Proposed Fisheries Management Changes Affect Everyone

19 September, 2002

Proposed management changes to Queensland’s fisheries resources will affect both recreational anglers and the commercial fishing industry.

The Department of Primary Industries Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS) has outlined a range of recommended changes in a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for the State’s marine fishery.

The proposals include reduced and new bag limits and area and seasonal closures for certain species.

QFS senior policy officer Mark Lightowler said the main objective of the proposed measures was to ensure Queensland’s fisheries remained sustainable which meant hard decisions needed to be made which could affect both the recreational and commercial sectors.

Mr Lightowler said there was a perception that the proposed changes would affect one group more than the other but this was not the case.

“There is no denying that difficult decisions are being made that affect everyone who has an interest in fishing,” he said.

“However, QFS is trying to balance the recommendations in fairness to everyone involved in the fishing community.

“The bottom line is certain fish stocks are at risk if measures aren’t put in place to protect them.”

Mr Lightowler said the proposal to reduce the spotted mackerel bag limit from 30 to five and increase the size limit from 50cm to 60cm was a perfect example of a recommendation causing heated debate amongst various groups.

“Some recreational anglers feel they are being targeted at the expense of the commercial sector but the reality is the commercial industry is also being restricted,” he said.

“The RIS proposes implementing a commercial catch quota between 125 and 150 tonne which is about a third of what was caught last year.

“There are also recommendations to increase the minimum mesh size for commercial nets to target spotted mackerel as well as a ban on the netting of spotted mackerel north of Cape Upstart.”

Mr Lightowler encouraged people from all sectors of the fishing community to have their say in the RIS process.

Anyone interested in expressing their thoughts or concerns must do so in writing by Friday, October 18.

Copies of the RIS are available on the DPI Fishweb site at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/ or by phoning the DPI Call Centre on 13 25 23.

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Q 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: Mark Lightowler (07) 3225 1897
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

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