April 2000. (No.31).

FRESH WATER FISHING PERMITS RATIFIED BY CABINET.

Good news. Cabinet has ratified the fee structure and other issues. The permit system is now all set to go and should be in place by the 14th of July 2000. We have had a few wins. The fees (as we recommended) have been changed from $10 back to $7.00 per week and $35 per year per family. The age limit has been increased from 16 to 18. Clarendon and Monduran have been put onto the schedule, and Samsonvale and Storm King taken off. In regards to exemptions; cabinet decided to grant pensioners a 10% discount on the annual fee, however this does not apply to the weekly fee. In regards to aboriginals there is no specific exemption as such, however aboriginals are entitled to certain rights in regards to traditional fishing. What exactly is traditional fishing and does this apply to impoundment fisheries? FFSAQ believes that these put, grow and take fisheries, can by no stretch of the imagination, be deemed to be traditional. It will be interesting to see how things turn out on this one.

DISTRIBUTING FISHING PERMIT FEES.

The QFMA have estimated that some 1.2 million dollars a year will come from the permit system once it is fully established. QFMA will keep a maximum of 25% to manage the scheme. The rest (about $900,000) will go to the 25 groups on the schedule. A FreshwaterMAC Fishing Permit sub-committee has been set up to oversee the distribution of these funds. Members are: Keith Day, John Mondora, Les Kowitz (FFSAQ), Jeff Krause (QBFP), John Amprimo (DNR), Fred Binge (Aboriginal/Islander Interests), Warren Steptoe (Sunfish), Bernadette Kerby, Gordon McCormack (QFMA), Alex Hamlyn and Alf Hogan (DPI). The first meeting was held on April 19. How the money was to be distributed was discussed at some length. It was agreed that the distribution formula would be as follows: 5% of total proceeds to be distributed evenly to each of the 25 groups. The next 70% to be distributed on impoundment surface area, and the final 25% on how the anglers fill out the boxes on the permit application form as to where they want 'their' money to go. How the money was to be paid was also discussed. One option was for the DPI to buy fingerlings for each group as they do now. Another was for the DPI to hold the money and the groups to get the fingerlings, then submit an invoice to DPI for payment. The third option was for the groups to get the money paid directly into their account, and for them to then buy the fingerlings. Before anything can be finally decided, the DPI/QFMA were to canvass the various options with the DPI auditors.

ABN NUMBERS AND THE GST.

As a matter of some urgency all groups, who have not yet done so, need to look into getting an ABN (Australian Business Number). Without an ABN number other organisations that make a payment to you will have to deduct 48.5%. In regards to the GST, you do not have to register for GST unless your turnover is over $50,000 per annum. Contact the Tax Office (Ph 132478) and they will give you advice or send someone out to you to explain the details. Please note that the closing date for ABN number applications is May 31.

THE QUEENSLAND FISHERIES SERVICE.

The amalgamation of the QFMA with the DPI is progressing. The new organisation, to be known as the Queensland Fisheries Service, will be in place on the first of July 2000, and will be managed by a newly created position of DPI Deputy Director General. The research people, and this includes the DPI Deception Bay freshwater research team, will go to the Food and Fibre Sciences Agency. Peter Neville will be the Chief Executive of the DFS and we understand that Freshwater will be in the Industry Development Section with Jim Gillespie as General Manager. What does this all mean for our stocking associations? Probably very little, however one advantage for our groups is that we now have to deal with only one organisation, not two.

INLAND VLO's

Recently a course for inland VLOs was held in Toowoomba. If anyone else is interested in becoming a VLO ring Tony Ham on 32242291. The more VLO's we have out there when the fishing permit comes into effect the better.

WURUMA DAM. LOW WATER LEVELS.

As some may remember, Wuruma was virtually drained in 1995 necessitating a major fish rescue exercise. Wuruma is again very low (about 5%). There is always some controversy in these situations with the irrigators wanting every last drop and the local stocking group obviously wanting enough water left so fish can survive. It was good to see negotiations between the stocking group, the irrigators, and the DNR reach a reasonable compromise this time around. The DNR will stop water extraction when the dam falls to 2%. This will provide the fish with about 3.5m of water (depth), stretching back some 1.75km from the dam wall. The stocking association has closed the dam to boating (not fishing) so as not to stir up excessive amounts of mud. Boating will be permitted as soon as there is a reasonable in-flow.

FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF REDCLAW FISHERIES.

This was discussed at our recent executive meeting. Redclaw fisheries are popping up all over Queensland. This fishery is extremely popular with the public and attracts large numbers of both locals and tourist anglers. FFSAQ's position is that these fisheries must be managed as a desirable fishery with bag limits and the return of berried females, just like the regulations presently in place for Tinaroo. Anglers fishing for redclaw should also have a fishing permit, just like anglers fishing for finfish. We will be pushing for this when the regulations are next reviewed in 2001.

DNR CORPORATISATION AND STOCKING.

DNR State Water Projects are to be corporatised into a commercial entity. This will mean that they will have to show a profit. This may be a little difficult as up to now water sales have been subsidised by the Queensland taxpayer. This seems to have generated some panic within DNR. There have been suggestions that in future DNR may draw down water levels with no concern for fish stocks, that impoundment users may have to pay for facilities, and most ridiculous of all, that fish defecating in impounded waters may adversely effect water quality. The bottom line is that the new commercial entity will only care about profit and fish and fishing will be a very low priority. FFSAQ's position is that the water belongs to all Queenslanders and not just the DNR or the irrigators. Fisheries are as important to many people as profit and irrigation supplies are to DNR. We would suggest that it would be a very brave government who would now try and stop or reduce fish stocking. FFSAQ will be fighting this one very hard if the necessity ever arises. Hopefully this will all be a storm in a teacup.

FAREWELL TO JOHN POLLOCK.

John Pollock, Executive Director of Fisheries is leaving fisheries for a similar position heading up another DPI Section. We believe we have always had a fair and reasonable hearing from John on fisheries issues and we wish him the very best for the future.

RESIGNATION OF PETER ROCHE.

We were sad to receive Peter's resignation from the Freshwater MAC. Peter is starting a new venture and at this stage simply cannot afford the time for anything else. Peter has been into fish stocking for a very long time, well before the advent of the stocking program in 1987. As an active fighter for fish stocking, Peter has never been afraid to speak his mind however illustrious the company. Peter was also a major player in the long and bitter battle with the Toowoomba City Council, which finally resulted in getting Cooby, and Cressbrook opened to fishing. We wish Peter all the very best in his new venture, and hopefully one day he may be back.

S.E. QUEENSLAND WATER BOARD CORPORATISATION. (SEQWBC)

The Board was corporatised on March 17, 2000. It is now known as the SouthEast Queensland Water Corporation. We have had nothing official in regards to the Recreational Review. However rumour has it that the final draft makes very few changes. If this is the case then obviously the considerable input by FFSAQ, Sunfish and ANSA have been ignored. FFSAQ is presently trying to get hold of the final draft. It appears that this battle may still be far from over.

NEXT MEETING. Sat June 3, 2000 at Kev Horsey's Residence. 110 Aspinall St, Leichhardt. 9.00 am start. All Welcome. Phone Kev: 07 3281 9203.

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