Over demanding market affects fisheries more than climate change

 environment, fisheries, research, waterways/wetlands
Mar 082014
 

Investigación y DesarrolloNews release from Investigación y Desarrollo

Fisheries that rely on short life species, such as shrimp or sardine, have been more affected by climate change, because this phenomenon affects chlorophyll production, which is vital for phytoplankton, the main food for both species.
Fisheries that rely on short life species, such as shrimp or sardine, have been more affected by climate change

Fisheries that rely on short life species, such as shrimp or sardine, have been more affected by climate change.

Disclosed by the research “Socioeconomic Impact of the global change over the fishing resources of the Mexican Pacific” headed by Ernesto A. Chávez Ortiz, from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN).

Work performed at the Interdisciplinary Center of Marine Sciences (CICIMAR) from the IPN, indicates that in the last five years there have been no “spectacular” changes attributable to climate change, what has affected the fishing resources more is the over demanding market.

“Globally, a great part of the fishing resources is being exploited to its maximum capacity, several have overpass its regeneration capacities and are overexploited” Chávez Ortiz points out.

The specialist at CICIMAR details that the research consisted in exploratory weather and fisheries analysis, and confirmed what has been intuitively said for a while: a lot of the variability in the fishing is due to climate change, the problem is that evidence hadn’t been found to prove it.

“In the research we found a clear and objective way to show it: we took historical data from FAO regarding fisheries, available since 1950, compared it to the data of weather variability and found high correlations.

Change patterns were identified, for example, while in the 70’s the sardine production increases, in the 80’s it decreases below average levels, meanwhile shrimp fishing increased above average but decreased in the 90’s.

This way, climate changes were identified in the mid 70’s and late 80’s that affected the fishing of sardine and shrimp in the Mexican Pacific Ocean, possibly attributable to El Niño. In the particular case of the shrimp, it effects are related to an input of water from the continent; for example, when there’s a good raining season, there will be an increase in the crustacean production, which is reduced when it doesn’t rain.

The researcher at CICIMAR clarifies that the analysis of the fisheries, examined in the guidelines of this project, used of a simulation model that allows to evaluate optimal exploitation strategies, possible change in the biomass of the analyzed resources, as well as the long term effects of climate change, like cyclones, and set them apart of those caused by the intensity of the fishing. (Agencia ID)

 

Why don’t we believe Australia’s fisheries are sustainable?

 community, fisheries, government, research
Mar 062014
 

The ConversationBy Jacki Schirmer, University of Canberra; Lain Dare, University of Canberra, and Peter O'Brien, University of Canberra at The Conversation

Australians love seafood. We each consumed an average of 25 kilograms of seafood in 2010 – an amount that has increased significantly over the last 30 years. Worldwide, fish consumption now exceeds beef. Despite our love of fish, more than two-thirds of Australians think that our fisheries are unsustainable, a view that is strongly at odds with the scientific evidence.
We love our fish ‘n’ chips, but most Australians don’t think our fisheries are sustainable. Photo: Simon Collison/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

We love our fish ‘n’ chips, but most Australians don’t think our fisheries are sustainable. Photo: Simon Collison/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

Two current reports on Australia’s wild catch fisheries reveal stark differences in the way scientists and Australians view the sustainability of fish stocks. While scientists assess most stocks as sustainable, the community sees it differently. Less than one in three Australians perceive the wild catch commercial fishing industry as sustainable.

What we know

Last year, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation published an extensive assessment of the status of Australia’s commercial fish stocks. The report assessed 150 stocks of 49 species, which make up the bulk of the commercially significant fisheries (approximately 70% of the commercial wild catch by volume and 80% by value).

The report tells a positive picture: 98 stocks were classified as “sustainable”, 11 as “transitional”, 39 were “undefined” due to insufficient data, and just two – Southern Bluefin Tuna and School Shark – were assessed as overfished.

This isn’t a comprehensive survey. Some stocks could not be assessed because information was not adequate. The report doesn’t assess all commercial species, or consider sustainability of the broader marine environment. But it shows clearly that more than more than 90% of the total catch of the species considered is being fished sustainably. This is good news for consumers of wild caught Australian seafood.

