AGGRESSIVLY NOW, WHEN NUMBERS RECOVER IT CAN BE REVIEWED.

Circle hooks! Yes.

Barra – when limit is reached – you must switch to barbless hooks or single barbed hook.

*not sure what were going to do about Charter Boats and their take. There’s too many operators and the sheer frequency of there tours is frightening. This needs to be analysed in depth.


As I said before its all about how it affects you and what you do when these thind are looked at.
Magrove Jack Definitly
Red Emporer Definitly +350mm min size at least.
Grassy (Tricky) Definitly not agree maybey 15 or 20
Blue salmon?? Definitly not agree maybey 10 or 15
Coral trout Limits cant hurt but not common enough to be a issue generally.
Jew can be one each if the effort is reduced across facets elswhere.

This is all great and the commercial boys would have to almost retire for these limits to make it through.But just one point if we are not taking fish commercially, then ...er where will people buy it from, aquiculture cant keep up yet and buy it they will. Just dont want to return to the bad old days and put dollar signs in peoples eyes. Seafood must become more expensive to fund aquiculture development but at a steady pace we dont want to tip any balances way over.
It is a very complex thing.
NB if this post with quotes and bolding looks as it was ment to it will be a miracle.
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Re: Proposed new NT fishing regulations

Post by AM »

Wow it worked
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