SNAPPER fishing will reopen across the state to fishers from midday Tuesday 15 December, however five key Snapper spatial spawning sites will remain closed to all fishing activity until the end of January 2016.
The aim of the Snapper spatial spawning closures is to protect Snapper stocks at these key locations from fishing pressure, and reduce the risk of disturbance to their breeding behaviour during this critical reproductive period.
Snapper spatial spawning closures are in place at four sites in Spencer Gulf and a fifth site in Gulf St Vincent and will remain closed to Snapper fishing until midday on Thursday, 31 January 2016.
At these five key sites, all fishing sectors are prohibited from possessing, targeting and taking Snapper within the 4km radius of each closure (see map overpage).
PIRSA Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, Sean Sloan, said the closure arrangements would help secure the sustainability of our prized Snapper stocks well into the future.
“Snapper is an incredibly important species to our recreational, commercial and charter fisheries and the closure of these five key sites will continue to help ensure the protection and recovery of local Snapper stocks,” he said.
“The closures only restrict Snapper fishing in the five spatial areas, so anglers can still enjoy fishing for Snapper outside the areas once the season reopens on 15 December.”
Mr Sloan said PIRSA Fisheries Officers will continue to patrol closures throughout the summer period to ensure a high level of compliance continues.
“I commend fishers on their conduct during the annual closure to date and encourage anglers to enjoy the abundant jetty, beach and boat launch locations that are available for them to land a prized catch,” Mr Sloan said.
“The busy Christmas and New Year period should see many fishers take advantage of the rewarding fishing opportunities that exist across our state.”
For more information, or to download the snapper closures map, go to the PIRSA website.
