Reminder: Fisheries Management Review public consultation meetings start tonight

[Fisheries Queensland]

Reminder: Gold Coast fishers are encouraged to attend the fisheries review public consultation meeting tonight.

Wednesday 20 August from 5-7pm in the Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre, 833 Nerang Southport Road. This will be hosted by independent consultants, MRAG Asia Pacific.

For more information visit www.mragasiapacific.com.au or call 3371 1500.


Fisheries Management Review public consultation meeting dates and locations are:

Location	Date	Time	Venue
Gold Coast	Wednesday 20 August	5-7pm	Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre (Main Hall), 833 Nerang Southport Rd, Nerang
Mooloolaba	Thursday 21 August	5-7pm	Lake Kawana Community Centre (Room 5-7), 114 Sportsmans Pde, Bokarina
Wynnum	Saturday 23 August	9-11am	Wynnum Hall,Cnr Bay Tce & Cedar St, Wynnum
Redcliffe	Saturday 23 August	2-4pm	Redcliffe QCWA Hall, 189 Redcliffe Pde, Redcliffe
Rockhampton	Tuesday 26 August	5-7pm	DAFF Conference Centre, Cnr Yeppon Rd & Bruce Hwy, Parkhurst, North Rockhampton
Gladstone	Wednesday 27 August	5-7pm	Gladstone Entertainment and Convention Centre, Conf room “A”, 58 Goondoon St, Gladstone
Bundaberg	Thursday 28 August	5-7pm	Bundaberg Civic Centre, Supper Room, 190 Bourbong St, Bundaberg
Hervey Bay	Friday 29 August	5-7pm	Hervey Bay High School Great Hall, Beach Rd, Pialba
Tin Can Bay	Saturday 30 August	10am-12pm	Tin Can Bay Community Complex, Tin Can Bay Rd
Cairns	Monday 8 September	5-7pm	Cairns State High School, “N” block Science Auditorium, Upward St, Cairns
Innisfail	Tuesday 9 September	5-7pm	Innisfail Concert Hall/Shire Hall, Rankin St, Innisfail
Townsville	Saturday 13 September	9-11am	Townsville Show Grounds, Large Functions room, 72 – 104 Ingham Rd, Townsville
Bowen	Sunday 14 September	10am-12pm	Bowen State High School, 1-9 Argyle Park Road, Bowen
Mackay	Monday 15 September	6-8pm	PCYC Hall, Mackay, Off Norris Rd, North Mackay
Karumba	Sunday 12 October	9-11am	Karumba Civic Centre, Karumba
Burketown	To be organised	TBA	TBA
Thursday Island	To be organised	TBA	TBA

[Lucky_Phill]

I attended the first meeting tonight.

Not off to a great start with the address being wrong.

There were about 27 attendees and 4 folks from MRAG.

We had Commercial guys, Coral collectors, Shark net licencee, Game fishers, Amaetuer fishing club reps, Tackle shop staff, charter, rec anglers, a local MP, Govt types and Sunfish rep.

Lasted about 2 hours with all sorts of information coming forth.

I don't think a lot of people understood the idea of these types of meetings and with all due respect, MRAG could have done a better job in promoting the event by listing or advising people of what the subjects of discussion would be. They have taken on board this issue and have promised to place the items on their website.

Thier " Terms of Reference " does not indentify specifics.

NO idea of what if anything they will achieve, but their report has to be in by end November and at that time it will be about 6 months before an election, so my cynical self says, they will use the meeting info to write a policy speech and provide a promise or two ><>

cheers LP

[Lucky_Phill]

MRAG have been given " Terms of Reference " for the review.

I have had a look and now comment on those Terms, blow.

Terms of Reference for the review of Queensland's fisheries

The Queensland Government has announced a review of fisheries management in Queensland. The aim is to modernise and simplify fisheries management systems, cut red tape, and maintain and improve environmental sustainability. This will provide the flexibility for industry to prosper, ensure recreational and traditional fishers have reasonable access to the resource, and ensure our lifestyle is maintained.



