Network for Sustainable Fishing (NSF) Urban Coast of the GBRMP

6 April, 2011.

- An informal e-network of An informal e-network of people having interests in people having interests in fishing and support fishing and support industries along the urban industries along the urban coast of the GBRMPcoast of the GBRMP

OVER-ARCHING CONCERNSOVER-ARCHING CONCERNS- The on-going depletion of The on-going depletion of inshore fish stocks from inshore fish stocks from Rockhampton to Cooktown,Rockhampton to Cooktown,

- Fisheries QLD (FQ) Fisheries QLD (FQ) apparently in denial ,apparently in denial ,

- GBRMPA apparently GBRMPA apparently powerless to intervene. powerless to intervene.

Following recognition that the Following recognition that the inshoreinshore fish stocks of the GBRMP fish stocks of the GBRMP areare depleted, depleted, stocks are managed such that:stocks are managed such that:they are rebuilt and maintained at resilient they are rebuilt and maintained at resilient levels,levels,greater use is made of Net Free Areas such that allowable catches are allocated to provide optimum economic and biodiversity benefits to local communities, andall negative impacts of fishing on non-target all negative impacts of fishing on non-target species are minimized.species are minimized.

Barramundi Fingermark

Blue threadfin King threadfin Grey mackerel (left)

1.1. Government recognizing:Government recognizing:

that that inshoreinshore fish stocks fish stocks areare overfished and declining, andoverfished and declining, and

the value of rebuilding these the value of rebuilding these stocks and allowing stocks and allowing communities to make the communities to make the best sustainable use of their best sustainable use of their local fishing grounds.local fishing grounds.

//continuedcontinued

2.2. An overhaul of the East An overhaul of the East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Coast Inshore Fin Fish Fishery (ECIFF) Fishery (ECIFF) regulations, to allow regulations, to allow inshore fish stocks to inshore fish stocks to rebuild rebuild incl. adequate protection of spawning stocks and nursery grounds ((This will help This will help lead to higher value, lead to higher value, sustainable catches and sustainable catches and boost local economies.)boost local economies.)

3.3. MinimalMinimal impact on non-impact on non-target speciestarget species

Something is killing our turtles and vets Something is killing our turtles and vets have shown it is not plastic bags. Here are have shown it is not plastic bags. Here are seven of the many dead turtles all washed seven of the many dead turtles all washed ashore at or near Wonga Beach , FNQ, ashore at or near Wonga Beach , FNQ, 2006 – Apr 2011, all were photographed 2006 – Apr 2011, all were photographed by the same person. by the same person. Fishing nets do Fishing nets do

drown turtles; drown turtles; many people, many people, incl. some local incl. some local pro fishers, pro fishers, believe nets are believe nets are responsible for responsible for many of the many of the deaths.deaths.

Bellies slit open and weighed down to make them sink – not

illegal hunting!

Dugong along the GBRMP urban Dugong along the GBRMP urban coast are at around 3% of their coast are at around 3% of their 1960 numbers yet are regularly 1960 numbers yet are regularly found stranded, sometimes with found stranded, sometimes with tail hacked off and/or bellies slit. tail hacked off and/or bellies slit. The new ‘in-attendance’ The new ‘in-attendance’ regulation of gillnets is regulation of gillnets is ineffective when netters can be ineffective when netters can be asleep in their boat bunks or asleep in their boat bunks or even 400m from a net and wide even 400m from a net and wide awake.awake.

Tail hacked off probably to aid release from net

The rare, endemic Australian snubfin dolphin (left) occurring only in The rare, endemic Australian snubfin dolphin (left) occurring only in shallow, inshore tropical waters in N. Australia and Qld, is at high shallow, inshore tropical waters in N. Australia and Qld, is at high risk from netting. A pod was wiped out by shark nets at Ellis Beach risk from netting. A pod was wiped out by shark nets at Ellis Beach near Cairns, (Ross, DEWHA website). The Indo-pacific humpback, near Cairns, (Ross, DEWHA website). The Indo-pacific humpback, top right, (possibly a 2top right, (possibly a 2ndnd endemic species) also only found inshore, endemic species) also only found inshore, is also placed at risk by netting.is also placed at risk by netting.

