IT’S been another huge year for the Fishing World website. 2011 once again saw a number of issues come to light, all of which have the potential to affect recreational fishing around Australia now and in the future.
No doubt one of the biggest stories is an ongoing one with wide reaching implications. The federal government’s proposal for a series of marine parks in Commonwealth waters around the country, as part of its bioregional planning process, has been gaining momentum for some time. With the recent unveiling of federal Environment Minister Tony Burke’s plans for the Temperate East Marine Region, and more specifically the long awaited fate of the Coral Sea, rec fishos appear to have come out of it reasonably well. The final make up for the east coast parks will be known after the consultation period ends next February, while 2012 should see focus shift to the remaining proposed parks in WA’s north-west and the NT.
The subject of marine parks is always a hot topic with Fisho readers, as our top story of the year on a mystery fish kill in the Jervis Bay Marine Park early this year highlights. Unsustainable commercial fishing practices justifiably got our readers hot under the collar this year. Our story on increased quotas for longliners operating in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery was the 2nd most read for the year.
Controversy hasn’t been restricted to national issues. This year NSW saw a change of government for the first time in 16 years. And if 2011 is anything to go by the fishos of NSW are in for a bumpy ride. So far since taking over power Fisheries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson has announced plans for the closure of the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre and reintroduced salmon netting for commercial netters (north of Sydney). These issues have understandably raised the ire of fishos, both in NSW and interstate.
In 2011, Fisho’s growing library of practical how-to fishing videos enjoyed an increasing number of followers from right around the world. We also notched up our first 1,000,000 views of these clips this year, so hopefully we’re getting things right when it comes to delivering useful parctical fishing info for you. There’s plenty more in store for 2012 so stay tuned…
Finally, here’s a list of our top 20 stories of the year. Thanks again for following us this year.
1 Fish kill exposes marine park sanctuary myth
2 Feds give green light to marlin tuna slaughter
3 Video: How to – Tie a Bimini twist
4 Video: How to – Tie a uni knot
5 Gladstone harbour fishing ban set to widen
6 Cooper Creek yabby mystery
7 Video: Monster mulloway
8 Video: How to – Tie a loop knot
9 Video: How to use blade lures
10 Video: It’s me or the boat
11 Weird catch comp
12 Marlin takes yakkers on a wild ride
13 Tiger shark record tumbles
14 Haines Hunter launches new centre consoles
15 Video: Flathead eating lures
16 Great white swims into Sussex Inlet
17 Video: Fishing with blade lures
18 Video: How To – Catching baitfish on sabiki rigs
19 Burke’s plan for huge marine parks
20 ABC responds to fishing show proposal
