Netting in the maroochy (large nets, not cast)

[NorthC]

Jeremy / Matt - page 6 and 7 for a comparison of catch stats

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/documents/...nfish-2008.pdf

This for an overview of what "bycatch" is taken by inshore commercial net fisheries

http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/far/12576.html

Export of Australian seafood is almost totally confined to high value products - western and southern rock lobster, premium prawns (Spencer Gulf SA, Shark Bay WA and some of the NPF product), abalone, live coral trout, spanner crabs (can't figure that one out!). The standard bread and butter species central to this thread are marketed domestically within Australia. Where they are sold within the state/country depends upon who will pay the most and what it costs to get them there (simple supply and demand ecomonics). That said, the huge demand for these bread and butters' within the SE Qld domestic markets is staggering. Most of this product would be sold and consumed within 100kms of where it is captured within a couple of days of capture.

The fact that Australia imports so much seafood reflects many things, but most importantly -
1. Australians love to consume seafood
2. The volume of wild caught product is well and truly limited by management to a point that demand can not be satisfied.

There is no denying that the recreational fishing sector is responsible for circulating huge sums of money through local ecomonies, and the studies of these values are very informative, particularly for lobbying at the political level. However, there is a serious flaw when these "expenditure" values are compared against the wharf price of commercial product - which is what these studies do.
Recreational expenditure includes - fuel, bait, ice, tackle, accomodation, and value to supporting business and staff in tackle shops, chandleries etc etc compared against the value a commercial fisher is paid at the wharf for his or her fish!!! What about the added value the commercial fishers product goes on to generate income and profits for wholesalers, retailers, restuarants, take-aways, not to mention other supporting industries like marinas, outboard dealers, shipwrigths etc etc

Any Jeremy, like I said very informative information about expenditure that could be used much more appropriately than the old commercial vs recreational bitching argument. Dr Daryl McPhee, who seems to be quite well respected on this site (and rightly so), could tell you a little more about this problem if required. Daryl has investigated a method of comparison much more suitable termed "Willingness to Pay". Ask him about it ....... he explains it better!

[Jeremy]

NorthC, all good points there and well put. Good links too, although in the bycatch I see there is no figures for % from beam trawl. Good to see some facts (at least as far as the figures can be believed) being used here.

Jeremy