News & Views From The Local Scene
ALL CLEAR ON OYSTER
DISEASE
PIRSA and the SA Oyster Growers’
Association are pleased to advise that
samples from all of South Australia’s
commercial oyster growing areas have
tested negative to the Pacific Oyster
Mortality Syndrome (POMS) virus.
Acting Executive Director Fisheries
and Aquaculture, Peter Dietman, said
“These results are a welcome ‘all-clear’
for our commercial oyster industry to
return to normal operations.”
Boat operators and owners in
the Port River area have been very
supportive in taking all steps to reduce
the risk of the virus spreading beyond
the River, and PIRSA thanks them
for that. Continued vigilance on best
practice to keep hulls clean and reduce
biofouling is important.
PIRSA reminds the public that
removal of any bivalve shellfish such as
oysters, mussels, cockles and razorfish
from the Port River area, including
West Lakes, is still prohibited by law at
this time.
PIRSA will continue to monitor the
feral oyster population in the Port River,
and encourages fishers to help limit
the spread of aquatic diseases in South
Australia’s coastal waters by following
these guidelines:- Do not use Pacific oysters, even when
dead, as bait or berley. - Never use leftover or uncooked
seafood sold for human consumption
(such as prawns, abalone, crabs) as bait
or berley.- Do not discard or store live oysters or
their shells in SA waters. - Bivalves (oysters, mussels, razorfish,
cockles) cannot be taken from the Port
River area, including West Lakes, for any
use including bait or berley. - Blood, bone, meat, offal and skin of
an animal cannot be used for berley in
South Australian waters. - Appropriate bait and berley can be
purchased from your local tackle shop
or fishing store (go for sardines, squid,
pipi and cockles or beach worms). - Alternatively, try using artificial bait
such as soft plastics and lures, which can
be purchased from tackle shops. - Under the Fisheries Management
Act 2007, it is an offence to release or
deposit exotic and / or aquaculture
farmed species into the waters of South
Australia. Fines may apply.
More information is available at http://www.
pir.sa.gov.au/fishing, the Fishwatch
hotline 1800 065 522 or on the free SA
Recreational Fishing Guide ap
http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing/recfishingapp
Emily Holyoak, PIRSA
AUSTRALIAN SALMON
FISHING CHAMPIONSHIPS
ON AGAIN
The annual Australian Salmon Fishing
Championship is just around the corner.
We are in the 24th year, and there
are still plenty of prizes on offer. The
Championship runs from June 1 throughto the end of August, with a monthly
prize of $1000 for the heaviest salmon
and a runner up prize of $300.
The mystery prize will be announced
each fortnight and will be displayed on
our Facebook page ‘Australian Salmon
Fishing Championship – Elliston’ and
on our website, so you can win money
just for weighing in your fish. We also
offer a winter raffle, which will have
some fantastic fishing gear up for grabs,
as well as some other fantastic prizes
(see our website for more details http://www.
elliston.com.au/salmon).
We would like to thank all our
sponsors and in particular our major
sponsors, the District Council of Elliston,
the Liberty Elliston Roadhouse and
our diamond sponsor, Elliston Hotel.
Without these sponsors we would not
be able to hold the competition. We also
look forward to seeing our returning
fishermen who enjoy fantastic fishing
each year from all over Australia and,
of course, all of the new competitors
making the journey to our tranquil town
and secluded beaches.
The weigh-in station is based at
the Elliston Apartments, just across the
road from the Elliston Hotel, and will be
available between 9am-6pm. Fish must
be caught anywhere between Sheringa
Beach and Mt Camel Beach. They have
to be gutted and gilled prior to weighing
in.
You can buy an entry ticket for $10
from our participating local businesses
and selected fishing shops in PortuoS
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