What we think we know

But last week, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) released the results of a recent survey of community perceptions of the Australian fishing industry. The online survey of 1021 respondents shows that only 30% believe that the commercial wild catch fishing sector is sustainable.

Because of this gap between science and community perceptions, there is a real risk of limited community approval or acceptance of fisheries management.

In other words, Australia’s commercial fisheries lack a “social licence” to operate. This means that when controversy arises — as it did in conflict over the “super trawler” Margiris — Australians are unlikely to support these fisheries.

The 142-metre 10,000-tonne MV Margiris, the world’s second largest super trawler, arriving at Port Lincoln, South Australia, in August 2012. Photo: AAP/Nat Kilpatrick

The 142-metre 10,000-tonne MV Margiris, the world’s second largest super trawler, arriving at Port Lincoln, South Australia, in August 2012. Photo: AAP/Nat Kilpatrick

Licensed to fish?

Why the gap? Other natural resource industries provide some valuable lessons.

First, the Australian fishing industry may be being defined by its past. Despite improvements in management and practises, poor past performance can contribute to today’s perceptions of an industry.

The survey released last week shows that 80% of the Australian public are unaware or unsure of changes put in place to improve fishing industry sustainability in recent decades.

Second, the community might be generalising perceptions about international fisheries to Australian fisheries. Imported seafood, mainly from Thailand, China, Vietnam and New Zealand, made up 72% of the seafood consumed in Australia in 2008/09.

Third, the public judge wild catch fisheries based on their knowledge of it. This knowledge rarely comes from people directly involved in the industry, and much more commonly comes from newspapers, radio and television. Media headlines grab public attention, yet the depth of information portrayed is often shallow and the opportunity to meaningfully learn from scientific reports is limited.

But it’s a two-way street. We need more accessible information on fisheries management, and science needs to address the issues that concern the community, if Australians are to make informed judgements.

What we think of bigger businesses

Compounding those problems is the lack of visibility of commercial fishers in many communities. Social licence is often built through personal interaction and trust, and an industry that lacks visibility has few opportunities to build this trust.

Thanks to efforts to improve economic efficiency and sustainability, Australia’s commercial wild catch fisheries now employ fewer people, and have shifted to larger, more corporate fishing businesses. Commercial fishing activity has also been reduced in near-shore areas used by recreational fishers. This has the unintended side effect of reducing the visibility of commercial fishing and the sense of familiarity for the general public. With less connection and less visibility, commercial wild catch fishers operate almost out of sight.

The shift to larger businesses and in some cases larger boats may itself reduce trust in wild catch fisheries. Multiple studies (based on energy, forestry and farming) have found that the public perceive activities more negatively if they are conducted by large businesses or on a large scale.

Fisheries policies —intended to improve productivity and encouraging economies of scale — may have the unintended consequence of reducing the acceptability of the industry.

The lack of a social licence to operate for Australia’s commercial fishing sector means fisheries can struggle to find community support when controversy arises.

But the latest FRDC survey suggests there is room for change. While only 30% of Australians believe our fisheries are sustainable, a further 37% sat on the fence. Better access to trusted information and increased familiarity with the fishing industry can help address this gap.

Peter O'Brien is a Director of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

Jacki Schirmer and Lain Dare do not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article. They also have no relevant affiliations.

The Conversation

This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Read the original article.

Fighting on to save lake

 Australian native freshwater species, community, fisheries, government, waterways/wetlands, wildlife
Mar 062014
 

Original story by Gregor Heard, Stock and Land

Key points

  • Fishermen and local residents unite
  • Push for emergency allocation of water to save fish stocks
  • Government at this stage unlikely to approve request
  • Local water authority says running channel to Toolondo not an option

FISHING enthusiasts, together with the local community are fighting hard to save fish stocks in Lake Toolondo in the south-west Wimmera.

"Rocklands is full of carp and does not support the same ecology you get at Toolondo." Trevor Holmes.

