MEMBERSHIP
We start this news letter with good news. In the past month we have received another 11 unsolicited new members bringing our tally to 438. Isn't that fantastic !
********************************
SCHOOL FISH
There has been a flurry of activity with our schoolfish programs. In the past six weeks 305 children have been taken on a day's fishing excursion by our trusty angler education team. Many of the children caught their very first fish – an experience they will remember for a lifetime.
Now the hard work begins with our annual working bee on the trailer and upgrading the rods/reels and other gear ready for action stations next year.
Our angler education activities have not gone unnoticed. A Sydney freelance journalist is currently preparing a media article highlighting the wonderful work of our angler education team. This is soon to be published in one of the national fishing magazines.
We will keep you posted!
For the benefit of those who are new to this newsletter, approximately 8500 – to 8750 children have been through our schoolfish program since its inception.
Are we proud of our achievements – You bet we are !
*******************************
FLARES
This is a timely prompt for you to check to see if your boat flares are not out of date
Hands up if you have kept a set of expired flares for extra security. I have news for you. They could cost you dearly.
Did you know it’s an offence to be in possession of expired flares? Be assured if you are checked out by water police, the chances of a warning are slim and it will cost you plenty.
Dispose of your flares by delivering them to your nearest fire station.
********************************
INDEPENDENT QUEENSLAND FISHERIES REVIEW
Our submission has been lodged.
We invested close to 40 hours in the preparation of our submission. This includes attending the public meeting at the PCYC, which was well attended by all sectors of the fishing community and a private consultation for two hours with the independent chair, Professor Glenn Hurry and his assistants. Our documented submission includes a five page covering letter. Attachments include our St. Helens- Cape Hillsborough Net Free Submission which was included at the request of fisheries minister Dr. John McVeigh, N24 Commercial Catch Data reports 1998 -2013 and the Model Recreational Fishing Licence Draft of conditions per QRFN website www.qrfn/org.
********************************
NET FREE DEVELOPMENTS
We are yet to receive formal support from the Member of Whitsunday, Jason Costigan. However we do acknowledge his assistance in arranging an appointment with the Queensland Fisheries Minister Dr. John McVeigh, in Mackay on the 4th of September 2014.
In an endeavour to spread the good news this project has to offer, last week we emailed it to a committee member of Diversify Mackay.
As we prepare this newsletter, Mackay is in an ugly economic downturn with no signs of an end. For the life of me I can't understand why some of our community leaders don't embrace our proposal. If they look at the REMPLAN economic benefits model contained in our submission they should be kicking the door down to help.
On the 23rd of October it was reported on the Tackle World website http:www.fishingworld.com.au/news/council -pushes-for netting ban. This communication relates to the Noosa Regional Councils push to have commercial netting banned on the north shore due to its impact on the local fishery.
*******************************
SUNFISH QLD 2015 STATE ELECTION WISH LIST
Sunfish Queensland are to be commended for adopting the following Fisheries Management issues at their AGM in September 2014.
§ Introduce, in consultation with stakeholders, commercial Total Allowable Catches and or ITQ ( Individual Transferable Quota ) for the commercial sector on ALL species which have a recreational bag limit.
§ Introduce zoning for all east coast commercial net, crab and line fisheries.
§ Make all important recreational species such as tailor, barramundi, flathead, swallowtail dart, Australian bass, winter whiting and bream non- commercial species.
§ Increase the visible presence and responsiveness of Fisheries Inspectors
§ Remove netting from creeks, rivers and estuaries to protect nursery areas and spawning fish stocks.
§ TOTALLY BAN COMMERCIAL GILLNETTING.
***************************************
MACKAY- WHITSUNDAY HEALTHY RIVERS TO REEF PARTNERSHIP.
Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance Inc. signed a MOU on the 30th of September along with other stakeholders including local government, Cane growers, Tourism, Qld Bulk Ports, GBRMPA, Reef Plan Independent Science Panel, Mackay Tourism N.Q. Dry Tropics, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal PL, Resource Industry Network , DNRM , Reef Catchments, EHP, DAFF
A total of $230K will be invested initially in the preparation of Mackay- Whitsunday regional waterway health report card which will inform whole of catchment management in the region from the catchments to the rivers to the reef.
