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Commercial striped marlin ban proposed in NSW

The just released NSW Fisheries Management Regulation 2010 proposal – now up for public consultation – has proposed a commercial fishing ban on striped marlin.

Fisho was alerted to this development today by our environment editor John Newbery, who when perusing the 330 page document online, noticed the proposal that will no doubt be welcomed by the state’s game fishers.

The main stumbling block of this proposal however, is that the NSW government currently only controls commercial fishing out to the 3 nautical mile mark – from there it comes under the jurisdiction of the Federal government. It is unclear how a proposal to give striped marlin “protection” in NSW waters can prevent commercial longliners targeting them out in commonwealth waters.

Page 23 of the FMR 2010 proposal names, under the heading “Fish Protected absolutely from commercial fishing (marine or estuarine species)”, striped marlin, along with a number of pre-existing species protected from commercial fishing – four species of groper and black marlin and blue marlin.

This proposal is sure to be championed by many in recreational and game fishing circles who have been pushing for a ban on the commercial fishing and sale of striped marlin for many years.

The Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010 proposal comes as a result of a review of the current Regulation, which is due for repeal on 1 September 2010.

The proposed Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010 and Regulatory Impact Statement (‘RIS’) is available for download here.

Additional copies may be obtained by telephoning (02) 9527 8506.

Fisho urges all interested parties to submit written comments on the striped marlin proposal – and any other issues within Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010 and/or the RIS – to Industry & Investment NSW by July 2.

Submissions should be addressed to:

Fisheries RIS Submissions
Industry & Investment NSW
PO Box 21
CRONULLA NSW 2230

Facsimile: (02) 9527 8516. Attention: Fisheries RIS Submissions; Email: Fisheriesris.submissions@industry.nsw.gov.au

The closing date for submissions is Friday 2 July 2010 at 5.00pm.

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