A group has been formed with two goals, in the long-term to shore up the future of the lake, described as the most important trout fishery in mainland Australia, and in the short-term to get an emergency allocation of 5000 megalitres of water to stop fish from dying.

One of the spokesmen for the group, Trevor Holmes, said the immediate challenge was to save trout stocks within the lake.

“The lake was restocked in 2011, and it seems silly to make that investment and then just let the fish die, when they can easily be saved with a relatively small amount of water.”

In the longer term, Mr Holmes said he wanted to see a minimum level retained in Toolondo where possible.

“It is a storage and does not evaporate quickly, so by putting in water you are not jeopardising the region’s water security.”

Mr Holmes said Toolondo had a much more significant eco-system than Rocklands, which is the region’s major storage.

“Rocklands is full of carp and does not support the same ecology you get at Toolondo.”

He said Toolondo was not only important for sporting fish but had healthy populations of native fish, eastern long necked turtles, yabbies and water-based birds and insects.

The group is lobbying Victorian Minister for Water Peter Walsh on the matter.

A petition on online petition platform www.change.org has over 1300 signatories and a Facebook group has over 1100 members.

However, thus far there has been little progress.

Minister Walsh said decisions for Toolondo’s management were made by the local water authority, Grampians Wimmera Mallee (GWM) Water.

"While the Victorian Government recognises Lake Toolondo has been providing some great fishing opportunities for recreational fishers, it is vital that the Wimmera-Mallee system is managed responsibly and as a whole,” Mr Walsh said.

"The stock and domestic supply of local landholders could be jeopardised if more water is transferred into Lake Toolondo for recreational fishing, given the current levels of Rocklands Reservoir.

"While in the past few years flooding rains have allowed for transfers from Rocklands Reservoir into Lake Toolondo, it would be irresponsible to transfer water under current conditions."

GWM Water spokesman Andrew Rose said the short-term allocation of water would not be a prudent move.

“The water losses in running water up the open channel from Rocklands to Toolondo would be massive.”

He also said Toolondo was not a preferred storage, not because of evaporation issues as in other GWM storages popular for recreation usage, such as Lake Lonsdale near Stawell, but because of topography.

“It’s true we can get water out of Toolondo, but when it gets to a certain level we need to pump it out, which obviously will increase costs.”

Mr Holmes disputed the water security argument.

“On our calculations, based on current water levels, running the 5000mL up to Toolondo would only drop Rocklands by 3cm.”

President of the Horsham Fly Fishers and Trout Anglers Club Gary Marlow said having lived through the Millennium Drought, which crippled the Wimmera from 1997 to 2007, he understood the importance of water security.

However, he said transferring water to Toolondo was not a risk at current storage levels.

“We understand if there is just no water about then it couldn’t be done, but we believe this lake has significance from an environmental, economic and recreational perspective and should be maintained.”

Both Mr Marlow and Mr Holmes questioned water management practices, such as summer environmental flows down the Wimmera and Glenelg Rivers.

“If we are trying to mimic the natural catchment patterns, then I don’t think you would have seen water running during our dry summers,” Mr Holmes said.

He said he realised the difficulties in getting the group’s requests through given the current water management framework.

“Longer-term, we’re certainly going to be working to get a more common sense approach to managing water resources.

“I know everyone wants their own lake filled, but in the case of Toolondo, there is a really strong argument, this lake has a massive reputation among the fishing community as a showcase trout fishery and we believe it can be filled without impacting on water security throughout GWM’s area.

Fishers welcome Queensland management overhaul

 community, fisheries, government
Mar 052014
 

Original story by Charlie McKillop, ABC Rural

Queensland's fisheries management is about to get a comprehensive overhaul, but it's come at the expense of a much-anticipated decision on the future of the crab fishery.
Trawler operators in Queensland have welcomed efforts to reduce red tape and simplify the regulatory environment in which they operate. Photo: Charlie McKillop

Trawler operators in Queensland have welcomed efforts to reduce red tape and simplify the regulatory environment in which they operate. Photo: Charlie McKillop

Fisheries Minister John McVeigh says he won't proceed with the crab review and instead will refer it to a soon-to-be-appointed ministerial advisory committee as the government embarks on its review of management review.

