FROM January 16 a three-month Section 8 fishing closure under the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 (FMA) is in place in the Central Tablelands Region, in sections of the Winburndale Rivulet and its upstream tributaries, including Winburndale Dam.
During the closure, fishing by any method is prohibited, in the following waters located to the northeast of Bathurst, specifically:
Winburndale Dam, sections of Winburndale Rivulet and its tributaries (the Gulf Stream, Mitchells Creek, Lagoon Creek, McCanns Gully, Kirkconnell Creek, Bull Gully, Scotts Creek, Bobs Creek, Tindales Flat Creek, Roundbody Gully and Black Spring Gully), and the section of the Winburndale Rivulet from the Winburndale Dam wall at 33.38972222°S 149.77694444°E to 800 metres downstream from that dam wall at 33.38916667°S 149.76833333°E.
The closure is in place as a precaution to reduce the risk of potential spread of epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) and to help preserve an important Macquarie perch population.
The virus is no threat to human health. To help reduce the spread of EHNV, fishers should make cleaning part of their routine by washing and completely drying vessels and niche areas, including live wells, water inlets and outlets and anchor wells, trailers and fishing gear after use, particularly before moving to new waterways.
NSW Fisheries remind fishos that possession of live redfin is illegal in NSW, and that use of redfin as bait in any NSW inland waterway is illegal.
It is required by law to report any sign of EHNV to NSW DPI via the 24 hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline 1800 675 888 or email on aquatic.biosecurity@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
