THE Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the NT Inc (AFANT) is working towards removing the seasonally closed areas on the lower Mary River management zone.
AFANT has welcomed the CLP Government’s commitment to create a recreational only barramundi fishing area from the southern part of Fog Bay to Kakadu NP and looks forward to working with the NT Government to deliver the maximum benefit from the new recreational only barramundi fishing areas.
“As part of this process AFANT is working with the NT Fisheries division to conduct targeted research into fish release survival and any potential catch effort impact on barramundi and threadfin salmon in the lower Mary River system”. Said AFANT President Warren de With.
“AFANT and NT Fisheries will be conducting survival, tagging and data gathering in the lower Mary River system in October to assist in gathering data on the barramundi and threadfin salmon population predominantly focusing on the survival of released fish particularly large breeding females.”
“AFANT is calling for interested anglers to participate in a catch and release tagging and data gathering effort on the October neap tides.”
“As Mary River management zone rules still apply and the tagging and data will be conducted under a fisheries permit, only registered parties will be able to fish in the area and only on the stipulated dates. It is likely that the number of boats may be limited and priority will be given to the first registered.” Mr de With said.
The fish surveys will be conducted on the following dates:
Weekend one – Friday 11th October 2013 to Monday 14th October 2013
Weekend two – Saturday 26th October 2013 to Tuesday 29th October 2013
To register contact AFANT on 8945 6455 or email research@afant.com.au
Tag kits, catch and effort data sheets and tagging instructions will be provided to participating anglers.
