Anger over fish catch dumped in bush

Original Story by Mathew Kelly, Newcastle Herald

The discovery of a dump site for under-sized fish has led to fresh calls for beach-haul netting to be banned.

A recreational fishermen found about 1000 under-sized bream in dense bushland at Seal Rocks last Wednesday, a day after haul netters fished the beach.

Licensed haul-netting, which involves firing large nets over spawning schools of fish, is legal in NSW.

However, it is widely criticised because it frequently results in large quantities of bycatch being hauled ashore with the targeted species.

"I was absolutely disgusted," the man who found the fish said.

"It's looks like the fish were just thrown on the beach and no effort was made to save the smaller ones."

Recreational fishermen operating between Seal Rocks and Port Stephens confirmed the practice of dumping bycatch was common.

"They are meant to return the fish to the water dead or alive but it's just too much trouble so they normally bury them," one fisherman said.

"It's absolutely destroying our fisheries but anyone who speaks out about it risks getting their house burned down."

Jason Nunn, from Fisherman's Warehouse, at Marks Point, said the dumping of bycatch was an insult to recreational fishers who paid licence fees and were subject to fines for keeping under-sized fish.

"Haul netting of fish like this that are spawning up and down the coast is an abomination," he said.

"Meanwhile, the people who are paying for a fishing licence can't catch a bream."

A Department of Primary Industries spokeswoman said the department hoped to prosecute those responsible for the incident.

"It is disappointing considering that fishers by law are able to use more selective nets that significantly reduce incidental catches of juvenile target species such as bream."

Those wishing to report illegal fishing activity can contact the Fishers Watch phoneline on 1800 043 536 or complete the online illegal fishing activity report form.