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Freshwater
Recreational Fishing Policy. Introduction. The
Purpose of This Document. FFSAQ. Who Are We? The Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Assn Qld Inc is the peak organisation representing the 71 fish stocking associations registered under the auspices of the Queensland Government's Recreational Fishing Enhancement Program. A list of stocking groups is attached in Appendix 1. FFSAQ is the political voice of all the stocking groups and is empowered to liase with Government on their behalf. FFSAQ is represented on a number of Governmnet agencies, such as Freshwater MAC, and is a fully affilliated member of Sunfish, who represent some 800,000 recreational anglers throughout Queensland.. FFSAQ Mission FFSAQ's mission is:
Policies. (1). Freshwater Fisheries Division. Current Position. The present government has upheld it's election commitment to combine the two fisheries organizations (QFMA and DPI Fisheries) into one (DPI/QFS). FFSAQ endorses this amalgamation. However, the research arm of Fisheries needs to be reinstated to within the Fisheries Department to provide a more cohesive working arrangement. At present, it is an exercise of consolidating on one hand, and fragmenting with the other by transferring research staff to Food and Fibre Sciences. FFSAQ supports the further creation of a separate Fisheries Department, which encompasses all facets of fishing and habitat currently within QFS. Freshwater including freshwater research, habitat etc, should be a separate division within the Fisheries Department. Preferred
Outcome. (2). Commercial Fishing. Current Position. FFSAQ opposes any form of commercial harvesting of freshwater fishes. It believes that the freshwater fish resources are fragile and that any commercial harvesting is ecologically unsustainable. The virtual collapse of the adult eel fishery over a very short period of time is a prime example. Preferred
Outcome. (3). Noxious Fish. Current Position. Exotic pest species like European carp and tilapia pose a serious threat to native freshwater fish. Unfortunately both these species continue to spread. The present Government has made considerable progress in addressing this problem. An Exotic Pest Fish Strategy, developed by QFS (Freshwater), together with all major stakeholders, is to be released in early 2001. The implementation program will need to be adequately funded and staffed to ensure that the implementation of these strategies are successful. Preferred
Outcome. (4). Expansion of the Freshwater Fish Stocking Program. Current Position. The Government has not implemented it's election promise to expand fish stocking. There has not been any increase in funding for the acquisition of fingerlings which has remained at $168,000 per annum. When the Recreational Fishing Enhancement Programme was introduced in 1986, the Government committed $1M per annum to this project. Currently, the total expenditure per year is about $400,000. Preferred Outcome. A Government commitment that DPI funding for fingerling purchases for stocking will be increased to $300,000 PA, and that the total funding allocation for the RFEP be returned to $1M per year. (5). Fishing Permits. Current Position. The current Government implemented the Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) program for the 25 impoundments on the schedule, in this term of office. The SIP has the full support of FFSAQ provided that the conditions under which the program was developed are strictly maintained. These being (1). Funds raised must go into a separate QFS account with all net monies being contributed to impoundment stocking. (2) QFS management fees must be restricted, with an absolute maximum of no more than 25% of gross revenue collected being allocated towards administration. In other words, if management fees are only 15%, then 85% of revenue raised is to be directed towards stocking. (3). That the collection and distribution of funds must be transparent and overseen by a Freshwater Mac subcommittee where stocking associations and community interests are adequately represented. (4). A commitment from Government that revenue raised from the SIP scheme is not seen as justification to decrease the level of funding for the at present 46 dams not incorporated in the scheme. Preferred Outcome. A commitment from Government that the SIP scheme will be endorsed and supported under such conditions which it was established. (6). Freshwater MAC. Current Position. FFSAQ fully supports the FreshwaterMAC consultative process. Unlike some of the saltwater MAC's where we understand that there were major problems, the freshwater MAC has been well managed, very effective, and operating with a high degree of consensus amongst all stakeholder representatives. Unfortunately as a result of apparent funding problems within the now dissolved QFMA, all MAC meetings were drastically curtailed to an extent that the process is now practically unworkable. This is a poor reflection on the present government's election commitment to improve and expand the consultative process. Presently, non-government organization members of MAC's, are not remunerated for attending meetings. During a recent MAC and ZAC review, it was advocated that member representation be dramatically reduced. Preferred Outcome. A commitment from Government that the Freshwater MAC process will be fully endorsed, supported and funded, and that FreshwaterMAC meetings be held at least once every three months. That NGO member representatives be fully remunerated for attending meetings, and that member representative of Freshwater MAC not be reduced. (7). Fishways. Current Position. Barriers to fish movement, such as dams and weirs, have had a dramatic adverse impact on native fish populations. Fortunately, considerable progress has been made in the design of fishways to the extent that Queensland now has some of the best designed and most effective fishways in Australia. Considerable progress has also be made by DNR and Sunwater retro-fitting these new designs to existing barriers. QFS fishway teams have played an essential role in the design, and monitoring of these fishways. However these teams receive minimal funding from QFS. Their continued existence is extremely precarious. The further loss of the high levels of design expertise and experience within these teams to other states, (as has already occurred) would be a major setback to the Queensland Governments Fishway effort. A commitment to their continuation as an entity within Fisheries is absolutely vital if effective fishways are going to continue to address the serious problems posed by impassable barriers. Currently, very little emphasis and consideration is being given to structures owned and operated by entities other than DNR. Preferred Outcome. A Government commitment that will ensure continuing progress in fishway design and the retrofitting of fishways on existing structures (this of course includes adequate funding), with an emphasis on the retention of the expertise and experience of the existing QFS fishway teams. Consideration to be given to support non DNR owned structures with an endeavor to construct effective fishways on such structures. (8). Security of Access to Anglers and Maintenance of Recreational Facilities. Current Position. The recent corporatisation of the SEQW Board and State Water Projects has caused considerable concern amongst