FISHING NEWS
22 | fishingworld.com.au | March 2015
THE Northern Territory Government
says it has reached an historic
agreement with the Tiwi Land
Council to allow permit-free access to
key fishing areas off Bathurst and
Melville Island, as well as the Vernon
Islands. “This deal supports the
fishing business aspirations of Tiwi
traditional owners, while also
benefiting recreational and
commercial fishers. It is a win-win for
the local community and Territory
fishers,” Chief Minister Adam Giles
said. “The new agreement brings an
end to permit fishing off the coast
which was introduced in the wake of
the Blue Mud Bay High Court
decision in 2008. The terms ref lectthe strength of the relationship
between the Territory Government,
the Tiwi Land Council and the local
community. The agreement will grant
recreational and commercial fishers, as
well as fishing tour operators,
permit-free access to inter-tidal waters
around the southern and eastern
regions of Melville and Bathurst
Islands, as well as the Vernon Islands.”
Tiwi-owned fishing tourism business,
Tiwi Islands Adventures, will have
exclusive access to the north of
Melville Island and the western side of
Bathurst Island. A permit will be
required to use the land-based fishing
camps which will be available through
the Tiwi Land Council.THE World Parks Congress
recently held in Sydney called for
at least 30 per cent no-take zones
in marine-protected areas by 2030.
The Sydney Morning Herald
reported the week-long gathering
late in 2014 attracted more than
6000 delegates from 170 countries,
ranging from leaders of Pacific
islands to environment leaders and
scientists. Dan Laffoley, a marine
biologist and vice-chair under the
International Union for the
Conservation of Nature, said
expanded marine reserves were
necessary to help the world’s
oceans recover from over-fishing
and pollution. Michelle Grady,
oceans director of the Pew
Charitable Trust, said the 30 per
cent target had the status of
“expert advice”, much like the
science underpinning the
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. Environment
Minister Greg Hunt has described
as “f lat, plain wrong” comments
from Dr Grady that Australia had
suspended plans for a national
network of marine parks that
would have vastly increased
current areas of protection.
“There is no suspension,”
Mr Hunt said. “All of those
protected areas remain in place.
What we’re doing is in some cases
reviewing management plans.”Fishing laws wound
back at Tiwi Islands
Greens push
for 30% no-
take zones
Fishery comeback after netting ban
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fishingworld.com.auHere’s a rundown
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on the Fisho site:MAKO SIGHTED IN
SOUTH COAST L AKE
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
FISHERY RISE AF TER
NET TING BANS
FISHIN' CHIX PHOTO
COMP RELAUNCHED
TOP 10 FISHO VIDEOS
TAGGED SA KING
RECAPTURED
GOV T CRACKDOWN
ON BOAT PARKING
VIDEO: NOOSA
RIVER FOOTAGE
8 FISHIN' CHIX
COMP ENTRIES
DEVIL OF A TRIP
FROM SYDNEY
TO COFFS
PEW TARGE TS
INDUSTRIAL
FISHING WHILE
STILL PUSHING FOR
ANGLER BANS
➁ ➂ ➃ ➄ ➅ ➆ ➇ ➈ ➉
➀
FOLLOWING the introduction of
the NSW recreational fishing licence
in 2001, part of the revenue raised
was used to fund the buyout of
commercial fishing licences at
locations such as Tuross Lake on the
South Coast. The results of a study
into recreational fishing effort at
Tuross since the removal of
commercial nets makes for very
interesting reading. The NSW DPI
study, conducted prior to Tuross Lake
being proclaimed a recreational
fishing haven around a decade ago,and post RFH introduction, revealed
that while angler effort increased, so
too did catch rates of popular species
such as dusky f lathead, bream and
whiting. The lengthy and detailed
report – which can be downloaded at
fishingworld.com.au – reveals that
from a rec fishing point of view the
banning of nets improved fishing
opportunities for anglers at Tuross
Lake. Interestingly, the South East
Trawl Fishing Industry Association
(SETFIA) has discredited the findings
of the report.IMAGE: MICK FLETORIDISAnti-fishing groups want bans on
30 per cent of the world's oceans. IMAGE: MICK FLETORIDIS