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Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:07 pm
by fishingvic
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

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:00 pm
by Brett
So admin knew this was going’s to be posted, before it was posted ?

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:47 pm
by re-tyred
So Mr warship, how will removing those last few fishers make it better for rec fishers? You have just agreed that commercial netters take is a very small amount of the total take by other marine creatures and rec fishers. You are just being pedantic about 10 or 11 active licences, and 30 tonnes or 33. The carp take by the way is some 90 tonnes. You want to go back to a shallower Entrance and kill people like it did before to maybe get a less salty lake. Really, are you sure it will be less salty if the dredged channel is say 3 mtrs instead of 5.5mtrs. Lets face it you hate the commercials stealing "your' fish. The fish are owned by the community and if any are taken then all should at least have an opportunity to eat some. You can't do that if there aren't any on the market. A person access licence to fish commercially in Vic is not transferable and no more are issued. If that is incorrect please let me know where I apply for a personal access licence.

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:53 pm
by fishingvic
Brett wrote:So admin knew this was going’s to be posted, before it was posted ?
not sure what you mean?

Just received an email saying he couldn't log in and could I post this for him...

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:03 pm
by Brett
fishingvic wrote:
Brett wrote:So admin knew this was going’s to be posted, before it was posted ?
not sure what you mean?

Just received an email saying he couldn't log in and could I post this for him...

It says they requested permission to post the link via the administrator.
To me that implies they had got your permission to post it.


On another note, why can't he log in, no one has ban any users for a while now.
I just checked the logs and ban user list and they aren't on there :snap:

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:05 pm
by smile0784
Brett wrote:So admin knew this was going’s to be posted, before it was posted ?
What are you implying

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:07 pm
by Truedogz
I am always wary of green fundamentalism which often worships ideology rather than coming up with constructive solutions.

As I indicated in my first post the single biggest change to the ecology of the Lakes is the permanent entrance, all the other impacts, while in some cases significant, pale in comparison. It has dramatically changed the ecology of the system and greatly reduced its productivity in terms of fish stocks. As pointed out by several posters, notably retyred, due to development etc closing the entrance is not an option so in effect the future management of the lakes is not about restoring its former ecology but is in fact about synthesising a new one.

Details on the state of the current fishery can be found at: https://vfa.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pd ... ishery.pdf

It is apparent that in terms of the commercial catch bream are the most important target species.
fishingvic wrote: 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.
If that is the case I would contend that the amount of fish being removed by commercial fishermen is insignificant, from the report about 60 tonnes of bream for example per annum. The estimated take of bream by recreational anglers from the lakes is about 100 tonnes pa.

I don't have a problem with an argument for the cessation of commercial fishing based on sound evidence of significant adverse environmental impacts. None have been presented, unlike the solid body of evidence for the impact of scallop dredging in the bay, etc. The whole thing smacks of a 'me too' feel good campaign.

Best Wishes

Truedogz

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:29 pm
by re-tyred
Truedogz wrote:I am always wary of green fundamentalism which often worships ideology rather than coming up with constructive solutions.

As I indicated in my first post the single biggest change to the ecology of the Lakes is the permanent entrance, all the other impacts, while in some cases significant, pale in comparison. It has dramatically changed the ecology of the system and greatly reduced its productivity in terms of fish stocks. As pointed out by several posters, notably retyred, due to development etc closing the entrance is not an option so in effect the future management of the lakes is not about restoring its former ecology but is in fact about synthesising a new one.

Details on the state of the current fishery can be found at: https://vfa.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pd ... ishery.pdf

It is apparent that in terms of the commercial catch bream are the most important target species.
fishingvic wrote: 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.
If that is the case I would contend that the amount of fish being removed by commercial fishermen is insignificant, from the report about 60 tonnes of bream for example per annum. The estimated take of bream by recreational anglers from the lakes is about 100 tonnes pa.

I don't have a problem with an argument for the cessation of commercial fishing based on sound evidence of significant adverse environmental impacts. None have been presented, unlike the solid body of evidence for the impact of scallop dredging in the bay, etc. The whole thing smacks of a 'me too' feel good campaign.

Best Wishes

Truedogz
yes you have it truedogz, forget about restoring it to past glory. Set about making it the best estuary we can with it's current salt content. Despite all of the above, it isn't very hard to catch a feed of fish in the Lake. Been plenty of KGW bag outs in the last month. You can any amount of School whiting and the rivers are going ok for bream. Plenty of prawns around as well. Crabbing is now a major tourist attraction and money spinner to hire and charter vessels

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:53 pm
by fishingvic
Brett wrote:
fishingvic wrote:
Brett wrote:So admin knew this was going’s to be posted, before it was posted ?
not sure what you mean?

Just received an email saying he couldn't log in and could I post this for him...

It says they requested permission to post the link via the administrator.
To me that implies they had got your permission to post it.


On another note, why can't he log in, no one has ban any users for a while now.
I just checked the logs and ban user list and they aren't on there :snap:
Not sure mate. To be honest I didn't even read it. People always email me with issues including logging in.

Re: IT'S TIME TO END COMMERCIAL NETTING OF FISH IN THE GIPPSLAND LAKES

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:56 pm
by barra mick
Agree truedogs.. . Green fundamentists have stuffed so much up

There even worse if they hold the balance off power because both labour and liberal pretend to agree with there bull to form goverment.

Bm