AFTER extensive consultation, new rules for recreational fishing in South Australia – including changes to fishing limits for 26 species – will come into effect from 1st December 2016.
The changes to legal limits and management arrangements have been finalised this week, following extensive State-wide community consultation earlier this year.
Key changes include:
- Reduced bag/boat limits for garfish, samsonfish, western blue groper, large yellowtail kingfish, Australian herring (tommy ruff), scallops and blue swimmer crab/sand crabs.
- Increased size limits for bream, mulloway (marine waters) and samsonfish;
- Reduced bag/boat limit for snapper in Spencer Gulf;
- Increased bag/boat limit for spangled perch;
- Introduction of recreational limits for albacore, whaler sharks, congolli, bloodworms, sea urchin, trevally, wrasse and harlequin fish;
- Introduction of a vehicle limit on pipi and boat limits for mulloway in the coorong and yabbies;
- Simplified limits on Hyrtl’s tandan catfish;
- Removal of limits on yellowfin tuna and protection for Cooper Creek catfish.
New arrangements to improve the stock status of one of the state’s most iconic and popular species, King George whiting, are also being introduced. The changes are:
- Reduced State-wide daily bag limit to 10 and boat limit to 30 (previously 12 and 36)
- Increased legal minimum size limit to 32 cm in all waters East of Cape Catastrophe on the tip of the Eyre Peninsula at 136 ̊E (previously 31cm). West of this point, the size limit will remain at 30cm.
- Introduction of a spatial spawning closure for King George whiting 1 – 31 May in an area of southern Spencer Gulf, southern Gulf St Vincent and Investigator Strait to protect this key spawning area during a critical reproductive period, where the taking and possession of King George whiting by all fishers will be prohibited.
More detailed information about all of the changes can be found on the Fisheries South Australia website.
