Qld net free zones

Talk about bungled boat ramps, net buybacks, marine no-go zones, mining disasters etc here.
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ronje
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Qld net free zones

Post by ronje »

Well the issue is hotting up.

The commercial fishos representative body (Qld Seafood Industry Association) was caught with its pants down. As were the recreational fishermen.

Qld Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne is determined to press ahead by the end of the year.

QSIA has been running a well-funded and targeted campaign based on:

. loss of jobs;

. inadequate compensation; and

. who will supply fish to the non-fishing public?

Recreational fishermen were slower out of the blocks ( not organised) but have now picked up a fair head of steam and are starting to outpace the QSIA in the campaign stakes.

Usual pretty poor stuff including anonymous letter writing, harassment, abuse, over-the-top advertising and lies. You'd almost swear its just like a normal Qld election.

Some really crook stuff by some NQ commercial fishermen though by harassing, abusing and threatening one poor bugger for supporting the anti-net cause.

Smart money is on the introduction of the zones by the opening of the next barramundi season in early 2016. It closes on 1 Nov 2015 and opens again on 1 Feb 2016.

However, its a silly jockey who puts away the whip in the home straight.

A CALL TO ARMS FOR QLDérs

Sign up to the Qld Parliament's e-petition on the subject. Only Qldérs votes are valid I'm afraid.

http://netsoutqld.org/

In fairness any Qldérs who want to support the QSIA stance on the subject below is their website.

http://qsia.com.au


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Ronje
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by tristan.sloan »

Thanks for this Ronje. Its important we support our fellow rec fishermen in other states.
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by NBN »

Evening Ronje

By all reports its looking very good; are you able to provide an update on the Fitzroy fishery a few years on?
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by ronje »

Hello NBN.

Sure can.

The net-free zone here comprises all of the Fitzroy (its a really big river system) plus up the coast for 60km in a strip 20 km wide.

The coastal strip and north bank of Fitzroy is part of Livingstone Shire Council who have done zip as far as the NFZ is concerned.

Rockhampton Regional Council has picked up the fishing tourism ball and is running with it.

5 guiding operators are now available for the Fitzroy.

Fishing visitor numbers have increased significantly to Rocky.

2.5 years into the NFZ has seen a big increase in bio-mass of the fish available with the main ones being barra, king threadfin and blue salmon.

Infrastructure spend in support to date has been about $7 million with new northside boatramp in Rocky and fishing platforms along river bank in the town reaches for those who don't have boats.

The old Port Alma boatramp is to be closed (its within red blast zone for loading/unloading explosives to/from the explosives manufacturer near Bajool).

2 new ramps further up each of the creeks will replace it. One in Casaurina Ck and the other in Inkerman Ck. About $9 million infrastructure spend.

Another boatramp for northside down river at a place called Thompson's Point (about 20 km from mouth).

Council CBD re-zonings beside river near southside boat ramp for marine support businesses to set up.

Now seeing US fishing tourists in area. Particularly fly fishermen from Florida looking for trophy king threadfin, barramundi and Permit (much sought after) on fly. See reference to John Haenke.

Poached John Haenke's business from Hervey Bay to move here. John owns Guided fishing Downunder and also has a video production company called OffShore productions. You may have heard of him. Council has contracted him for marketing videos both here and o'seas.

Every 2 years we get invaded here by 10,000 US marines for war exercises at Shoalwater Bay. There's a demand for fishing excursions during R&R. I've taken quite a few fishing over the years.

Upstream of local barrage (freshwater) is being lined up as a stocked impoundment to give access to barramundi and saratoga (when saltwater barra seqason is closed).

I-Cast making videos for marketing.

New fishing competitions kicking off with 2 aimed at king threadfin. One for families and one for competition enthusiasts. A 'Women who Fish" comp has been running here for a couple of years.

With increased bio-mass now, spawning has been prolific mainly due to stable weather from Sept to Feb.

There were 6 distinct spawning events for barra in the summer just gone. Unheard of here before.

King threadfin and blue threadfin also travel here from nearby river systems to spawn. Netters used to absolutely slaughter them at the mouth in spawning season taking tonnes and tonnes.

High rise accommodation places on riverbank in CBD taking part in promoting the NFZ. Metre long barra being caught in CBD reach of river with the accommodation hi-rises in photo backdrop is popular.

There is a voluntary code of practice in place for fishermen relating to bag limits and sizes which are less than what the fisheries law allows. Barra limit of 2 up to 99cm with 1m or better (what we've called trophy fish) to be released. Ditto for king threadfin. Code also covers a couple of other activities. Nothing drastic but enough to let people know that the community values its resource. Catches of barra over 1.2 m now regular with 1.3m not so uncommon.

The main argument raised during the bunfight over the NFZ was that the resources belonged to the local community and that the Govt was taking money (licence fees) from pro-fishermen who took the community's resource for profit and then sold that resource back to the community. The community wanted control of its resource back along with management of it.

That has worked so far and the Rocky Regional Council should be congratulated on what its achieved so far with more to come.

Council has a series of committees that organise various initiatives associated with the NFZ. Other interested organisations ( GBRMPA, fisheries, environment, regulatory, recreational, accommodation, marketing, business are all represented on these committees). We tried to be inclusive by having a pro-fishing representative (a netter) but that that was a failure as they simply wanted to continue the fight.

All in all, a success. Not so much in Cairns and Mackay but they were only very small NFZs. The battle was always going to be fought over the big CQ NFZ.

I see that the Kenbi claim has finally surfaced up there and not universally welcomed.

NT'rs can always come to Rocky to do some barra fishing. :wink:

Overall a fantanstic success story.

On a personal note, I hope it doesn't change the river dynamics and lifestyle we've enjoyed for so long here.

But that's the price we pay to get rid of the nets, I guess.
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Ronje
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by Matt Flynn »

Sounds like a real success Ron. Those other two NFZ's will have benefits, Mackay has some great estuaries, albeit lacking the big wetlands.

That Fitzroy system is a mighty beast.

Port Alma ramp area is an interesting spot (for a fisho), can boats fish inside this red blast zone?
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by Sullo »

It's done us no favors,bring on the VMS,it might keep them out of the Prossy river and dam.
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by NBN »

Thx Ronje for the prompt and comprehensive update. Very promising, a real revolution.

I have mates who are now talking about this fishery as an option (potentially picking up some of the dams also) rather than the NT. From the Mid North Coast of NSW you can drive it in a day, rather than 3 big days to the NT.

They haven’t fished the Daly though......

Watching this space with interest.

:mrgreen:
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by ronje »

can boats fish inside this red blast zone?


At the moment yes providing they don't encroach on the Fed Govt imposed restricted zone.

Don't know if that's going to be the case when old ramp closed and new ramps are in place. Better fishing elsewhere anyway.

Port Alma is managed by Gladstone Port Authority which would spill more at executive morning tea than cost of 2 new ramps.

GPC has wanted to close the Port Alma ramp for safety reasons for years but couldn't with no alternatives available.


The Mackay NFZ is a very small area well to the south of Mackay (Cape Hillsborough to St Helen's Beach).
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by Sullo »

The Mackay NFZ is a very small area well to the south of Mackay (Cape Hillsborough to St Helen's Beach

Just north of Mackay Ronje.
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Re: Qld net free zones

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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by ronje »

Just north of Mackay Ronje

You're absolutely right, Sullo. Sorry.
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by ronje »

New ramps downstream
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Re: Qld net free zones

Post by NBN »

Sullo wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH3x8t7XoHk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6tSsEn6bKI

Help ya get keen NBN


Yep, that’ll do it.
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