The above statement again slaps the faces of non-commercial fishers. How dare the words “ reasonable access “ be used in regard to Recreational Fishers !! What about equal or shared ? And the use of “ lifestyle is maintained “.... that is bullshit, how about “ enhanced “ , as we do not want a Status Quo, but an enhanced and progressive lifestye, as the fishery, activities and resources change , so does our expectations, methods and experiences.
What is to be achieved?

Vision

Fisheries management systems and processes that are simple, robust, responsive and flexible in delivering sustainably managed fisheries for the benefit of Queenslanders.



Let's add in the words “ transparent and accountable “ !!
Objectives

The review has two main objectives:

• To develop fisheries systems and processes that:
  
  • provide for future management to achieve an appropriate balance between environmental and economic use while providing for broader social enjoyment by the community
  • facilitate the settings to support economically viable commercial fishing businesses that provide to the maximum extent possible for market forces to determine industry outcomes within established environmental parameters
  • reduce complexity
  • improve management flexibility
  • take a risk-based approach to fisheries management and regulation
  • establish mechanisms to allow fisheries to be managed at the appropriate level eg. statewide, regionally and/or locally.
  
  

Well, that all seems to be directly related to Commercial Fishing. I believe the “ agency “ does not understand the financially superior stakeholder in this fishery, being Recreational Fishers. The objectives are bias towards commercial fishing and simply do not take into consideration the economic, social, health and well being, educational and conservation activities and practices of Recreational Fishers. If the objectives are driven by economic viability, as it seems, then the stakeholder positions of Commercial and Recreational Fishers need to be swaped within the framework of the Department. I believe this objective is all about funding on where to gain it and where to spend it.

• To develop a new, simplified regulatory framework, including administrative arrangements that meet the challenges and demands of the community and how it expects fisheries to be managed

This statement seems to mean, provide a good PR system. A new system is to remove Recreational Fishing from this department and place it in an appropriate one, namely “ Tourism “. Remove all the encompassing regulatory bodies, such as TMR, QNPWS, DAFF, GBRMPA, MSQ and other State and Federal agencies.



A simplerfied system for Recreational Anglers ( not Fishers ) is to keep them educated and informed of not only the rules and regulations, but of their responsibilities both on and off the water. A major and under-utilized resource / data base is the registration of private vessels. Some 240,000 privately registered vessels receive their invoices on a yearly basis and this is where all manner of information can be included. Things from rule changes to boating and fishing, catch cards, economic surveys, general feedback and other research priorities.



The communication lines between the governing body and recreational anglers needs to be improved, but also genuine. Establishing a peek representative body is a good start, but also information sharing between fishing “ clubs and alliances “ will provide valuable and historic data that can be analised and passed on for specific uses. Regional management is essential due to the vastly different fisheries that exist along the Qld coast and inland waterways. De-centralisation of authorities is also essential for compliance, communicating and information gathering from commercial, charter & recreational fishers data.



A non-political management system that is set in stone needs to implimented so that it can transend political landscape changes over the years. Stability in governence provides reassuring outcomes for all fishery stakeholders.



The Governing department needs to establish the needs and wants of the larger community and address the issues in a timely manner to make sure future matters or problems are planned for and policy can remediate these asap. This area includes Aquaculture and Fish Farming research and development to establish the future needs of the non fishing community. To undertake independent studies of commercial activites to address the long term viability & public perception. To also undertake a social and economic study aimed at establishing good information for research purposes regarding the standing of Recreational Angling within the Queensland community and the benefits thereof.



Last but not least, an immediate manufacture and deployment of artificial reef systems to stem the flow of habitat degredation, fishery stocks and disperse fishing pressures from inshore fisheries along the entire Queensland coast. The programs have been used recently so all data required and stratergies needed are in place and simply waiting to be utilised. This is a program that requires little funding and has a proven track record of a “ win / win “ scenario.



Phill Kliese

[aussiebasser]

Eloquently put Phil. A pity the DAFF hierarchy can't give a hoot about the Recreational Angler because they are too snowed under with more important issues like an almost State wide drought affecting primary producers. Just imagine if DAFF decided to employ a "Research Company" to decide on things like flood and drought relief for farmers, or which areas of National Park to log. Tourism is where the control of the State's fishery needs to be.