stake holders that future access to recreational fishing will/may require the payment of access fees, or in some cases access will be denied all together. FFSAQ perceives this to be perhaps the single most serious threat to the future development of freshwater recreational fishing in Queensland. FFSAQ does not believe that the corporatised bodies themselves, are necessarily to blame. Prior to corporatisation these bodies have excelled in providing access and top quality recreational facilities. However these corporatised entities have now been structured solely to administer the sale of water, with no provision in their charter to maintain access or recreational facilities. Governments need to have policies in place to address the funding of access and facilities on DNR, Local Council and Waterboard impoundments. Where once these storages were traditionally taken for granted as public facilities, and as such expected generally free access, this is now no longer the case. Preferred Outcome. A commitment from Government that it recognizes it's community responsibility and obligation in maintaining the pre-existing level of access, (before corporatization), to all Sunwater, Local Authority, and Water Corporation storages, and also allowing reasonable provision for growth. (9) Appropriate Water Management for Stocked Impoundments. Current Position. In time of drought DNR/Sunwater have on occasions drained stocked impoundments to a level below what is generally considered to be adequate for the survival of fish populations. Every time such an action is contemplated, there is widespread community concern, with letters to the Premier, Ministers and the media. The problem in the past has been DNR/Sunwater's failure to recognise the fact that there are other stakeholders apart from irrigators. The issue will continue until Government has a commitment to setting minimum draw down levels for all impoundments in consultation with all stakeholders and fisheries scientists. Preferred Outcome. A Government commitment to ensure that minimum water storage levels in stocked impoundments are legislated to be compatible with the adequate survival of fish populations. The determination of such water levels to be established by community consultation. (10). Aquaculture. Current Position. A rigorously managed and controlled finfish aquaculture industry is essential to the future development of the freshwater fishery, which is heavily dependent on hatchery produced fingerlings for its success. A disease outbreak or the translocation of undesirable species has the potential to destroy the entire inland fishery, not only the stocked fishery. FFSAQ has concerns that the level of QFS monitoring for general fish health and disease in commercial hatcheries supplying to the stocking program and aquaculture industry is inadequate. Preferred Outcome. A Government commitment that finfish hatchery production will be rigorously managed and controlled, particularly in relation to disease and general fingerling health. (11). National Parks. Current Position. FFSAQ supports the present agreement between Sunfish and the DOE for freshwater fishing access to a limited number of National Parks. The exception here is the Noosa River where FFSAQ opposes the total power boat restriction beyond campsite 3. The effort by the NPWS to make boat launching at Harry's hut difficult, is seen as a denial of reasonable public access. Preferred Outcome. A Government commitment that ensures the present agreement regarding fishing in National Park's will be maintained, apart from that the upper Noosa River power boat restrictions will be reviewed, and that boat launching facilities at Harry's Hut will be upgraded. (12). Research. Current Position. FFSAQ supports increased levels of research into all aspects of inland freshwater fisheries including (1) Research into the rehabilitation of Queensland's Freshwater rivers and streams, (2) Research into the biology and habitat requirements of native species so that stocks can be sustainably managed, (4) Research into stocking, ie. optimum size of fingerlings, when to stock, where to stock (deep water or shallows) etc., and (5) Research into the production of other angling species that have freshwater impoundment stocking potential (trevally, jungle perch, mangrove jack, mullet, and tarpon, etc.). Preferred Outcome. A Government commitment that adequate resources will be provided to ensure that research will be able to be undertaken, commensurate with both the sustainability of our wild fishery, and the maintenance and improvement of the stocked fishery. The research arm of Fisheries needs to be reinstated within the Fisheries Department to provide a more cohesive working arrangement. (13). Enforcement. Current Position. FFSAQ supports an increase in policing resources to freshwater. In spite of the increase in Boating patrol officers in the south there is still a strong perception in the freshwater community that the level of service is inadequate. Some community groups do not see Boating Patrol officers from one year to the next. The very nature of our inland fishery, such as the vast geographical landscape, and it's remoteness, necessitates the need for a higher percentage per capita, for staffing levels of Patrol Officers, than the more consolidated marine fishery. Preferred Outcome. A Government commitment to increase funding and staffing levels for surveillance and enforcement of the freshwater fishery in inland waters. (14). New Impoundments. Current Position. FFSAQ has concerns with the manner in which governments support the development of new impoundments, without adequate consideration to mitigating the potentially damaging environmental effects of such structures, on both upstream and down stream ecosystems. In principal, FFSAQ supports any project with the potential to benefit rural communities provided there is minimal adverse impact on the sustainability of our freshwater fisheries. Unfortunately, the attitude of government, leaves FFSAQ no option but to join with other recreational fishing organisations, commercial fishermen, environmental groups, landholders, and some Government departments like DPI Fisheries and the DOE, in totally opposing these developments until Government is prepared to responsibly address and overcome any adverse environmental impacts. Preferred Outcome. A Government Commitment to recognize the adverse environmental impacts that are created by the construction of new dams. To ensure that a detailed Environmental Impact Statement is commissioned , and before any decision is made to proceed, a responsible approach is taken to minimize such adverse effects on the fishery. (15). Increased Monitoring and of Impoundment Fisheries. Current Position. Presently resources and staffing levels within QFS are inadequate to provide regular and adequate monitoring of the developing freshwater stocked fisheries, even at present levels of stocking. The implementation of the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme will result in a significant increase in the numbers of fingerlings stocked. This enhancement must be adequately monitored and managed to ensure that the community contribution is maximised. Preferred Outcome. A Government Commitment to increase the monitoring of Queensland's stocked waters, commensurate with the expansion of the Stocked Impoundment Permit scheme.
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