THE NSW Government says it has no plans to stop commercial fishers haul netting in estuaries, despite widespread angler concerns following a report of large scale netting of black bream on the NSW South Coast.
The response follows a Fishing World report last week that haul netters working the land locked Brou and Coila estuary systems had recently netted “boxes and boxes” of large black bream, many of which were believed to be up to 20 years of age. The news angered many Fisho readers and led to a flurry of online posts calling for haul netting in estuaries to be banned. The story also prompted a tirade of responses on the Fishing World website and various social media from interests aligned to the commercial sector.
Fisho today received a formal response from the NSW Department of Primary Industries which unfortunately will do little to allay angler concerns. While it could be said rec fishos on the whole wouldn’t begrudge non-fishers the opportunity to be able to buy fresh fish, surely this can’t be justification for allowing the continued haul netting of valuable and fragile fisheries? The NSW Fisheries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson appears to think so, if this statement from a spokesperson in her department is anything to go by: “It would be a shame for the community, residents and visitors to have to rely on imported fish for their fish and chips.”
While concerns were raised last week around the legalities of haul netting in close proximity to sanctuary zones – as exists in both the Coila and Brou systems – the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) spokesperson told Fisho: “Licensed commercial fishers, who hold the appropriate endorsements in this region, are lawfully entitled to fish in these lakes and catch fish for the wider community to consume.”
The spokesperson also says the NSW Government has no plans or make changes to existing recreational fishing havens, or introduce more. Interestingly though, any changes to RFHs haven’t been completely ruled out, but would have to rely on an unlikely mutual consensus between the recreational and commercial fishing sectors.
“There are no immediate plans to create additional recreational fishing havens or change fishing arrangements in the existing havens. However, any proposals where there is consensus between local recreational and commercial fishers regarding adjustments or the creation of additional fishing havens, will be considered on a case-by-case basis,” the spokesperson said.
While the statement also indicates the NSW Government is “committed to promoting viable commercial fishing industries and quality recreational fishing opportunities,” this issue only appears to highlight the gulf that currently exists between different fishing interests competing for the same resource. On paper the state Government says it is aware of the money rec fishing generates in coastal communities, acknowledging “economic studies in NSW have shown the economic benefits of recreational fishing, including from anglers from the ACT and Victoria visiting towns on the South Coast.” If this is the case the government would do well to heed the concerns of many anglers who in online comments have said they won’t continue to visit regions where such unsustainable commercial fishing is allowed to continue.
At the same time the NSW Government says “it is committed to promoting viable commercial fishing industries and quality recreational fishing opportunities while ensuring that the fisheries resources of NSW are appropriately shared.”
Do you think this is an example of an “appropriately shared” fishery? Let us know your thoughts.
Read the full response to Fishing World from the NSW DPI HERE.