Humpback whales, Humpback whales, incl. Migaloo, on the incl. Migaloo, on the grey mackerel grey mackerel spawning grounds spawning grounds when offshore netters when offshore netters were operating.were operating.Humpback whales, left, photographed in the presence of a fisheries Humpback whales, left, photographed in the presence of a fisheries

officer and within 300m of netters using 600m of netting. officer and within 300m of netters using 600m of netting. It is just It is just a matter of time!a matter of time!

Two decades of dealing with FQ has ended Two decades of dealing with FQ has ended in stalemate and in stalemate and public disenchantmentpublic disenchantment..

Input from the recreational and charter Input from the recreational and charter fishing sectors, although requested by FQ, fishing sectors, although requested by FQ, has been largely ignored in favour of has been largely ignored in favour of commercial interests and to the detriment commercial interests and to the detriment of fish stocks.of fish stocks.

It is time to make these concerns It is time to make these concerns an an election issueelection issue and press for changes:and press for changes:

in government policy towards fishing, in government policy towards fishing, within FQ andwithin FQ and to ECIFF regulations.to ECIFF regulations.

The EPBC Act 1999The EPBC Act 1999 under which export under which export fisheries must be assessed to fisheries must be assessed to determine whether they can be determine whether they can be declared as declared as approved Wildlife Trading approved Wildlife Trading OperationsOperations,,

Federal Federal Guidelines for the Ecologically Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of FisheriesSustainable Management of Fisheries,,

The Independent Review of QLD’s ECIFF The Independent Review of QLD’s ECIFF undertaken in 2008 at the request of the undertaken in 2008 at the request of the Federal Minister for the EnvironmentFederal Minister for the Environment

TheThe Conditions and Recommendations Conditions and Recommendations placed placed on the ECIFF by the Federal Minister before it on the ECIFF by the Federal Minister before it could be declared an approved WTOcould be declared an approved WTO

lack of species-specific catch data, lack of species-specific catch data, gillnet fishing effort data insufficient for management,gillnet fishing effort data insufficient for management, inadequate data on net interactions with marine mammals,inadequate data on net interactions with marine mammals, very limited knowledge of the sustainable levels of catch,very limited knowledge of the sustainable levels of catch, risky indicators of stock abundance /sustainability,risky indicators of stock abundance /sustainability, risky level of precaution adopted,risky level of precaution adopted, some species atsome species at high risk of localised depletionhigh risk of localised depletion,, depletions not always obvious when fishery assessments depletions not always obvious when fishery assessments

are based on methods used,are based on methods used, some significant gaps in a number of important areas,some significant gaps in a number of important areas, lack of level of flexibility required for a lack of level of flexibility required for a World Heritage World Heritage

AreaArea,, need to reduce complexity and ensure sustainability of need to reduce complexity and ensure sustainability of

species,species, need for a fundamental rethink need for a fundamental rethink of the management of the management

approach.approach.

As a priority DPI&F should … seek broad As a priority DPI&F should … seek broad public and scientific input on the use of public and scientific input on the use of spatial management … to reduce the spatial management … to reduce the potential for localised depletion potential for localised depletion of key of key species ... species ... (findings to be implemented by 31 Dec. (findings to be implemented by 31 Dec. 2010 (any progress???)2010 (any progress???)

Showing near-ripe eggs from a line- Showing near-ripe eggs from a line- fished SM caught the same week, nearbyfished SM caught the same week, nearby

Spanish mackerel, a line-only Spanish mackerel, a line-only species, netted on one of their species, netted on one of their spawning patchesspawning patches

The NSF The NSF “Review of “Review of Concerns ...” Concerns ...” publ. on publ. on line by Fishers for line by Fishers for Conservation (FFC), Conservation (FFC), Aug. 2010, 62pp. (Aug. 2010, 62pp. (see see oppositeopposite) considered the ) considered the new regulations and new regulations and outlined why outlined why they will they will fail to halt the decline fail to halt the decline in inshore species, in inshore species, and consideredand considered

the fishery should not the fishery should not be declared an be declared an approved WTO in approved WTO in 2012 unless further 2012 unless further changes are made.changes are made.

that iconic inshore fish stocks are depleted,that iconic inshore fish stocks are depleted, the need to afford greater protection to the need to afford greater protection to

breeding stock, breeding grounds and breeding stock, breeding grounds and nursery areas,nursery areas,

the need to the need to naturallynaturally rebuild local fish rebuild local fish stocks (stocks (notnot re-stocking with fingerlings), re-stocking with fingerlings),

the need for communities to make the best the need for communities to make the best economic use of recovered fisheries economic use of recovered fisheries e.g. e.g. through booming recreational fishing and tourism near through booming recreational fishing and tourism near urban centres, or mackerel being sold in prime condition as urban centres, or mackerel being sold in prime condition as line caught table fish and not as cat food because of gluts line caught table fish and not as cat food because of gluts in a boom-and-bust netting bonanza.in a boom-and-bust netting bonanza.

