August 2000. (No.33).

STOCKED IMPOUNDMENT PERMIT FEE UPDATE.

Approximately $70,000 has been received to date over seven weeks. Still a long way off the $1.2 million estimated per year by the QFMA! However it is still early days yet. Most anglers have yet to get a permit as relatively few anglers go fishing in winter. We would expect permit fees to accelerate significantly as we move into the warmer months. All the signs around the dams involved in the permit scheme should have been put up by now. If anyone has yet to receive the new signs please let FFSAQ know and we will take the matter up with the Boating and Fisheries Patrol. While still on the subject of permits. We hear that there is some rumour going around north Queensland that $450,000 will be taken out of the permit scheme before any money goes to the groups. FFSAQ have investigated this and it is totally untrue. As agreed by all stocking groups involved with getting the permit fee accepted, that the QFMA (now the QFS) will take a MAXIMUM of 25% for administration. Rest assured that this is still the case.

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW

Attendance numbers appeared to be lower than last year, however thanks to the generosity of the BIAQ ,we were put in a prime position and were kept reasonably busy. We had a lot of interest with landowners wanting to stock farm dams. The other main area of interest was the stocked impoundment permit scheme. Interestingly we did not receive any complaints. It appears that permits have been generally well accepted. We also had a quite a few people very supportive of the stocking group concept, and interested in joining their local stocking association. We gave them the address of their nearest stocking group. We hope this results in a few more volunteers for some of the groups.

MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAC) REVIEW

Les Kowitz attended a review of all MAC's recently. There was a lot of dissatisfaction with the way that many of the salt water MAC's were operating. The main problem appear to be associated with some Mac's being overloaded with commercial interests. Fortunately this does not happen in freshwater. Recommendations coming out of the meeting to be put to the minister included: a separate MAC for the Gulf, amalgamation of tropical and subtropical fin fish MAC's, some reduction in the number of representatives, re-establishment of regular meetings, and remuneration for delegates .

APPLICATION TO FARM BARRA AT CHARLIVELLE

FFSAQ have been long opposed to farming barra outside their natural range. Our major concern is that barra carry at least one virus, which if it got out into some of our river systems, has the potential to infect and possibly decimate some native species populations like golden perch. We are all well aware how common fish escapement is from aquaculture farms, especially in major floods. We have fought an on-going battle with the QFS over this issue over a number of years. To their credit something must have stuck. Recently the QFS Aquaculture section rejected an application to farm barra at Charleville. The person who applied for the permit then went to the Fisheries Appeals Tribunal. FFSAQ put in a submission explaining the reasons for our opposition to a permit being granted. The Appeals Tribunal reserved their judgement. Kate Andrews of the DPI Legal Section will let us know of the outcome .

INSURANCE

At both workshops this year members raised the possibility of FFSAQ taking out a bulk insurance to cover all stocking groups. The perception was that this may work out cheaper than each group taking out their own individual insurance. Vince Collis is following this up with ANL. If it is a feasible and a cost effective option, we will be getting back to you with more details. Another insurance problem. Recently the Tinaroo group applied to hold a barra competition. The DNR insisted that a specific insurance be taken out for this comp and that the DNR be included as Co- insured. The insurance was to cover all other activities in the local parks, camping grounds etc. over that specific weekend. The Tinaroo group costed this with a number of insurance companies. Approximate cost came out at around $2,000. The Tinaroo group are a competent and politically very aware group who are presently fighting this issue very hard. The bottom line is that if the DNR have a win at Tinaroo, there is every chance that they will progressively impose their insurance position on all other competitions. Obviously at $2000 a comp, many groups would find it very difficult to make a profit. FFSAQ will be watching the outcome of this one with great interest. If this problem persists we would certainly provide full backing to the Tinaroo group to place this fully into the political arena .

NOXIOUS FISH MEETING. CARP IN THE LOGAN AND ALBERT

This was attended by Kev Horsey on behalf of FFSAQ. The Carp Busters will be attempting to clear all carp out of the lagoons and farm dams between Brombleton Weir and Maroon Dam. DPI will be supplying the nets. In conjunction with this effort the Carp Busters are looking at setting up their own hatchery as a cost effective means of stocking large numbers of bass and possibly cod into the river system.. The Carp Busters hope that reducing carp numbers and increasing predators like bass and cod, will help keep the carp in control. We wish them every success.

TILAPIA IN BOONDOOMA

Les Kowitz will be representing FFSAQ on a committee including Tarong Power, DNR and QFS, to look at ways of minimising the spread of tilapia to the rest of the Burnett. We will keep you informed.

CARP IN COOLMUNDA

This noxious fish thing never stops. We recently had a report from a couple of Millmerran/Pittsworth stocking group members of European carp being caught in Coolmunda, and they were definitely not goldfish!. One small fish had a hook in its back (live bait?). We have asked the QFS to follow this up. This is a real concern as this is the first report we have had of Euro's in a stocked dam.

DPI 2000/2001 BUDGET

Rumours have it that the DPI budget this year has been reduced. A possible consequence may be a cut in funding ($ 168,000) for the purchase of fingerlings, and also a cut in services to the stocking groups. First we will need to establish exactly what the extent of these cuts are, if any. If there are cuts we will certainly be taking it up with the Minister and Premier, just like we did, (with considerable success) last time.

CANIA DRAWDOWN

DNR is to draw down Cania from 15% to 7%. The Cania Dam stocking group were not been consulted in any way. The group have fought this very vigorously, unfortunately with little success. DNR appear to forget that these waters belong to the people of Queensland and not just DNR and the irrigators. FFSAQ will follow up. We will also try and get impoundment levels included into the WAMP process. The issue will also be raised at the QFS/DNR meeting.

MORE PROBLEMS WITH DNR

As mentioned before we seem to be having more and more problems with DNR. Claire Peterken of QFS will be arranging a meeting with DNR and FFSAQ. A brief list of some of the issues include; minimum water levels, speed limits, prohibiting stocking on new dams/weirs, angler charter vessel access, recognition of fishing as a legitimate use, barrier nets, separate access fee by DNR to pay for facilities, role of different agencies in management, use by DNR of Recreational Management Act to introduce controls. And now we have insurance to add to the list!

WAY FORWARD WITH WEIRS WORKSHOP

This was held in Albury Wodonga. Les attended, airfares, accommodation and expenses generously funded by Sunfish. The workshop looked at the environmental, social and economic impacts of weirs. There were no simple answers. It was suggested that as a start all unused weirs should be removed. There appear to be 70 un-used weirs out of some 400 in NSW alone.

COUNTING FINGERLINGS AND MONITORING

Regular monitoring is going to be essential if the funds expected to flow into stocking are to be utilised to their full potential. QFS's have a record of failing to provide sufficient resources to monitoring in the past. One suggestion that FFSAQ will be putting to QFS is that Stocking groups count all fingerlings. They do that now with their own anyway. DPI to conduct a random audit only. The time and labour saved must be put into more monitoring surveys.

NEXT MEETING. SATURDAY SEPT 30 AT KEV HORSEY'S RESIDENCE (LEICHAARDT). 9.00 AM START.

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