It's a move welcomed by the peak lobby group, the Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA).

Chair Karen Collard says fishers want more certainty about the regulatory environment in which they operate.

"There has been very little confidence in the Queensland fisheries management for a number of years because of these overlaying contradictions.

"Part of the problem is some of these things (such as the crab review) haven't had a lot of support from the industry or from the Department.

"There wasn't any real benefit for anybody to make some regulatory changes because everything was so interwoven and clunky.

"Now, we're actually starting with a clean page so we can take away the inconsistencies and the problematic parts of the legislation and the regulations to make it a lot more user friendly," she said.

"There'll be a lot less red tape for fishermen to have to worry about."

Everything was so interwoven and clunky. Now, we're actually starting with a clean page so we can take away the inconsistencies and the problematic parts of the legislation and the regulations to make it a lot more user friendly. There'll be a lot less red tape for fishermen to have to worry about.

Karen Collard, Queensland Seafood Industry Association

 

Mr McVeigh says the review will tackle a range of anomalies and exceptions that have developed over decades in more than 900 pages of legislation for Queensland's 1500 fishing operators.

He says it builds on work already being done, including the implementation of a $9 million buyback in the east coast net fishery and the crab review.

"Quite honestly it's not progressing as quickly as I would like but we are making progress.

"I am aware of other reviews that have been delayed for more than 10 years, for example, the crab fishery review," he said.

"Well, we've pulled that on in the past six months or so, got it going finally to try to sort out the industry position.

"Unfortunately, that industry position on how crab fisheries should be reviewed going forward is not at all clear.

"We want to just keep conditions in place there at the moment, therefore, and just make sure we include it in this overall review."

Mrs Collard uses the example of restrictions on fishing boats transferring through marine parks, despite fishing gear not being engaged or in the water, as an anomaly that could be easily fixed.

"We still won't be fishing in green zones, we'll still be bringing healthy seafood to the tables of consumers.

"It's just that we'll hopefully be able to do it in a more financially friendly manner as well as maintaining our ecological sustainability," she said.

The way forward on the crab fishery will now be addressed by the newly-appointed Ministerial Advisory Committee representing commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishers as well environmental advocates.

Mrs Collard says the QSIA is looking forward to being a part of the process.

Mr McVeigh says he wants all parties to work together on the crab review and other contentious issues facing the industry.

"By bringing them to the table, by negotiating, by everyone recognising - which on a one-on-one basis they do - that we have some environmental credentials to live up to as well to maintain the sustainability of the stock right around the state, I think we will move through a process where people will have their say and we'll get the balance right.

"But there's no doubt about it, it'll be a long hard road but we've got to do it properly and we've got to do that once and for all," Mr McVeigh says.

Survey set to prove northern fish disease-free

 Australian native freshwater species, fisheries, research, waterways/wetlands
Mar 052014
 

Original story by  , Science Network WA

A JOINT study about to begin, will determine whether populations of freshwater catfish in the country’s tropical and sub-tropical regions are free of the Edwardsiella ictaluri bacterium.
Prof Lymbery says the study will give some insight into northern freshwater fish populations. Photo: David Gardiner

Prof Lymbery says the study will give some insight into northern freshwater fish populations. Photo: David Gardiner

The bacterium can cause 'Enteric Septicemia of Catfish' and is potentially deadly to populations of freshwater fish in northern Australia.

Affected fish appear disorientated and can chase their tails.

Murdoch University’s Alan Lymbery says the study will investigate high risk localities in the Kimberley, Northern Territory and northern Queensland and was prompted by reports of the bacterium in imported fish and aquarium facilities.

“As far as we know through passive surveillance it’s not in wild populations, but there hasn’t been an active survey at all—if it’s here we think it would have come in with imported ornamental aquarium fish,” Professor Lymbery says.

“The survey is a targeted design which is looking at high risk populations or high risk localities for the bacterium.

