FFSAQ UPDATE. OCTOBER 2000. (No.34).

CORPORATE BODIES THREATEN FUTURE OF RECREATIONAL FISHING.

The Queensland Government have corporatised the SEQWB (now known as SEQ Water) and part of DNR (now known as Sunwater). These corporatised bodies have the potential to seriously threaten the future development of our recreational freshwater fisheries. They appear to be there solely make a profit. They are showing no concern for any community recreational values. The only stakeholders as far as they are concerned are those prepared to purchase the water. We have seen the tip of the ice berg with recent publicity by SEQ Water to close off access to some areas of Wivenhoe and Somerset, charge $ 5.00 per day for access in other areas, and the planned close down of some camping areas. Exactly the same is going to be the case with Sunwater, but with a lot more serious consequences, as most of our impoundment fisheries are on Sunwater controlled impoundments. In regards to SEQWater,FFSAQ have written to the Premier outlining our concerns and requesting Queensland Government intervention. In regards to Sunwater, FSAQ has begun negotiations with Sunwater in conjunction with DPI/QFS and DNR. Sunwater's position is the same as SEQWater, with consideration being given to charging access to picnic areas, and even to preventing stocking and angling altogether on some impoundments. If the Beattie Government is not prepared to address these problems FFSAQ will be blowing this out into a major political issue coming up to the next election.

STOCKED IMPOUNDMENT PERMIT (SIP) UPDATE

Approximately $170,000 has been received to date (about 7,000 permits sold). This is not as good as expected, however sales should pick up over the Xmas/New year break. There is little doubt that the DPI Minister's statement in regards to a 12-month moratorium has not helped. Rumours have it that some permit signs have 'not required for 12 months' scrawled across them in felt pen! If anyone has seen one of these signs, FFSAQ would appreciate details and a photo so that we can take it up with the appropriate authorities .

NEW SPECIES FOR STOCKING

Jungle Perch:
The application for funds to work on this species has passed two of the three stages required. If this gets the final 'go ahead', the first hurdle will be to collect sufficient brood stock. Southern strain JP's are very scarce in SE Queensland with the exception of Frazer Island. Any members who know of reasonable populations elsewhere, please let FFSAQ know as a matter of urgency. Your 'secret spot' will be kept confidential, and will only be passed on to the DPI biologists in charge of this project. The ultimate aim of this project will be to replenish river stocks and to test the suitability of this species in stocked impoundments.
Big Eye Trevally:
Initial tank trials at Deception Bay indicate that this species will live & grow quite well in freshwater. Big Eyes fed well in the fresh water tanks at DPI DB, increasing their weight by 17% in eight weeks. This species may well be a future stocking candidate for coastal impoundments & rivers. The initial grant for this species has now run out. We understand that further trials will depend on the outcome of new species priorities to be set by the Freshwater MAC.
Mullet:
The Gladstone Area Water Board's hatchery have now successfully produced bully mullet, 2 years in a row, primarily for stocking into the streams above Awoonga Dam. This is a fine effort as this species is very hard to produce. The newly formed Caboolture Shire Stocking Group have ordered 5,500 odd fingerlings (some of them are up to 70 and 80 mm) for stocking into the freshwater reaches of the Caboolture River. These should be stocked within the next couple of days. The group will also be stocking bass (if they can get them). An excellent outcome for a group who have only recently been formed. The Caboolture Shire Council also deserve commendation for their support in funding these stockings.

BOATING INDUSTRY ASSN. OF QUEENSLAND (BIAQ) AWARDS

Each year the BIAQ award five $2,000 grants to stocking groups. Congratulations to this years winners; the Rathdowney group (Carpbusters), the Frazer Coast group, the Gulf Barra group, the Lockyer Valley group, and the Monduran Dam group. These grants will be used for a variety of projects all aimed at enhancing the freshwater recreational fishery. Projects ranged from the purchase of equipment and brood stock tanks for stocking group hatcheries, through to boat access improvement, fingerling purchases, and adding hot showers to an amenities block. BIAQ are to be commended for their generous commitment to the development of the stocking program and deserve the full support of all our stocking groups. So if your group has a pet project, make sure you apply for the 2001 round of grants. As they say, "you have got to be in it to win it!"

CANIA DAM HATCHERY

An excellent result so far this season. The group bought bass larvae from a commercial hatchery and grew them out, finally stocking some 16,000 fingerlings into Cania Dam. They will now be following this up with a spawning of golden perch. We wish them every success.

FFSAQ WEB SITE

The FFSAQ web site has been running for some time now and has attracted significant traffic. In October the site received 644 visitors. The address is http://ffsaq.ausfish.com.au/ Many thanks to Australian Fishing Shop/Ausfish for hosting the site. If there are any groups that would like a web-site of their own, Australian Fishing Shop/Ausfish (www.ausfish.com.au ) will host a basic site for any non-profit fishing group for free. Could be a great way to advertise your local fishing competition or upcoming projects! With the assistance of Ausfish, linkages to the FFSAQ web site can be arranged.

POST STOCKING MONITORING SURVEYS

With the introduction of the permit scheme many more fingerlings will be going into Queensland waters. Regular post stocking surveys are going to be more important than at any time in the past, if these fisheries are to be managed to provide the best possible returns to anglers. FFSAQ will be pushing for more resources. As a start we would ask that any group wanting an electro fishing/netting survey in this 2000/2001 season, to put in a formal request to QFS with a copy to FFSAQ. The purpose for the survey should be clearly stated. If you have not had a survey for some time mention this also. This will allow us to accurately compare the demand for surveys against what is actually provided. This will be valuable data on which to base our push for more QFS resources to be put into post stocking monitoring.

COUNTING FINGERLINGS

As a follow on to the above, FFSAQ has proposed to QFS that all groups, next season, should be responsible for counting all fingerlings at release. We do not see this to be a problem as our groups have been counting their own fingerlings for many years. The trade off is that this would reduce the need for QFS staff to count all fingerlings, and the QFS resources saved, can then be targeted at more post stocking surveys. If any groups have problems with counting fingerlings at release, please let us know so that we can address any problems you may have with this concept.

WATER LEVELS AT WURUMA AND CANIA

Fortunately the recent rain has seen almost 2 meters of water into Wuruma and about 1.5 meters into Cania. FFSAQ will however continue our campaign to have minimum fisheries sustainable-draw down levels put into place for every impoundment and weir.

BARRAMUNDI-A REAL POTENTIAL FOR SE QUEENSLAND IMPOUNDMENTS

For many years we thought barra were of limited potential in SE Queensland because of low water temperatures in winter. This does not now appear to be the case. In Callide Dam, (thanks to data collected by Peter Long, QFS, Central Region) barra grew at 2.85 mm per day in summer and 1.14mm in winter. In Monduran a recent survey by Cris Lupton (QFS Bundaberg) electro fished barra ranging from 30 to 80cm. In Awoonga over 100barra have been caught in the last few months, and in Wuruma we know that at least one barra has survived winter. This is all good news. In time to come we have every chance of developing barra fisheries equal to any elsewhere in Queensland.

HAPPY XMAS TO ALL

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