***********************************
GREAT BARRIER REEF Water Quality report card 2012-2013
The six page glossy Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2012-2013 Reef Water Quality Protection Plan delivers bad news:
The report concludes in part – Great Barrier Reef-wide
The overall condition of the inshore reef remained poor in 2012-2013. Inshore water quality was poor and varied from moderate to poor depending on the region. Inshore sea grass showed signs of recovery in some regions and improved from very poor to poor. Inshore coral reefs remained in poor condition.
The report is broken down in zones. The zones are Cape York, Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Mackay Whitsunday Fitzroy and Burnett Mary.
Back to our region, Mackay- Whitsunday.
The Mackay Whitsundays overall inshore marine condition remained poor. Inshore water quality improved from poor to moderate. Inshore sea grass meadows remained very poor and coral reefs remained in moderate condition.
More information is available on the Reef Plan website, www.reefplan.qld.gov.au.
**************************
QUEENSLAND RECREATIONAL FISHERS NETWORK
Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance Inc. are proud to have an informal relationship with an independent fishing group, formalised last year. Queensland Recreational Fishers Network website, qrfn.org, provides interesting and informative information.
You may find some of the articles interesting or explosive depending on your opinions.
I do draw your attention to the groups submission to the QRFN Submission to the 2014 MRAG Review of Qld Fisheries which can be found under the heading ‘OUR WORK – Position Papers’.
You will find other interesting documents including a contribution by Dave Donald about Indonesian Snapper, sometimes called the cockroaches of the Whitsundays and a brilliant paper by Lindsay Dines – personal observations called Fisheries & Sea birds – A Spooky Flight Path.
**************************
FISHWATCH HOT LINE 1800 017 116
Log this into your mobile phone and do it now!
Fisheries Queensland is to be commended for the recent upgrade to this facility. Right now when you call this number you will get a prompt asking where you want your call directed. If you ask for Mackay the call will automatically be sent to Boating & Fisheries Mackay 24/7.
Having said that, fisheries staff may be out of telephone range or home mowing the lawn or doing something personal. Please leave a message with your name, contact details – remembering that your call has been diverted from a call centre and will not indicate the phone number from where you are calling. Don’t forget to leave a brief of what your message is about.
If your call is in relation to any illegal activities, please try to record the boat or vehicle registration number. Taking a photo with your mobile phone may also assist fisheries with their follow up enquiries.
*********************************
We start this news letter with good news. In the past month we have received another 11 unsolicited new members bringing our tally to 438. Isn't that fantastic !
********************************
SCHOOL FISH
There has been a flurry of activity with our schoolfish programs. In the past six weeks 305 children have been taken on a day's fishing excursion by our trusty angler education team. Many of the children caught their very first fish – an experience they will remember for a lifetime.
Now the hard work begins with our annual working bee on the trailer and upgrading the rods/reels and other gear ready for action stations next year.
Our angler education activities have not gone unnoticed. A Sydney freelance journalist is currently preparing a media article highlighting the wonderful work of our angler education team. This is soon to be published in one of the national fishing magazines.
We will keep you posted!
For the benefit of those who are new to this newsletter, approximately 8500 – to 8750 children have been through our schoolfish program since its inception.
Are we proud of our achievements – You bet we are !
*******************************
FLARES
This is a timely prompt for you to check to see if your boat flares are not out of date
Hands up if you have kept a set of expired flares for extra security. I have news for you. They could cost you dearly.
Did you know it’s an offence to be in possession of expired flares? Be assured if you are checked out by water police, the chances of a warning are slim and it will cost you plenty.
Dispose of your flares by delivering them to your nearest fire station.
********************************
INDEPENDENT QUEENSLAND FISHERIES REVIEW
Our submission has been lodged.
We invested close to 40 hours in the preparation of our submission. This includes attending the public meeting at the PCYC, which was well attended by all sectors of the fishing community and a private consultation for two hours with the independent chair, Professor Glenn Hurry and his assistants. Our documented submission includes a five page covering letter. Attachments include our St. Helens- Cape Hillsborough Net Free Submission which was included at the request of fisheries minister Dr. John McVeigh, N24 Commercial Catch Data reports 1998 -2013 and the Model Recreational Fishing Licence Draft of conditions per QRFN website www.qrfn/org.
********************************
NET FREE DEVELOPMENTS
We are yet to receive formal support from the Member of Whitsunday, Jason Costigan. However we do acknowledge his assistance in arranging an appointment with the Queensland Fisheries Minister Dr. John McVeigh, in Mackay on the 4th of September 2014.
