jaybee
08-12-2003, 05:34 PM
Steven Wardill 06 dec 03
RECREATIONAL anglers dropping a line during the Christmas break have been warned about new restrictions on what they can take home for their festive feasts.
Limits on the number and size of numerous fish species that can legally be caught come into force next weekend along with a range of other measures.
The looming deadline has sparked fears that many casual anglers might not be aware of the reforms and could be inadvertently fined for what had been legal.
Anglers caught breaking the new laws face on-the-spot fines from $150 to a maximum $75,000.
Sunfish Queensland executive officer David Bateman said fishers would now have to take a "wad of documents" with them to ensure what they caught was legal.
"It is a Christmas present that is going to take a fair bit of unwrapping," he said.
Mr Bateman called on the Government to go easy enforcing the confusing array of laws on anglers over Christmas.
But Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk rejected suggestions anglers might not be aware of the reforms.
Mr Palaszczuk said the Queensland Fisheries Service had ensured fishers were made aware of the changes with widespread information, including several new brochures on the changes.
He said he was confident the laws would be adhered to with 90 per cent of inspections by Queensland Fisheries Patrols finding current laws were being followed.
The new rules take effect on December 13 and include the State Government's coral reef fin fish management plan and new limits for spanish mackerel and blue swimmer crabs.
Under the coral reef plan new size and bag limits will be introduced, seven species will added to the no-take list and the total combined limit of reef fish capped at 20.
Anglers on charter trips also will face tough new restriction in a bid to stop over-fishing.
Coral reef fish will only be allowed to be taken by handline or rod while recreational fishers will be allowed to use hand-held spears or spear gun. Anglers are limited to the use of a maximum of six hooks in any configuration and may only use up to three lines at a time.
One of the most controversial measures is to ban recreational fishers taking more than three spanish mackerel each, a significant reduction on the current 10 fish limit.
Another significant restriction will be the move to change the method of measuring blue swimmer or sand crabs to a "notch-to-notch" system with a minimum legal size of 11.5cm.
Mr Palaszczuk said such a system would stop unscrupulous anglers keeping crabs under the legal spine-tip measurement of 15cm by breaking the tip so a measurement cannot be taken.
Other new measures include provisions for filleting fish at sea and removing the authority to use live red claw crayfish as bait at one of north Queensland's most popular angling spots, Lake Tinaroo.
RECREATIONAL anglers dropping a line during the Christmas break have been warned about new restrictions on what they can take home for their festive feasts.
Limits on the number and size of numerous fish species that can legally be caught come into force next weekend along with a range of other measures.
The looming deadline has sparked fears that many casual anglers might not be aware of the reforms and could be inadvertently fined for what had been legal.
Anglers caught breaking the new laws face on-the-spot fines from $150 to a maximum $75,000.
Sunfish Queensland executive officer David Bateman said fishers would now have to take a "wad of documents" with them to ensure what they caught was legal.
"It is a Christmas present that is going to take a fair bit of unwrapping," he said.
Mr Bateman called on the Government to go easy enforcing the confusing array of laws on anglers over Christmas.
But Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk rejected suggestions anglers might not be aware of the reforms.
Mr Palaszczuk said the Queensland Fisheries Service had ensured fishers were made aware of the changes with widespread information, including several new brochures on the changes.
He said he was confident the laws would be adhered to with 90 per cent of inspections by Queensland Fisheries Patrols finding current laws were being followed.
The new rules take effect on December 13 and include the State Government's coral reef fin fish management plan and new limits for spanish mackerel and blue swimmer crabs.
Under the coral reef plan new size and bag limits will be introduced, seven species will added to the no-take list and the total combined limit of reef fish capped at 20.
Anglers on charter trips also will face tough new restriction in a bid to stop over-fishing.
Coral reef fish will only be allowed to be taken by handline or rod while recreational fishers will be allowed to use hand-held spears or spear gun. Anglers are limited to the use of a maximum of six hooks in any configuration and may only use up to three lines at a time.
One of the most controversial measures is to ban recreational fishers taking more than three spanish mackerel each, a significant reduction on the current 10 fish limit.
Another significant restriction will be the move to change the method of measuring blue swimmer or sand crabs to a "notch-to-notch" system with a minimum legal size of 11.5cm.
Mr Palaszczuk said such a system would stop unscrupulous anglers keeping crabs under the legal spine-tip measurement of 15cm by breaking the tip so a measurement cannot be taken.
Other new measures include provisions for filleting fish at sea and removing the authority to use live red claw crayfish as bait at one of north Queensland's most popular angling spots, Lake Tinaroo.