REC FISHERS SAVE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE EAST COAST FISHERY.

[Leakerty Split]

Hello All,

This is a headline I'd like to see on front pages of all our local newspapers & news bullitins in the very near future. Can it happen??

I reckon it can...but it's going to be a hard slog & ultimately, we the rec fishers of Queensland, have to drastically change our collective attitudes, the 'she'll be right mate' mentality has to disappear at least until the sustainability of the East Coast Fishery IS made right.

This thread may generate discussion & comment - both positive & negative (which really is the intention). For quite a few months now, I have been racking what little brain I have left, trying to work out a way for the rec fishers along the East Coast of Queensland to be able to take some ownwership of the thing they love nearly as much as family & friends.... The Queensland East Coast Fishery is as diverse as it is extensive & I believe for most recreational fisherpeople it is pretty close to their hearts. The fishery is not only a means of catching a feed of fish but it also serves a multitude of other purposes.
Firstly, it is a leisure activity - a break from the rigours of our working lives & it can be as simple (& enjoyable) as walking a sandflat luring for a flattie or an endeavour as complex & expensive as seen in the game fishing fraternity. No matter what part of the spectrum we fit into, fishing still provides an escape from the ever increasing pressures of life.
Secondly, it engages interaction between families & mates. Everyone's heard the old adage - a family that fishes together, stays together. Friendships are forged for life through the simple common interest of fishing.
Thirdly, on the whole, people that fish recreationally, seem to have a more intimate knowledge of nature in general. Kids are raised with a respect for the environment & what co-exists in it with us. From my experience, 99.9% of rec fisherpeople are extremely decent people & their families seem to grow into balanced, well-adjusted & respected human beings.
Finally, add all of the above together = LIFESTYLE!!!!

Angling is a lifestyle, a culture & our heritage .....simple as that.

So, where does the East Coast Fishery fit into this, you ask?
I seriously believe that if we, as rec fishers, don't stand up & start to be counted, the East Coast Fishery as we know it today will disappear & I also believe it will occur within the next 5 - 10 years if left in the abysmal mess the DPI&F 'managers' have it in now. At this point in time, there are possibly only 2 options we have regarding our fishing future.
1. We can ignore the obivious & let the status quo continue in the vein we are now in - letting the tax payer funded DPI&F grossly mis-manage OUR fishery (this really is'nt an option)...or....
2. Collectively make a stand, get off our arses & do something about the damage the virtually unchecked commercial sector is doing to the fishery.
After the East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Review, it took aeons for the Inshore Management Plan to be released for public scrutiny. And what a 'plan' it's turned out to be...all Queenslanders should feel proud that their hard earned, which funds this bumbling government department, is literally wasted in compilation of a 'management plan' that is absolutely worthless. Yes, there has been some change - some rec fishers have stated that there's nothing too bad in it for us....a few size & bag limit changes (which I agree most are warranted). These new size & bag limits will mean nothing to anyone in a few years if the fishery is allowed to be destroyed before our eyes by a commercial venture that has no 'management' mechanism to protect our already depleted fish stocks.
So, what is it we can do to improve the situation? No one knows the exact figure but it is a conservative estimate that there are anywhere from 700,000 to a million recreational anglers in Queensland. You've got to admit, this would constitute a powerful force to be reckoned with were we to unite as one in a calculated & organised manner. You'd also have to admit that if this amount of fishers contributed a small dollar amount towards some sort of 'commercial net licence buy back' program, the funds generated would be absolutely colossal. Lets hypothetically crunch some numbers. Depending on where you are in the state, a quality lure will cost around the $12 - $16 mark so after purchasing 3 of these, there would not be enough change from $50 to buy a beer at the local on your way home. So say for an annual $50 outlay - equivalent to the price of 3 lures, Queensland anglers could generate a 'licence buy back' fund in the first year of anywhere between $350 million to $500 million. This sort of money WOULD talk & cumulatively, the rec fishers in Queensland could bring the net population to a sustainable level. This would be a win/win situation for all concerned. The commercial operators being 'bought out', having been adequately compensated for their licence, would no longer have an impact on the fishery. The commercial operators remaining would do even better as pressure on fish stocks decreased giving them increased catch rates thus better profitibility & the rec fisher would also soon notice increased numbers of fish with improved quality & size. The important result is that the sustainability would be improved & future generations could benefit also. The DPI&F give us only lip service when it comes to protecting our fishery & the Queensland Government is obiviously not interested. I believe that we as probably the major stakeholders should take ownership, get off our lazy arses & for once show these insincere, apathetic, & apocryphal idiots we mean business.
I want feedback...we have to get the ball rolling. I notice this chat forum now has 116 members - even feedback from a third would give us something to start working with. Ultimately, does this have merit, would you guys, the average joe blow rec fishers, be prepared to support a concept such as this or do we continue like we have done for the last 30 years - being fully aware & knowing something is gravely wrong - but doing absolutely nothing about it.
There you go......the line's been drawn in the sand, now what are we going to do about it. Please give this some serious thought.......

Cheers,

Leakerty.

[Adam Royle]

You are dead right mate we should be doing more as a whole but that has in the past proven very difficult so I'm not sure of all the answers.

I have always been in favour of a recreational fishing license in QLD and I know that might stur up a few people. A license would theoretically give us a much bigger voice and let's face it politicians only listen to two things, votes and $$$. With a license we have both!

My concern though has always been how they will spend that money??? I know we would like it spent on infrastucture, facilities, enforcement and commercial buy-back but will that actually happen?