“We’re looking at rivers which have major population centres on them and we’re targeting our particular sites around major towns or immediately downstream from major towns.”

Prof Lymbery says the survey for the study was designed in collaboration.

“We use a bacterial test first … if it looks like we’ve got the bacterium then we’ll go back and we’ll do some DNA testing of that fish,” he says.

“Given some assumptions, if we do not find the bacteria in around 20 fish from a number of high risk sites across northern Australia then we can be confident that native fishes are disease free.”

Prof Lymbery says the study will give some insight into northern freshwater fish populations.

“The disease caused by the bacterium can be quite severe in fish populations and can be devastating to aquaculture,” he says.

“The bacterium can have a quite high mortality and it can kill the fish rapidly.

“There is a big ornamental fish trade over the world … so it has some economic importance for Australia to be disease free.

“Australia has also got a very unique freshwater fish fauna, if there is anything we can do to keep exotic diseases out of our natural water ways it’s going to help with the conservation of our freshwater fish fauna.”

Prof Lymbery says he hopes the study will also raise awareness of the disease so fishers or fish owners can report it if they see it.

The surveys are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Notes:

The study, funded by the federal Department of Agriculture, is being conducted by Murdoch University’s Freshwater Fish Group and Fish Health Unit with help from the WA Department of Agriculture and Food, Northern Territory Department of Resources, CSIRO and James Cook University.

95% of world’s fish hide in mesopelagic zone

 fisheries, research, waterways/wetlands
Mar 032014
 

Original story by , Science Network WA

AN INTERNATIONAL team of marine biologists has found mesopelagic fish in the earth’s oceans constitute 10 to 30 times more biomass than previously thought.
Most mesopelagic species tend to feed near the surface at night, and move to deeper layers in the daytime to avoid birds. Pictured: The mesopelagic ‘ocean sunfish’ (Mola mola). Photo: Chris Zielecki

Most mesopelagic species tend to feed near the surface at night, and move to deeper layers in the daytime to avoid birds. Pictured: The mesopelagic ‘ocean sunfish’ (Mola mola). Photo: Chris Zielecki

UWA Professor Carlos Duarte says mesopelagic fish – fish that live between 100 and 1000m below the surface – must therefore constitute 95 per cent of the world’s fish biomass.

“Because the stock is much larger it means this layer must play a more significant role in the functioning of the ocean and affecting the flow of carbon and oxygen in the ocean,” he says.

Prof Duarte led a seven-month circumnavigation of the globe in the Spanish research vessel Hesperides, with a team of scientists collecting echo-soundings of mesopelagic fish.

He says most mesopelagic species tend to feed near the surface at night, and move to deeper layers in the daytime to avoid birds.

They have large eyes to see in the dim light, and also enhanced pressure-sensitivity.

“They are able to detect nets from at least five metres and avoid them,” he says.

“Because the fish are very skilled at avoiding nets, every previous attempt to quantify them in terms of biomass that fishing nets have delivered are very low estimates.

“So instead of different nets what we used were acoustics … sonar and echo sounders.”

The findings have significant implications.

The sheer amount of biomass means they may respire about 10 per cent of primary production in deep waters.

Prof Duarte says research into the five ocean gyres, where vast amounts of flotsam collect, turned up surprising results.

“We actually called them oceanic deserts,” he says.

“They are not desert at all, they are very vibrant ecosystems that support a very high biomass.

“The largest fish stock in the ocean is not in the coastal areas … but actually in the central gyres of the oceans.

“The food web … in the central gyres of the ocean … it’s a lot more efficient than we thought.”

He says the survey also showed the oceans were healthier than previously thought.

“This very large stock of fish that we have just discovered, that holds 95 per cent of all the fish biomass in the world, is untouched by fishers,” he says.

“They can’t harvest them with nets.

“In the 21st Century we have still a pristine stock of fish which happens to be 95 per cent of all the fish in oceans.

“And that also changes our views on ocean health.”

