Rare Chance to Reduce Barramundi Gill Netting

[Jacob59]

Rare chance to reduce NT barramundi gill netting

We've now got a shot at getting gill net closures in Fog Bay and Bynoe Harbour. This chance will not come again.

The NT Government has called for public comment into their proposed net closure areas. Your chance to have a say lasts until August 17.

FISH FINDER suggests you not let this historic opportunity fall by the wayside. Comment now.

The postal address for comments is: Executive Director, Fisheries, PO Box 3000, Darwin, NT, 0801. Email comments to NT Fisheries fisheries@nt.gov.au and to Fisheries Minister Kon Vatskalis minister.vatskalis@nt.gov.au

The Amateur Fishermen's Association NT (AFANT) says the proposed net closure lines for Bynoe Harbour are appropriate but the proposed “box” closures covering the mouths of the Finniss and Little Finniss Rivers are inadequate.

Maps of the proposed closure areas can be seen here http://www.fishingterritory.com/viewtopic.php?t=20333

AFANT says commercial fishing interests are pushing hard to make the NT Government reduce the proposed closed area. Sportsfishers must get political and say something.

All you have to say is:
1. That you support the proposed closure lines for Bynoe Harbour
2. That you do not support the closure lines in Fog Bay as proposed
3. That you believe the closure line for Fog Bay should extend from Point Blaze to Patterson Point (or another closure line if you prefer).

If you are emailing your response, please cc AFANT at research@afant.com.au so they can keep track of responses.

This is a real chance to do something that will benefit the NT sportfishery for years to come. Be sure to do something before the closing date for comments of August 17, 2009.

[forsterfisho]

Hey mate

Any links to any information about the proposed closures? I'd like to read something about the topic, before i go blindly saying i agree with it :)
ff

[Jacob59]

Hey mate

Any links to any information about the proposed closures? I'd like to read something about the topic, before i go blindly saying i agree with it :)
ff

follow the link in the post mate that all the info there is, i got it in an email from fish finder forums,
what do you like commerical fisher man gill netting the finnies river ect? whats to argue? sorry i dont understand.......

[forsterfisho]

follow the link in the post mate that all the info there is, i got it in an email from fish finder forums,
what do you like commerical fisher man gill netting the finnies river ect? whats to argue? sorry i dont understand.......

"We believe that the proposed closure lines for Bynoe Harbour are appropriate but many fishers are telling us that the proposed “box” closure covering the moths of the Finniss and Little Finniss Rivers is totally inadequate and will do little to ensure the transfer of the barramundi resource in the area from the commercial to the recreational fishing sector which is the intent of the current licence buy-back program."

Fishers? I guess this means recreational fisher's?
Why is the proposed box closure, inadequate?
"Transfer the barramundi resource in the area from the comercial to the rec fishing sector" These proposals are going to remove all pro fishers from the area? or they just going to limit the effects of?

What organisation is behind this? I've never heard of AFANT before, what studies have been carried out, to suggest that gill netting is the source of problems and removing netting from these systems will solve the problem?
Is this group, rec fish friendly, or are they a more geared towards supporting the ban/removal of all fishing? This seems a call to support something that hasn't any scientific fact or even a thesis behind it.
Don't misunderstand what I am saying, I am not in support of Gill netting, or any fishing methods that are likely to reduce the biomass in a marine eco system, but i think its nessessary for some sort of scientific evidence to be provided by these people before i go supporting it.

I am for some sort of regulation on marine ecosystems, as history shows, that without some regulation, people will use a resource untill its completely used up. (Reduction in tuna stocks, king fish population reduction by pro's, the effects of trawling in estuary systems are a few examples)
I percieve the issue to lie within how much regulation is too much?
Are you based in NT? your profile says that your based in coffs harbour, not sure how much understand and knowledge you would possess about the NT eco system and proffessional and recreational fishing relationship in the NT?

ff

[Jacob59]

hey mate, fair enough, they dont state any scientific reason for it, but im sure they wouldnt do it for no reason, and after my last trip to the finnes river last year i saw how badly the rape the mouth of it, its not just the barra stocks they effect, and if thats one more place we can be rid of them all the better i say, as for the relationship between commerical and reco fishos i cant really comment on that, because i think they are all such n suches u know,