FFF Australian Fishing

Few good facts there but But the bag limit is now 2.

Changing fishing regulations is NOT the way to resolve these sorts of problems.

Regs are simply a way of telling people what NOT to do and sanctioning them AFTER they have done it. Forcing (by threat of legal sanctions) an angler to obey proscriptive and desired behaviour patterns.

Its the angler's thinking practices/attitudes that need to change which is usually unlikely unless they have what they see as a good reason. What's that old (but true) saying? A person convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.

There is no silver bullet to stop the problems that the laws are trying to solve.

Peer pressure is one very effective way of changing behaviour patterns. Being fined by authorities is sometimes carried like a badge of honour. Rebellious attitudes seemingly aimed at "the Traps" as a public display of defiance. Ego stuff.

Why AFANT (the NT anglers' representative organisation) does not open up discussion about a voluntary code of practice escapes logical thinking.

Anglers get together via AFANT's auspices to sort out what's acceptable community standards/practices and put them into a voluntary code of practice. The code doesn't have to address everything. Just issues of concern and completely voluntary.

This one's been introduced here via the regional council. Sustainability details of the values and practices worked out by fishermen amongst themselves and then adopted by council in its marketing/promotion campaigns.

https://www.advancerockhampton.com.au/V ... f-Practice.

Worth thinking about.