I've come to the conclusion however that perhaps if some money is syphoned off into that political black hole it may not be that bad a price to pay if the result is increased recognition.

In business there is what is known as "bad debt" & "good debt". If we can increase our hitting power by way of a few sacrifical $$$ then maybe it is a loss we can bear?

Many will not agree with me but I see it like this. If your employer makes a 100% annual profit increase but only gives you a 5% bonus are you diappointed that you didn't get more for the contribution you made to those profits? Or...are you happy that your employer has acknowledged your effort and that your job is now more secure in the future?

Like I said I have hesitated to advocate a rec license for a while but I now think that the time has come and that the benefits will far outweigh any negatives.

Interested in what others think?

[Leakerty Split]

Giday Adam,

Don't take this the wrong way - but somehow I knew you'd be the first to respond. Thanks & great to see a comment. I must apologise for my slow typing as I've just had a session at the local waterin' hole. Actually we were to have a fish today but 25 - 30 Knt winds have put a stop to that so the publican decided to throw a few coldies & a barbie on. Was a good spread too, I might add & I did get to question the blokes there about the contents of my earlier post. Guess what...... 10 blokes turned up ranging in age from about 24 to 67 & they all concurred the outlook is not to good. Most were interested in a 'net buy back scheme' even if ultimately it will hit the hip pocket.
Ad, I see in your post, reference is made to politicians & a licence. Firstly, I think that this would be non-negotiable......a politician-free venture - the funds would have to be managed by a group or board of people made up of predominantly rec fishermen or women. Secondly, I guess the word 'licence' could be used but being non-government, it definitely would not be a new tax or levy.
I sort of compare this to the fuel price debarcle. Everybody is up in arms about the price of fuel & the blatent profiteering made by the big oil companies....the people are helpless, the government is powerless to intervene or just doesn't want to & you & me just have to cop it sweet. The difference with this baby is, we can make a difference if we really want to. From doing a little bit of research & asking a few questions, there are other states that have already embarked down this road. The Northern Territory has been very successful with their buy back. New South Wales & the Victorians also have Rec Fishing Licences that fund the buy back of commercial fishing licences. We just need to keep with the times before it is too late.

Thanks for the reply, Mate.

Cheers,

Leakerty.

[cammo79]

id back a qld licence if i knew it would be spent on fisheries. i lived in nsw for a while and seeing the difference in the last 10 years is amazing, the licence works well. seeing a commercial fisho on the news tonight stating over 100ton of barra to be caught after we have just spent 2 months letting them breed is a joke, i will support licence buy backs 100% i buy a sip every year and i would happily buy another to fish the salt!

[Adam Royle]

cammo79 Wrote:id back a qld licence if i knew it would be spent on fisheries. i lived in nsw for a while and seeing the difference in the last 10 years is amazing, the licence works well. seeing a commercial fisho on the news tonight stating over 100ton of barra to be caught after we have just spent 2 months letting them breed is a joke, i will support licence buy backs 100% i buy a sip every year and i would happily buy another to fish the salt!

Agree Cammo, I've bought freshwater impoundment and NSW fishing licenses and have seen the benefit they bring. Like I said, I'm resigned to the fact that some money will get syphoned into the black hole but I truely beleive it will still serve a greater good.

[jamie]

hey guys
if its for the "greater good" well yes, but the way i see it is, because of the three w's (work weather and wife(family)) i realy only use my boat five times a year,so arfter $120 boat rego $80 trailer rego $100 + fule/trip bait then flares, epirb, misc, well its just anouther cost i have to bare to enjoy my past time.

[Adam Royle]

jamie Wrote:hey guys
if its for the "greater good" well yes, but the way i see it is, because of the three w's (work weather and wife(family)) i realy only use my boat five times a year,so arfter $120 boat rego $80 trailer rego $100 + fule/trip bait then flares, epirb, misc, well its just anouther cost i have to bare to enjoy my past time.

Totally understand Jamie, it seems to be getting more and more expensive each year. But if we don't have a say in protecting a sustainable fishery how much longer will your past time exist?

Let's face it, we fork out hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars each year to go fishing but how much do we spend on protecting it???

What price do you put on preserving those rights...$10...$20...$50?

Just a though mate.

[jamie]

hey guys
how much is the nsw licence?.
i dont mind if you get resolts but the one thing i hate (like the fruit levie) to see money squonded on admin cost and the people runing it are on $100 000 a year and when you try to have a say their to good to listen to you,they forget it's your money keeping them there.

[Adam Royle]

Het Jamie,

I couldn't remember what it cost me for the last NSW license (3 days) so I looked it up. This is straight out of the NSW fisheries website;

"When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and saltwater, you are required by law to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee and carry a receipt showing the payment of the fee. This applies when spear fishing, hand lining, hand gathering, trapping, bait collecting and prawn netting or when in possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters.

All money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW. These trusts are regulated by law and overseen by two committees made up of recreational fishers - one for saltwater and one for freshwater.

You can pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee for three days ($6), one month ($12), a year ($30) or three years ($75)"

The Recreational fishing trusts idea sounds like an ok idea?

[geoffjy]

Hi Adam,

I think getting a fishing licence and a trust set up would definitely benefit us in the future. Something definitely has to be done about it.

Makes you kind of wonder why a lot of people head to the Territory doesnt it. Its because they have taken steps to protect their waters and buy out some or most of the commercial fishers and heavily promote catch and release.

I would be more than happy to pay the $75 fee for 3 years fishing. Its worth a lot more than that.