Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

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bobj
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Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by bobj »

Some good news for the fishos around the Mackay area.

https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/ne ... 173742/#/0

In 17 years of fishing off the rocks NW of Mackay, I have caught 4 barra. Since the 'net free' zones came in, I have caught 8 in 1 month, biggest was 92 cm.


Cheers, bobj.
NBN
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by NBN »

Sounds positive bobj, is this the same stretch (and time) as those removed from the Rockhampton area recently?
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by bobj »

Don't think so, as there are 3 zones verified.; Cains, Mackay and Keppels.
https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset ... queensland
A few more are proposed later on.
Cheers, bobj.
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Matt Flynn
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by Matt Flynn »

Yes, Queensland has seen the light and is likely going to produce much better barra fishing, it has the GBR Yellow Zones on some estuaries and now these special net-free zones. The NT may need to find ways to further improve its fishery if it is to retain its status in the wild barra fishery.

NT has much better habitat however, and the wildlife.
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by NBN »

Was talking (pub talk) to a guy yesterday whose son lives in Maningrida. He reckons they don't bother fishing the Liverpool much anymore given the nets, straight to the Blyth. He also had the same feeling regarding the Daly when they were over that way with what's going on out the front re: nets.
Right or wrong there is definitely a perception of once 'wild and free' areas being 'heavily' fished and probably has been for some time.
QLD are on the front foot and whilst there is a significantly larger population the fishing pressure is also spread across numerous impoundments re:barra.
Lucky yoy Bob!
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by bobj »

Thanks for the input, you blokes.
Cheers, bobj.
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Edo
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by Edo »

Nice work,finally the QLD Gov getting something right. Hopefully it will have a significant positive impact up and down the QLD coast.
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itsinmeblood
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by itsinmeblood »

amazing the barra keep finding a way to breed despite the loss of wetlands and all the dams and weirs on almost every river system
fish are skinny, the ocean is fat
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by Matt Flynn »

Barra breed in the salt, it is the young fish that head up the rivers and tend to survive better in the wetlands, presumably because there is food and shelter.

Qld's degraded estuaries will never have the same result as a healthy floodplain system, but you would assume the fishing will be far better than it has been. Former FFFer "Harmsey" says the Fitzroy River is already fishing better.
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by Sullo »

Don't take this the wrong way guys,but it has done nothing but move pro's to other places.We went from 6 pro's to 18,after the 3 new closed zones.280 odd pro's is just to many.
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by Scotty69 »

Exactly sullo. Reduce the area for the commercial sector whilst not reducing the licences only increases the pressure to areas that shrink. All it has done is condense the pressure to other areas.
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by Matt Flynn »

Yes, they have to buy back licences. But it's a start. Has taken Qld a long time to do anything, the Yellow Zones are federal, although there are some mostly complementary state zones.
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by Edo »

Good point Sullo.
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Re: Mackay Area, Net Free Zones.

Post by ronje »

U're talking about displaced effort Sullo.

The buyback/compo system was designed to reduce the displaced effort (netters moving from the NFZ to nearby netting grids). Increased compo was the financial attraction for licence holders who operated within a proposed NFZ to exit the industry.

In addition, the Qld Fisheries Act makes it compulsory for Fisheries Qld and the Qld Rural Adjustment people to issue formal investment warnings to commercial licence holders which they did by public notices via media.

Some chose to exit with enhanced compo/buyout packages.

Some chose not to and "moved next door" thus increasing the effort next door.

Some chose to think that a sympathetic new Govt would reverse the NFZ declarations and they could move back in while leasing out their licences in the meantime.

Any aspirant political party that thinks it can woo electors by proposing to take away something from a community that has just had it handed over to them after bunfights lasting up to 20 years is pretty naïve. It simply ain't gunna happen.

The campaign for the next election due by early 2018 is going to be interesting.
Regards
Ronje
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