In an endeavour to spread the good news this project has to offer, last week we emailed it to a committee member of Diversify Mackay.
As we prepare this newsletter, Mackay is in an ugly economic downturn with no signs of an end. For the life of me I can't understand why some of our community leaders don't embrace our proposal. If they look at the REMPLAN economic benefits model contained in our submission they should be kicking the door down to help.
On the 23rd of October it was reported on the Tackle World website http:www.fishingworld.com.au/news/council -pushes-for netting ban. This communication relates to the Noosa Regional Councils push to have commercial netting banned on the north shore due to its impact on the local fishery.
*******************************
SUNFISH QLD 2015 STATE ELECTION WISH LIST
Sunfish Queensland are to be commended for adopting the following Fisheries Management issues at their AGM in September 2014.
§ Introduce, in consultation with stakeholders, commercial Total Allowable Catches and or ITQ ( Individual Transferable Quota ) for the commercial sector on ALL species which have a recreational bag limit.
§ Introduce zoning for all east coast commercial net, crab and line fisheries.
§ Make all important recreational species such as tailor, barramundi, flathead, swallowtail dart, Australian bass, winter whiting and bream non- commercial species.
§ Increase the visible presence and responsiveness of Fisheries Inspectors
§ Remove netting from creeks, rivers and estuaries to protect nursery areas and spawning fish stocks.
§ TOTALLY BAN COMMERCIAL GILLNETTING.
***************************************
MACKAY- WHITSUNDAY HEALTHY RIVERS TO REEF PARTNERSHIP.
Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance Inc. signed a MOU on the 30th of September along with other stakeholders including local government, Cane growers, Tourism, Qld Bulk Ports, GBRMPA, Reef Plan Independent Science Panel, Mackay Tourism N.Q. Dry Tropics, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal PL, Resource Industry Network , DNRM , Reef Catchments, EHP, DAFF
A total of $230K will be invested initially in the preparation of Mackay- Whitsunday regional waterway health report card which will inform whole of catchment management in the region from the catchments to the rivers to the reef.
***********************************
GREAT BARRIER REEF Water Quality report card 2012-2013
The six page glossy Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2012-2013 Reef Water Quality Protection Plan delivers bad news:
The report concludes in part – Great Barrier Reef-wide
The overall condition of the inshore reef remained poor in 2012-2013. Inshore water quality was poor and varied from moderate to poor depending on the region. Inshore sea grass showed signs of recovery in some regions and improved from very poor to poor. Inshore coral reefs remained in poor condition.
The report is broken down in zones. The zones are Cape York, Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Mackay Whitsunday Fitzroy and Burnett Mary.
Back to our region, Mackay- Whitsunday.
The Mackay Whitsundays overall inshore marine condition remained poor. Inshore water quality improved from poor to moderate. Inshore sea grass meadows remained very poor and coral reefs remained in moderate condition.
More information is available on the Reef Plan website, www.reefplan.qld.gov.au.
**************************
QUEENSLAND RECREATIONAL FISHERS NETWORK
Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance Inc. are proud to have an informal relationship with an independent fishing group, formalised last year. Queensland Recreational Fishers Network website, qrfn.org, provides interesting and informative information.
You may find some of the articles interesting or explosive depending on your opinions.
I do draw your attention to the groups submission to the QRFN Submission to the 2014 MRAG Review of Qld Fisheries which can be found under the heading ‘OUR WORK – Position Papers’.
You will find other interesting documents including a contribution by Dave Donald about Indonesian Snapper, sometimes called the cockroaches of the Whitsundays and a brilliant paper by Lindsay Dines – personal observations called Fisheries & Sea birds – A Spooky Flight Path.
**************************
FISHWATCH HOT LINE 1800 017 116
Log this into your mobile phone and do it now!
Fisheries Queensland is to be commended for the recent upgrade to this facility. Right now when you call this number you will get a prompt asking where you want your call directed. If you ask for Mackay the call will automatically be sent to Boating & Fisheries Mackay 24/7.
Having said that, fisheries staff may be out of telephone range or home mowing the lawn or doing something personal. Please leave a message with your name, contact details – remembering that your call has been diverted from a call centre and will not indicate the phone number from where you are calling. Don’t forget to leave a brief of what your message is about.
If your call is in relation to any illegal activities, please try to record the boat or vehicle registration number. Taking a photo with your mobile phone may also assist fisheries with their follow up enquiries.
*********************************
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