THE NT’s Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, Willem Westra van Holthe, has announced that from tomorrow the Mary River will be open for year-round barramundi fishing.
The Mary River has been closed to barramundi fishing each year from 1 October to 1 February but from tomorrow it will be open year-round.
Mr Westra van Holthe said that amending the barramundi fisheries management plan would be formally gazetted tomorrow and anglers are encouraged to go wet a line.
“The Mary River is an iconic barramundi fishery that is a favourite amongst Territorians and people from around the world,” Mr Westra van Holthe said.
“The Mary River will be open on Friday and I encourage everyone to get down to Shady Camp to land a metrey!
“There are some good neap tides coming through this weekend so the timing is perfect.”
The Mary River is an extremely healthy and very lightly fished area with less than five per cent of spawning stock fished.
In 2012, the Country Liberals Government closed Chambers and Finke to commercial barramundi fishing, effectively removing any impact on Barramundi stocks from the commercial fishery in the Mary River area.
In the 1980s a permanent barramundi fishing closure in the Mary River system was introduced for commercial operators and a seasonal closure in the Mary River system was introduced for recreational fishers. This was in response to a decline in barramundi stocks.
A combination of a of good wet seasons and improved management changes have allowed the barramundi stock to recover to extremely healthy levels in the Mary River catchment.
The removal of seasonal barramundi fishing in Mary River has been endorsed by the Barramundi Fishery Management Advisory Committee and the Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee.