Provision of additional short-term Provision of additional short-term funding for a Qld Fisheries Review funding for a Qld Fisheries Review whereby world leaders in fisheries whereby world leaders in fisheries management review FQ and the ECIFF, management review FQ and the ECIFF,

The Review to develop and introduce an The Review to develop and introduce an optimal management framework whereby optimal management framework whereby commercial fishing effort is managed on commercial fishing effort is managed on a appropriately fine spatial scale,a appropriately fine spatial scale,

Key positions within FQ to be re-Key positions within FQ to be re-advertised (incumbents may re-apply),advertised (incumbents may re-apply),

Formation of a Recreational & Charter Formation of a Recreational & Charter Fishing Branch within FQ.Fishing Branch within FQ.

Smooth and partially smooth waters Smooth and partially smooth waters around key urban and tourism centres to around key urban and tourism centres to be declared line fishing only (both be declared line fishing only (both commercial & rec), i.e. Urban & Tourism commercial & rec), i.e. Urban & Tourism Net Free Areas,Net Free Areas,

All mackerel to be line only species with All mackerel to be line only species with all by-catch of netted mackerel to be all by-catch of netted mackerel to be promptly discarded at sea (promptly discarded at sea (to close the to close the loopholeloophole),),

Restriction of netting effort by individuals Restriction of netting effort by individuals on an appropriately fine spatial scale to on an appropriately fine spatial scale to encourage better husbandry of resources.encourage better husbandry of resources.

Further information is available from your local Further information is available from your local NSF co-ordinator and at NSF co-ordinator and at www.ffc.org.au; see also ; see also www.sunfishqld.com.au. .

Please circulate this presentation on your local Please circulate this presentation on your local networks, and to clubs, local schools and networks, and to clubs, local schools and especially your local politicians, in this an especially your local politicians, in this an election year.election year.

Additional NSF co-ordinators for areas not Additional NSF co-ordinators for areas not already covered are welcomed, please contact already covered are welcomed, please contact one of us.one of us.

There is no copyright to this presentation, you There is no copyright to this presentation, you are free to adjust, cut and paste under the name are free to adjust, cut and paste under the name of your own organisation or network as you may of your own organisation or network as you may wish.wish.

You can help make a difference, You can help make a difference, please make the time to do so.

/References

EPBC Act 1999, Section 303FN EPBC Act 1999, Section 303FN requires export fisheries to be requires export fisheries to be managed in an ecologically sustainable way and managed in an ecologically sustainable way and approved as Wildlife approved as Wildlife Trading Operations,Trading Operations,

Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of FisheriesGuidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries’, ’, Ed. 2 (2007); see: Ed. 2 (2007); see: www.environment.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/publications/pubs/guidelines.pdf;

The Independent Review of QLD ECIFF The Independent Review of QLD ECIFF undertaken for the Federal undertaken for the Federal Minister, 31/10/2008Minister, 31/10/2008; ; see: see: www.environment.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/qld/east-coast-finfish/index.html;

Conditions and recommendations placed on the ECIFF by the Federal Conditions and recommendations placed on the ECIFF by the Federal Minister before it could be declared an approved WTO in 2009; see: Minister before it could be declared an approved WTO in 2009; see: www.environment.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/qld/east-coast-finfish/index.html

NSF, 2010.NSF, 2010. A review of concerns relating to the offshore gillnet fishery A review of concerns relating to the offshore gillnet fishery in the inshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in relation in the inshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in relation to the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of to the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries with recommendations for early intervention. Ed. David Fisheries with recommendations for early intervention. Ed. David Cook, NSF. Publ. Fishers for ConservationCook, NSF. Publ. Fishers for Conservation, , 62pp; see: 62pp; see: www.ffc.org.au/ Grey_Mackerel.html#latest