Support For More Reasonable Catch Levels In Coral Reef Fishery

November 5, 2002

Proposed management changes to Queensland’s coral reef fin fish fishery are being met with a mixed response within fishing sectors although most tend to support a move towards more sustainable catch and effort levels.

The Department of Primary Industries Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS) is proposing a range of management changes to the fishery in the recently released Regulatory Impact Statement.

The fishery has significant commercial, recreational and tourist value containing well-known tropical fish species such as coral trout, red emperor and red-throat emperor.

QFS staff have been involved in a series of information sessions across the State which finish in Hervey Bay on Thursday (November 7).

The sessions offer people an opportunity to talk one-on-one with QFS staff about the proposed changes and how they will be affected.

QFS manager Mark Elmer said the information sessions had attracted a wide variety of people, most of whom generally supported a change in catch and effort levels.

“There is widespread support from all sectors for the plan’s principal points and concerns tend to focus on particular species or regions where changes are proposed,” he said.

Mr Elmer said although the commercial sector was supportive of more reasonable catch and effort levels, operators were not convinced the allocation arrangements proposed for their sector were the fairest.

“One of the major recommendations is a return to 1996 catch and effort levels, which is causing considerable debate within the commercial sector,” he said.

Mr Elmer said it was unlikely the fishery could sustain the recent levels of fishing effort and action was needed to prevent fish stocks from serious damage.

“While there is no denying these recommendations will affect the commercial sector, we need to act now before these valuable fish stocks are lost to present and future generations of Queenslanders,” he said.

Mr Elmer encouraged all members of the public to have their say about the proposed changes in the management plan.

More details 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.

The public has until Monday, December 16 to comment in writing on the proposals.

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 Elmer (07) 3225 1844
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

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