At the Maroon AGM the executive were asked to hold a mid-term general meeting so that groups could be kept up to date. The turn up was less than expected. Visiting groups included Gayndah, Lake Monduran, Mt Isa, and Borumba. Apologies were received from a number of other groups. Major topics discussed included the SIP and fund distribution, insurance, and Paradise Dam. Minutes have been distributed to all groups.

INSURANCE.

In spite of the hard work done by Keith Day, it appears that in this climate, insurance companies are just not prepared to broker any kind of bulk deal. In fact a number have gone out of public liability all together. At this stage, each stocking association will need to continue with their existing arrangements. Hopefully in the longer term, both State and Federal Governments will come up with a solution. We believe that the State Govt will be underwriting all P & C Associations, and that they are considering doing the same with other voluntary community based organisations. Unless something is done urgently a lot of stocking groups will be in trouble. Obviously it would be madness for any executive to continue uninsured.

MANGROVE JACK.

Some good news. A recent DPI/QFS press release informs us that at last the AFFS in Cairns appear to have cracked the Jack breeding problems, and that they are now going to be able to breed jacks in large numbers. The press release talks about 10,000 fingerlings. This figure is confusing. Do they mean 10,000 fingerlings per spawning or 10,000 fingerlings a year? 10,000 fingerlings per year would not go very far in meeting the needs of the many groups who would like to stock this species. Further good news is that all Jacks in Australia, and even from other parts of Asia, now appear to be of the same genetic make up. At least this should mean that we will not be plagued with the different genetic populations associated with barra stocking. An important element in developing Jacks for general stocking will be trials to see how they interact with other species. For example are Jacks going to have a major adverse impact on other stocked species like Mary River cod, saratoga, bass and golden perch? Do we only put them in bony bream impoundments, where bony bream act as a buffer protecting other stocked species against excessive predation? It is vital that our stocking associations are fully aware of all the consequences, both positive and negative, of stocking a major predator like Jacks. FFSAQ will be following this up with QFS.

BERNADETTE KERBY LEAVES QFS.

Bernadette Kerby has left QFS to take up a post in the Minister's office. She will be there for 12 months and will then come back to QFS as a policy officer. She has done a lot for freshwater. It is largely due to Bernadette's efforts that we now have the SIP. FFSAQ wishes her all the best in her new position. Michelle Holloway will now be doing Bernadette's job. So anything you would have talked to Bernadette about in the past, you now talk to Michelle or Anita.

FULL TIME RECREATIONAL FISHING OFFICER.

QFS have now put on a full time recreational fishing manager. Terry Healy previously from the Minister's office is presently filling this role. We have no idea what the last recreational fishing manager did. What ever it was, it certainly had very little to do with freshwater. Hopefully things may now change for the better.

PARADISE DAM.

In spite of all the opposition, the Government is going ahead with plans for the new dam. However the final go-ahead may still be a long way away. The Commonwealth Government could still veto construction on environmental grounds. Also the Queensland Government has to find somebody to build it. There has been considerable of secrecy on the part of the Queensland Government, in regards to the economic viability of the dam. It may be difficult to find someone to take it on, if the economic benefit is, at the best, only marginal.

Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) DISTRUBITING THE FUNDS.

Distribution of SIP funds has been a topical issue all year. To put the situation in a nutshell: It appears that the majority of SIP groups are happy with the distribution. A few are not. At one end we have some large impoundment groups very happy with what they are getting. At the other end some smaller heavily fished impoundments are most unhappy with their share. They believe that they are subsidising the larger groups. Trying to achieve the ultimate, where everybody is happy may be close to impossible. This was again discussed at the January meeting. The position FFSAQ will be taking to the Freshwater MAC SIP sub committee in March will be that the funds for 2002/2003 be distributed 50:50 between angler preference and impoundment surface area. The base allocation (5%) to be scrapped and the cap at 5,000 ha surface area remain.

POLICING THE Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP).

To their credit, the Boating Patrol have got stuck into the freshwater impoundments over the Xmas holiday period. We understand that quite a number of anglers have been charged for fishing without a SIP permit. A few others have been caught fishing within closed waters, and a number of others charged with various boating infringements. FFSAQ understands that overall, compliance with the SIP permit is up around 85% to 90%. Lets hope that this means more money in the 2002/03 distribution.

EUROPEAN CARP IN MOOGERAH?

We have had a report that a European Carp has been caught in Moogerah Dam. The name and phone number of the person who reported the carp has been passed on to QFS, and we await the results of their follow up. Lets hope he has kept the fish in his freezer. Then we will know for sure. So often in the past we get these false alarms as anglers have problems telling the difference between European carp and gold fish. It is quite simple, European Carp have barbels, gold fish carp do not. Euros have barbels; gold fish carp do not.
While on the carp issue. We have also had reports of European carp in Coolmunda Dam at Inglewood. To date the only sample brought in for identification, was a gold fish carp. This is not to say that reports of European carp in Coolmunda are incorrect. The bottom line is that we must have a positive identification if we are to have any hope of getting QFS to address the problem.

NEXT QFS STOCKING WORKSHOP.

QFS originally intended to do put this workshop off till the next financial year. FFSAQ objected strongly. To their credit QFS appear to have listened. The 2002 Stocking Workshop will be will be held on the weekend of April 27 and 28 in Gladstone. We believe that the local stocking group and the Gladstone Area Water Board Hatchery will be hosting the workshop.

FORESIGHTING UPDATE.

A foresighting process (a vision) to where we would like the freshwater fishery to be in 10 years time has been instigated by QFS. All sectors who have an involvement in the fishery are part of the process. Of course, FFSAQ has a major role, along with Sunfish. There are 8 target objectives that will be considered and progressed during the process, including funding, access, monitoring and research, habitat, and hatchery accreditation. Some will claim this is only more bureaucratic waffle, and it will be , if we let it be. FFSAQ believes in the planning process, and will do all it can to ensure that some positive outcomes are forthcoming.

MEETING WITH MINISTER

On the 28.11.2001, the Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk, received a delegation from FFSAQ. A range of concerns were tabled, but none had satisfactorily outcomes. The Minister seemed to be content to blame the Trawl Buy Back, and no extra funds were available. It was difficult to ascertain just how much the Minister took on board, but the meeting was quite amicable, and FFSAQ was invited to further meetings with him and his staff.

NEXT FFSAQ MEETING.

Sat March 23, 2002 at Kev Horsey's Residence. 110 Aspinall St, Leichhardt. 9.00 am start. All Welcome. Phone Kev if attending so he can organise lunches. (3281 9203).

FFSAQ Inc.
PO Box 2025
Brighton Qld 4017
Fax: 07 3869 0385