February 2000. (No.30).

USER PAYS FISHING PERMITS.-RIS UPDATE.

We had an excellent response to the RIS. Many of our stocking groups worked very hard over the Xmas holiday period organising responses. The end result was almost unbelievable 800 positive responses supporting the permit scheme with only some 10 to 15 against. This was a magnificent effort by all the groups involved. The RIS was a critical phase in getting the permit scheme into effect, A poor response would have certainly stopped the process in its tracks. Having said all of the above, we still have no cast iron guarantee that the scheme will get up. It still has to go through cabinet and the politicians could still get cold feet. All we can say at this time is that it is progressing satisfactorily.

USERPAYS FISHING PERMITS.-FRESHWATER MAC SUBMISSION TO THE QFMA BOARD.

The Freshwater MAC Permit Sub-committee met on the 19/1/00 to consider all the RIS responses, and make recommendations to the Freshwater MAC based on these responses. Briefly the recommendations were; (1). That the fee be $35 per year and $7 per week. (2). That the permits apply to individual, and married/defacto couples. (3). That persons under 18 do not need a permit. (4) That there be no exemptions to aboriginals or pensioners, (5). That Storm King and Samsonvale come off and Monduran and Clarendon go on to the schedule, and (6). That the permit not apply to redclaw.

COMPENSATION FOR THE DELAY IN PERMITS.

As we mentioned in a previous newsletter, there has been some suggestion from one of the Ministers assistants that compensation for revenues lost were being considered. FFSAQ have written to the Minister requesting a progress update. The Warwick group has done the same. We await a response with some interest.

FRESHWATER WORKSHOP AGENDA.

By now all southern groups will have received a letter from DPI asking for topics for the Monto workshop agenda. Hopefully you have all listed those topics you want discussed and returned the forms to DPI. FFSAQ has received a number of calls from stocking groups who are concerned with the 'new direction'. It appears that only a few 'important' (?) topics will be selected for discussion and local issues will not be discussed at all. FFSAQ agrees that some important issues must be dealt with in more detail, however we reject the concept that this will mean that local issues will not be discussed at all. We have made our position clear to the DPI. A number of stocking groups have also written to the DPI expressing their concern. We have now been informed by the DPI that a session will be specifically set aside, at the end of the workshop, where all groups will be free to raise whatever issues they wish.

ELECTION OF FFSAQ OFFICE BEARERS FOR THE 2000/2001 SEASON.

All stocking groups will be receiving nomination forms with this newsletter. We urge you all to consider nominating someone to next season's executive. As in the past, nominations for president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer will only be taken from the floor where there is no written nomination. Other members to the executive will be elected from the floor as per normal practise.

FISHING COMPETITIONS.

The Milmerran/Pittsworth Group, fed up with all the red tape associated with stocking group fishing competitions kicked this one off and FFSAQ followed up. We have had a response. The bottom line is that permits will still require the collection of some data, however some of the conditions have been modified as they contained 'clerical' errors. For example the condition requiring organisers to collect both weight and length data has now been modified to weight or length. Most importantly we were informed that 'It also remains QFMA policy that fishing competitions utilising a stocked fishery require the support of the local stocking association'.

MACKAY/PROSERPINE BARRA.

This now appears on track with the good news that the Mackay group recently released 7,500 barra into Kinchant and 12,000 barra into Teemburra Dam. More good news, the Mackay Stocking group hatchery, (for a number of years struggling with poor water quality), has had a well-deserved break through This year they spawned, grew out, and released, some 100,000 sooty grunter fingerlings.

BARCOO GRUNTER

We are all aware that in some impoundments silver perch have become very difficult to catch. One theory is that they become vegetarian as they mature. Recently there has been a surge of interest by the aquaculture industry in barcoo grunter. From what little we know they appear to be easy to produce, grow quickly, are good to eat, and are relatively easy to catch. Most importantly they remain omnivorous (eat anything), even when mature. Both the Boondooma and Bjelkepetersen stocking groups have expressed an interested in trying them out in place of silver perch and will be applying to stock this species in the 2000/2001 season.

BARRA CLOSURES AND STOCKED IMPOUNDMENTS.

It appears that any further exemptions will have to await the 2-year review of the Freshwater Management plan, which is due in about 12 months. The same applies to the bass seasonal closures on Mundubbera and Gayndah.

FISHERIES ACT REVIEW.

We have recently responded to a DPI operational Review of the Fisheries Act. It must be said that to their credit, the DPI have addressed most of the concerns that FFSAQ has raised to date. Hopefully the review committee will take these on board and include these in the new Act.

NOOSA RIVER CLOSURE TO POWERBOATS.

We fought this issue a couple of years ago. While we did not win, we at least got the closure extended from Harry Spring's hut to campsite 3. One of the other concessions we won was that the small boat launching area would be improved to make it easier to launch a small tinnie. A major problem was that any one launching a boat had to lift the boat over a fence. It appears that to date the EPA rangers have done nothing to make launching any easier. FFSAQ will be following this up with the EPA Minister.

INLAND VLO'S AND THE FRESHWATER FISHING PERMIT.

Major concern has been expresses by inland anglers that the Boating Patrol will not have sufficient resources to adequately police the permit system when the permit is introduced in July. It has been suggested that an increase in the numbers of inland Voluntary Liaison Officers (VLO's) may help. While these volunteers have no legal powers, they can at least talk to the anglers and advise them of the need for a permit to fish the 25 dams on the schedule. FFSAQ will be asking the DPI for a significant increase in VLO's prior to the introduction of the permit.

NEW SPECIES FOR STOCKING.

This was again discussed at the last FFSAQ executive. It was generally agreed that priority should be given to the introduction of new species where the production know-how already exists, like mangrove jack, mullet and barcoo grunter. The exception was jungle perch. FFSAQ believes that in the south, this species is probably just as endangered as Mary River cod. Production of this species needs to be addressed with extreme urgency. If the DPI continue to procrastinate on this one, there will soon be no brood stock to collect. Some concerns were expressed with salt-water species like bream, flathead and whiting. Freshwater has a unique identity, which may suffer if we rush around madly stocking salt-water species. Hopefully the whole issue of new species will be discussed in more detail at the Monto workshop.

APPLICATION TO STOCK ENDEMIC SPECIES REJECTED.

The Tiaro group applied to stock barra and bass, (both endemic species) in the Mary River. This application was rejected on conditions that have never been applied before. These conditions included (1) Lack of knowledge and understanding of the impacts of fish stocking in rivers and streams, (2). Lack of understanding why fish stocking has declined, (3). QFMA have concerns with the genetic make up of bass/barra brood stock, (4) It is unacceptable that the stocking group cannot distinguish between wild and stocked fish, (5). QFMA concerned that bass/barra are highly predatory, and the list goes on! FFSAQ's major concern is that these conditions have never been applied before and could have disastrous implications if applied to our other 45 odd river and weir stocking groups, when they apply for a renewal of their stocking permits. If these conditions were applied across the board, the majority of applications would be rejected! FFSAQ will be taking this up with the QFMA to ensure that realistic conditions are applied to all future stocking applications.

NEXT MEETING.

Sat April 1/2000 at Kev Horsey's Residence. 110 Aspinall St, Leichhardt. 9.00 am start.

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