Copy of QFS Press Release
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04/04/02


New tailor catch limits approved

The State Government approved new recreational and commercial fishing catch limits for tailor in Queensland waters today, Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said.

Mr Palaszczuk said the new limits include a bag limit for recreational anglers, a total commercial harvest quota and an extended spawning closure.

"For recreational anglers, there will an in-possession bag limit of 20 tailor, with an exception for fishers undertaking an extended stay on Fraser Island when the in-possession limit will be 30 fish," Mr Palaszczuk said.

"Commercial fishers will operate under an annual commercial quota for target catches of tailor of 120 tonnes with an allowance of 100 kilograms for incidental catch. The quota year will commence on 1 May."

"In addition, the current annual spawning closure to all fishing for tailor at Fraser Island between Indian Head and Waddy Point during September will be extended to include August."

Mr Palaszczuk said there was already management arrangements in place for the commercial ocean beach fishery and a minimum size limit of 30 centimetres for tailor.

"The new catch limits will enhance of sustainability of tailor fish stocks and prevent a repeat of last season's dispute between recreational and commercial fishers about access to tailor," he said.

Mr Palaszczuk said the new catch limits were recommended by the Fishing Industry Development Council, which includes representatives from recreational and commercial fishing sectors.

Public comment was then sought on these recommendations with the release of a regulatory impact statement (RIS) in February.

In Queensland, tailor are caught mainly from ocean surf beaches and rocky heads as well as from bays and estuaries from the NSW border to the northern tip of Fraser Island.

Meanwhile, Mr Palaszczuk said new management options for snapper and spotted mackerel were being developed by the Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS).

"The proposed management arrangements would be developed through the established management advisory committees (MACs) - Reef MAC for snapper and the Inshore Finfish MAC for spotted mackerel - that include industry representatives," Mr Palaszczuk said.

"Any proposed fisheries management changes will be subject to broad community consultation, and this is done through the public release of draft regulations and the associated RIS."

Mr Palaszczuk said the Beattie Government has made significant fisheries management advances including the east coast trawl management plan and changes to the permitted trawl species list.

The Queensland's fisheries resources - current condition and recent trends 1988-2000 report and other data collated by QFS is used in framing management proposals in consultation with stakeholders.


Media contact: Kirby Anderson (0418) 197 350