News release - New rules for coral reef fish

[QLD_Fisheries]

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/news/NewsReleases/13936.html

The information contained in this document is distributed by the Queensland Government for information purposes only. All reasonable steps have been made to ensure the information is accurate at the time of publication. For more information visit the DPI Fishweb site at http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb

[Lucky_Phill]

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11 November, 2003

New size and take and possession limits for coral reef fish
New size and take and possession limits will apply to coral reef fish for recreational anglers and commercial operators from December 13.

The new rules follow extensive consultation between the Department of Primary Industries Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS), industry groups, stakeholders and the community.

QFS reef line manager Mark Elmer said the new size and take and possession limits were aimed at sustaining coral reef stocks which had come under increasing fishing pressure in recent years.

Mr Elmer said the new size limits applied to all while the new take and possession limits applied to recreational anglers and those commercial operators who had not been allocated an RQ fishery symbol which allowed them to commercially fish for coral reef species.

“The new regulations will protect and conserve these iconic fish species,” he said.

Below is a summary of the new size and take and possession limits for coral reef fish.

From December 13, 2003

· All coral reef fish will have a minimum size limit of 25cm unless otherwise specified.

· A combined take and possession limit of 20 will also apply to coral reef fish however, within this combined limit, anglers must comply with individual take and possession limits for various fish species.

No take species
The following species are not to be taken:
· Maori wrasse
· Barramundi cod
· Potato cod
· Queensland groper
· Red bass
· Chinaman fish
· Paddletail

Size limits
All coral reef fish species have a minimum size limit of 25cm unless otherwise specified below:

· Tuskfish 30cm
· Jobfishes, red throat emperor, long nose emperor 38cm
· Nannygai (small and large mouth) 40cm
· Spangled emperor 45cm
· Red emperor 55cm
· Fusilier No limit
· All cods, gropers and coral trout 38cm

Exceptions to cods, gropers and coral trout
· Greasy rockcod 38cm to 100cm
· Flowery cod 50cm to 100cm
· Camouflage rockcod 50cm to 100cm
· Maori cod 45cm
· Blue spot trout 50cm to 80cm

Note: Jobfish include crimson jobfish (rosy jobfish), flame snapper, goldband snapper, green jobfish, lavender jobfish, ruby snapper and small- toothed jobfish.

Take and possession limits
All coral reef fish species have possession limits of 5 unless otherwise specified below:

Combined limits:
· Cods and gropers 5 in total of all species
· Tuskfish 6 in total of all species
· Coral trout 7 in total of all species
· Nannygai 9 in total of all species

Species specific limits:
· Crimson jobfish (Rosy jobfish), red throat emperor 8 per species
· Hussar 10 per species
· Fusilier No limit


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Further information: Mark Elmer (07) 3225 1844
Media Officer: Liz Smith Ph: +61 7 3224 7757
Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001. Fax +61 7 3239 0860
DPI Call Centre 8am-6pm weekdays on local call 13 25 23

Phill says :- I will be obtaining some handouts with these regs on them and will endeavour to get them to as many Ausfishers as possible as soon as possible.

Cheers Phill

[Daintreeboy]

Kinda weird how long nose emperor are only 38 cm., that's not a big long nose. They should have posted up info on the 3 closed sessions. It's something like no reef fishing at all on the weeks of the new moon in oct, nov and dec. Something like that.

[quinnie_600]

Anyone know of any new measurement stickers with new bag &size limits can be found?
Or is it to early?
Cheers Zak...

[Bigun]

Anyone want to buy a a good reef boat?? :-[ :'( >:(

[agnes_jack]

Quinnie 600
Doubt any body has been game enough to print any stickers up yet, as dpi have not yet released any pamphlets. Should be available fairly soon though keep in touch with your local tackle shop and they should be able to let you know.

regards agnes_jack

[agnes_jack]

Daintreeboy
There will be 3 nine day closures around the new moon in oct nov dec .Closed to all reef fishing.I wonder what happens if you catch a grassie or a trout in the estuary? Oh well the catch and release guys will be able to catch all the red emperor they like and release the lot cause thier all too small!

[Cloud_9]

whereb is the closed area of reef??
that they mentioned

[Daintreeboy]

The whole GBR. Don't know exactly Lat and Long but I imagine we'll get more info next year when it gets closer to the first one in october.