maniak

Hi guys Is anyone aware of the legalities behind marine parks, ie the international convention the federal government is a signatory to which states that by law there must be a marine park in each bioregion within a certain period. I recall this being mentioned during the previous marine park fiasco and used by McDonald as an excuse for not being able to rescind the legislation. PS Macdonald is about to retire this also may be pertinent at this time. Maniak

Macdonald has indicated he will be vacating his seat soon

Hi Guys, NSW Fisheries have an agreement with the Commonwealth which gives them jurisdiction over commonwealth waters adjacent to the NSW coast (Offshore General License or OG1) and catches are recorded to DPI and included in NSW catch statistics. Maniak

Hi Guys What about Lake Illawarra-Port Kembla? Plenty of fish and especially prawns are caught and sold out of this lake every day. The NSW Food Authority has already banned the taking of cockles beacause of high levels of heavy metals present and oyster farming is banned because the lake is so heavily polluted. Shouldn't the public be made aware of the health risk they are being subjected to. Why shouldn't the same levels apply to Lake Illawarra as Sydney Harbour? Maniak

Hi Guys, Daryl Dawson of port stephens green coalition, econetwork has called for more controls of fishing competitions and the numbers of fish caught in comps. I dont know how he proposes it would be carried out as most comps have release sections and size limits and bag limits in comps are often more stringent than the existing legal requirements. Just another attack on fishers from the greens I assume. ManiaK

Hi Guys, Just double-checked and Botany Bay IS definitely a rec fishing haven and commercial Mullet hauling is positively not allowed. If this is happenning it is illegal. Maniak

Ilk Have you checked with /reported this to fisheries. Isnt Botany Bay a recreational fishing haven? If it is they are not allowed to undertake any commercial fishing. How do you know this is happenning late at night? Regards Maniak

Hi All, Yeah, strange to say the least. Two points - what species do Swiss fishers fish for and how are these ridiculous laws going to be policed short of having an inspector going fishing with you to ensure you dont throw anything back. Cheers ManiaK

Hello Dan, In NSW to enter the commercial fishing industry you basically need to buy an existing fishing business. Each business will hold various entitlements in one or more fisheries. In estuary fishing for example there are about 15 separate entitlements. Most fishermen concentrate on two or three as the basis of their operations. Other fisheries such as trap and line work outside the estuary. All fisheries are subject to many, many rules and restrictions including closures relating to marine parks, fishing havens, reserves, seasonal closures, setting times and various gear restrictions. Size limits are the same as for everyone. Some species are subject to quotas or trip limits and many have no quotas but are controlled by the gear restrictions closures and various other restrictions. Hope this helps. Maniak

I generally set lines for about 6-12 hrs or less, sometimes overnight sometimes during the day depending where I am working. I am not trying to distort the facts. As I said I have had minimal interaction with GNS over a very long period. It is not in my interest to fish in areas where they are likely to be caught. My point is that it has been said during this discussion that up to 400 hooks per line are being used in areas of GNS aggregation sites with catches of 1400 kg. The aggregation sites I am aware of are all within the 3 nautical mile category and are subject to these rules. It is against the law to use more than 6 hooks per line with a max of ten lines and is also an offence to land more than 1000kg of any shark in one trip and an offence to set lines within 1500 metres of any aggregation site. What makes catching a "poor harmless Wobbegong" any different to catching any other poor harmless species? It is unbased false emotional rhetoric like this that the greens are using to and it is dissapointing to see supposed experts even if they are only self proclaimed ones using the same dubious tactics. Regards ManiaK

Hi Guys, Commercial fishers with a line west endorsement are allowed to set a maximum of ten (10) set lines within three miles of landfall (including all islands) each with a maximum of (6) hooks ie that is a total of sixty hooks. I have been using this method for thirty years and interaction with GNS has been minimal with no fatalaties and less than 10 hooked and released unharmed in that time. Fishers targetting Wobbegong have, several years ago, also agreed to a code of practice to use only mild steel hooks, nylon traces (no stainless steel) and to avoid grey nurse areas. It is in the fishers interest to avoid these areas as GNS besides being protected are of no value at all. Set lining is also the first method to be banned within a 1.5 kilometre af all GNS agregation sites.I believe that by attempting to aportion blame on other fishers those that make false claims and misinformation are only putting more pressure to remove all effort including recreational. The truth is ALL fishermen rec and pro have an impact. The attitude that what I do is alright but the other bloke is the crook doesn't wash with anyone that has half a brain. Regards MAP

hi guys, Debnam has stated that the job reductions will be via amalgamation of departments, natural attrition (retirements) and reducing duplication of services. In other words the bureaucratic empires that labour have been building over the past 12 years will be reduced to a size designed to deliver efficient services to the public rather than to simply fill the coffers of fat cat management at the expense of taxpayers. Look at what has happened to govt services with labour. Taxes have increased- where has the money gone???The important workers on the ground ( nurses, doctors, police, teachers) will not be reduced surplus, unnecessary, greedy, inefficient management will be. MAP

Hi Guys, Please note that liberal/nat policy is for a 36mill buyout of commercial fishers beginning next year with a 20 year sunset clause in other words no returning to the industry for 20 years. Maniak