Fisher goes for greed, ignoring pink snapper sustainability

A tip off from a concerned member of the public has led to the apprehension of a recreational fisher, who was found with 44 undersize fish.

The Alexander Heights man had a haul of 69 fish in all, when Fisheries and Marine Officers searched his vessel at Hillarys Boat Harbour last week .

North Metropolitan Region Compliance Manager Todd A’Vard said the officers seized 42 undersize pink snapper, as well as an undersize tarwhine and an undersize skippy. Read More - Have Your Say

Prawn trawling restrictions to protect fish during floods

Eight short-term prawn trawling closures are being introduced from today to protect fish stocks impacted by flooding on the NSW north coast, said Peter Turnell, Director Fisheries Operations with NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

“The restrictions prohibit prawn trawling in ocean waters off the mouths of the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond, Clarence, Bellinger, Nambucca, Macleay and Hastings Rivers,” Mr Turnell said. Read More - Have Your Say

Mid West fishers fined over rule breaches

The discovery of more than 180 kilograms of filleted Spanish mackerel in a Kalbarri house in mid-April has resulted in fines of almost $11,500 for a recreational fisher.

Johann Schumi pleaded guilty in the Geraldton Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday) to possessing 181 kilograms of fish fillets, in excess of the possession limit. He was fined $500 and ordered to pay an additional mandatory penalty of $10,872.60 for the amount of fish involved, as well as court costs of $114.20. Read More - Have Your Say

Trout Weekend At Liawenee

The Director of Inland Fisheries, John Diggle, today attended the Trout Weekend at Liawenee, Great Lake, to enjoy a major event in the trout fishing calendar, the Inland Fisheries Service Trout Weekend, along with anglers and their families.

“The Trout Weekend is based on the annual spawning migration of the famous wild Tasmanian brown trout, which was first introduced to the State 145 years ago,” Mr Diggle said.

“Hundreds of adult fish swim upstream in the Liawenee Canal from Great Lake at this time of the year to lay their eggs. Read More - Have your Say

Mud crab safari has costly sequel for North Queensland fishing party

The stark warning comes after a North Queensland magistrate imposed fines totaling $9500 on six men found with up to 22 undersize and four female mud crabs. Read More - Have your Say

Resnagging program to improve fish habitat at Wilcannia

NSW Department of Primary Industries will commence a re-snagging program in the Darling River at Wilcannia to improve native fish habitat, NSW DPI Conservation Manager Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation, David Cordina, said.

"At least 500 large woody snags will be re-introduced at 12 sites in the 61 km rehabilitation area as part of the Wilcannia Make More Fish? Project. "Snags provide important habitat for native fish, like cod and yellowbelly. Read More - Have your say

Fish seized after men caught red handed in Bermagui Recreational Fishing Haven

Two men are facing individual fines totalling up to $140,000 for allegedly using illegal fishing gear in the waters of the Bermagui River Recreational Fishing Haven, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Compliance Manager, Glenn Tritton, said today.

"It will be alleged that the fishing trap was found to contain a total of 62 Silver Trevally of which 42 were of prohibited size, and 3 Luderick, all of a prohibited size. Read More - Have your say

Reduced Pipi Catch Limit Starts Next Week

The reduced daily catch limit for pipis within Cape Liptrap Coastal Park begins next week, Monday 25 May, 2009.

The new daily per person limit will be 2 litres, with shells or half a litre without shells and will only apply between Point Smythe and Arch Rock, including Venus Bay.

The previous pipi catch limit of 5 litres with shells or 1 litre without shells, remains in place elsewhere in Victoria. Read More - Have your say

Denham hooks $8.5million prize with new Fisheries Department offices

The State Government is to build a new $8.5million regional office block for the departments of Fisheries and Environment and Conservation (DEC) at Denham.

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said today that the current demountable accommodation in Denham’s Knight Terrace was no longer adequate to serve the Shark Bay region. Read More - Have your say

Fishing industry worried about Coral sea restrictions

Queensland fishermen are fearful about a Federal Government decision to declare a conservation zone over nearly one million square kilometres of the Coral Sea.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett says it's an interim measure, while the conservation values of the Coral Sea are assessed. It won't affect current fishing practices. Read More - Have your say