CATCH CUTS WIN FAVOUR
BIG names in North Queensland’s recreational fishing scene are singing the praises of drastic changes to fishing laws introduced at the start of the month.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) made a number of rule changes to protect future fish stocks.
These changes included reducing possession limits of mud crabs, introducing a boat limit of twice the possession limit of priority black-market species – including black jewfish, barramundi, Spanish mackerel, tropical rock lobster and prawns – and stricter bait limits.
Former charter boat operator turned online fishing guru Ryan Moody praised the move as a step in the right direction but said more needed to be done.
The Cardwell angler, who has caught more than 2000 metre-plus barramundi, said fish sustainability levels in the rich North Queensland waters were “fairly borderline”.
“Any slight tightening of the regulations is going to help,” he said. “But there’s things they (DAF) could have done better. For years people have been wanting a reduction in barra bag limits and (maximum) size limits, from 1.2m to 1m.”
Tackle World Townsville part-owner Renee Mckenzie said the changes were “fair and well” and put in place for sustainable purposes.
“I don’t think it will upset people too much,” she said. “From the feedback we’ve got at the moment, most of the fishos are all for it.”
Ms Mckenzie believed the changes would have a positive effect on Townsville’s fisheries, which she said were “very seasonal” and tended to fire up following a good wet season.
The majority of new bag and size limit changes will affect North Queensland recreational anglers more than commercial fishers.
Mr Moody said while recreational changes were a step in the right direction, more mor needed d d to b be done in the commercial sector.
“I think they need to restrict the commercial limit a bit more,” he said.
However, Mr Moody said fishing pressure from both sectors was having a drastic effect on stocks of species such as black jewfish – which was highly sought after on the black market for its swim bladder, considered a delicacy and an aphrodisiac in some Asian countries.
He said black jewfish, once abundant in Townsville and Hinchinbrook waters, were increasingly more difficult to catch.
Black jewfish has been granted extra protection with the implementation of the new laws, whereby once the commercial quota was reached it would become a no-take species by commercial and recreational fishers.
“I think everyone should take a bit of a blow in each sector because they are a very vulnerable species,” Mr Moody said.
“Any fishery where it’s recognised there’s too much pressure on a species … if it needs to be tightened, things need to be tightened.”
Fisheries Queensland data showed commercial hauls of black jewfish averaged less than 20 tonnes along the east coast from 1988 until 2016 but rocketed close to 140 tonne in 2018.
“There has been a significant increase in black jewfish catch over the last 12-18 months and there is a risk of black-marketing due to the extremely high market prices for their swim bladders,” the spokesperson said.
“The Queensland Government introduced tougher restrictions earlier this year, including a 20-tonne catch limit for commercial fishers on the east coast and six tonnes in the Gulf of Carpentaria and a reduction in the recreational in-possession limit from two to one.”
The spokesperson said Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol would not issue fines for noncompliance following the changes for the next few months. They would not provide a date as to when fines would be issued.