Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:07 pm
From Warrship via email to Admin
I will attempt to respond to some of the issues raised by several
respondents, some of which are indeed relevant but some are not. First we
requested permission to post the link to the petition via the
administrator. There was nothing sinister or fishy about it!
The dredging of the entrance to the Lakes is to allow safe passage for
commercial trawlers and recreational boats accessing Bass Strait. There is
some discussion whether it needs to be as deep as it is because it is
undoubtedly increasing the salinity of the Lakes and changing its nature.
This is a separate issue to commercial netting of the Lakes.
Cormorants rarely breed on the Lakes as they are a migratory species and
there movement is dependant on climate conditions in other parts of
Australia. They roost on the Lakes but do not nest. There have been several
attempts in the last century at reducing their numbers by culling all to no
effect on fishing stocks either commercially or recreationaly. Cormorants
do not consumer their own body weight in fish daily.
The Lakes are a Ramsar Convention wetland. Home to a variety of marine
animals, birds etc. The culling of cormorants won't happen because they are
a protected species.
The Lakes are home to the Burrunan dolphin. Some 50 of them live in the
Lakes. Dolphins consume more than the current commercial catch of fish per
annum, not to mention the seals, pelicans and other water birds. Perhaps
some of you would want to cull them too.
The Lakes system and rivers are infested with carp which probably cause
much more damage than the cormorants to the ecology of the Lakes.
The Lakes are one of the last estuarine systems that are commercially
netted in Australia. There are currently 10 active licences not 11, using
seine and mesh nets between 750 metres to 2.2 kms fishing without quotas.
We believe commercial netting and recreational fishing in estuarine systems
are incompatible. We are not against commercial fishing or commercial
fishers and we believe that commercial netters in the Gippsland Lakes
should be bought out and fairly compensated for their licences.
In 2015 Australia exported 35000 tonnes and imported 228000 tonnes of fish
products. The Gippsland Lakes over the last few years has produced on
average some 230 tonnes of landed fish. Most of this goes to the Melbourne
and Sydney markets. Some 30 tonnes is Black Bream. So if your Grandmother
is looking for Black Bream, good luck!
Recreational fishing and tourism generates nearly $400 million dollars to
the local Gippsland economy, whereas the commercial lake fishery
contributes $1.2 million. An insignificant amount in the overall scheme of
things and does nothing to address Australia's balance of payment problem.
There is currently no policy or intention to buy any access licences for
the Gippsland Lakes. These licences can be sold, transferred or rented to
any person that meets the criteria of the VFA. (this has been confirmed by
the VFA on the 20th Dec 2017).
Apologies for the quantity of this reply but any quality response should be
based on facts.
Warrship