Restrictions on the pocket and size of recreational fisheries are regularly reviewed to ensure a sustainable future for high-quality recreational fisheries in New South Wales. Size limits also apply to commercial fishing. Australian states have a wide range of pocket and size restrictions for martin. In South Africa, where there is not much commercial targeting, but a lot of free time, the size limit is 60 cm, but the daily pocket limit is 1. In Victoria, it is 60cm with a limit of 5 pockets. In Queensland, 60cm and a property line of 2 fish. In WA, 60cm and 3 bags limit in combination with other large pelagic species, which means that if you have kept 3 Spaniards, you can not keep a martin. In the good old Tassie, 45cm, 5 bags, 10 owned. NSW has the highest size limit, 65 cm, but also the same highest daily bag limit of 5. Kiwis, which share the same stock of Eastern Martins, are 75 cm and have a limit of 3 bags, but many New Zealand fishing clubs have a voluntary minimum size of 1 m. They also have a better national anthem and a better rugby team.
The report notes that the icefish stock in eastern Australia is “undefined”. His paintings show that while Kingfish is not of particular commercial importance in South Australia and Queensland, it is of commercial importance in New South Wales and Commonwealth waters. And in these waters, commercial catch rates have declined significantly from the mid-1980s to the present. And what is worrying is that since the early 2000s, 90% of commercial catches are less than 85 cm long. 85 cm is the approximate size at maturity for female yellow-tailed kings, i.e. when most breed first. If you extract tons of fish that have never bred before, it usually means long-term problems. DPI`s Director of Wild Fisheries, Anthony, said these changes reflect the findings of scientific assessments, the National Recreational and Indigenous Fisheries Inquiry, the Palmer Inquiry into Illegal Fishing, the advice of fishers` expert committees and more than 3300 public submissions. So what should NSW do, since it seems to have the greatest risk to its actions? Perhaps take a look at the United States and its handling of the Red Drum, a Jewish parent.
President George Bush passed legislation in 1987 to declare it a protected species as its heavily exploited stocks declined. In most southern states such as Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, where stocks were most at risk, it is no longer legal to harvest and sell wild-caught red drums commercially. But each of them maintains a regulated Red Drum Rec fishery, which is usually based on slot limits of about 50 to 70 cm, low daily pocket limits of 1 to 3 and exceptions to keep 1 or 2 “trophy fish” per year above 70 cm. This type of action helped replenish Red Drum`s stocks. Is it time for our fisheries regulators to take such a radical approach to yellowtail kingfisher management? Should the minimum legal length be increased to 85 cm in order to have a better chance of survival? A controversial proposal, as it would apply to both recreational and commercial catch. When the New South Wales boundary was increased from 60cm to 65cm in 2007, representatives of both sides complained, partly successfully, because NSW Fisheries` proposal would have to be increased to 75cm. While trade opposition was, as always, driven by the dollar, the leisure sector polarized between those who believed fish stocks were declining and those who said it was not a problem. The “deniers” appeared to be largely experienced fishermen who managed to target healthy local populations who had recovered from significant environmental improvements, the outstanding success being Sydney Harbour. But the big risks, as the figures in the FRDC study show, concern the entire regional population. The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has announced changes to the rules for saltwater and freshwater fisheries after extensive consultations with recreational and commercial fishers in New South Wales. “Around one million people sport fish in New South Wales each year. Mr said a number of changes would also be made to improve the management of fishing competitions, including the development of a voluntary code of conduct.
The amendments will come into force on September 3, 2007. NSW DPI will conduct an extensive public consultation campaign in the coming months to promote the changes, including new fishing guides and updated signage around New South Wales waterways. “These changes are aimed at working with the community to gradually improve fishing rules to ensure the future sustainability and viability of our precious fisheries resources,” he said.