Notes:

Professor Duarte is the Director of the Oceans Institute at UWA in Perth, and also holds a post at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Spain, where he leads the Department of Global Change Research.

This article is based on an interview with Prof Duarte and the paper by lead author Prof Xabier Irigoien, who is director of the Red Sea Research Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia.

Anglers gutted: Lake Macquarie misses proposed artificial reef

 community, fisheries, government, waterways/wetlands
Mar 022014
 

Original story by Damon Cronshaw, Newcastle Herald

 LAKE Macquarie fishos have hit the roof after the NSW government snubbed them over a planned artificial fishing reef off the coast.

GUTTED: Jason Nunn had hoped Lake Macquarie would get an artificial fishing reef. Photo: Brock Perks

GUTTED: Jason Nunn had hoped Lake Macquarie would get an artificial fishing reef. Photo: Brock Perks

‘‘We’ve been stiffed,’’ Jason Nunn, of Fisherman’s Warehouse at Marks Point, said.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson announced that a  $900,000 offshore artificial reef would be built off the coast of Port Macquarie.

Fishermen said the government had promised Lake Macquarie would get the next reef and the decision appeared to be political.

‘‘How ridiculous to take it to Port Macquarie,’’ Mr Nunn said.

‘‘Port Macquarie has a lot of reef structures within its inshore grounds as it is.

‘‘The whole idea is to create habitat, not to put habitat where it already is.’’

He said the coast from Redhead to Swansea had ‘‘a lot of sand’’.

‘‘For years we’ve copped it sweet with the giant anchors of coal ships grinding our reefs to a pulp,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve lost a lot of habitat this way and it would have been a great thing to put that back.’’

In 2010, the former Labor government said reefs were planned off the coasts of Lake Macquarie, Sydney and the south coast to improve recreational fishing.

Reefs were built off Vaucluse and Shoalhaven, but Lake Macquarie missed out.

Fishos said the Coalition government had made promises the Lake Macquarie plan would proceed, but the minister said a north coast site had been the target since the 2011 election.

The Lake Macquarie plan involved installing on the seabed – 3.6kilometres off Blacksmiths Beach – four 12-metre high artificial reefs made of steel.

Swansea MP Garry Edwards said he had never been lobbied on the matter.

‘‘If somebody had bothered to speak to me about it maybe I could have intervened,’’ Mr Edwards said.

Ms Hodgkinson said the offshore artificial reef program, funded through fishing fees, had been ‘‘enormously successful and is expected to continue in future’’.

She said the Department of Primary Industries had deployed the first purpose-built artificial reef inside Lake Macquarie in 2005, which was expanded in 2007.

However, this was a separate program for artificial reefs in estuaries.

The minister said  ‘‘two fish aggregating devices’’ were deployed off Swansea and Newcastle Harbour each year, leading to ‘‘terrific recreational fishing opportunities’’.

Fish move into ‘motels’

 Australian native freshwater species, community, fisheries, government, threatened species, waterways/wetlands
Feb 242014
 

Original story by Mark Mulcahy, The Border Mail

SCIENTISTS and river health teams are using reclaimed timber from a tornado in the Yarrawonga area to create a series of fish “motels” along the Ovens River.
Macquarie perch fingerlings released in the Ovens River.

Macquarie perch fingerlings released in the Ovens River.

New habitats for native fish are being funded from recreational fishing grants.

The North East Catchment Management Authority and representatives from the Department of Environment and Primary Industries attached to the Arthur Rylah Institute are involved in developing the new habitat.

The push for additional fish habitat coincides with a large number of recent fish stockings in the region.

The habitat structures are starting to be built between Tarrawingee and Everton today.

“Native fish look for snags and complex structures in a river when they are seeking shelter or it’s time to spawn (breed),” said Anthony Wilson, the catchment co-ordinator with the authority.

“Previous mapping of in-stream woody habitat in the Ovens River identified a lack of in-stream logs and timber for native fish species.

“That’s why we are creating these ‘motels’ for native fish.”

The fish motels are constructed by layering logs in a crisscross formation to form a tower-like structure that provides bulk and complexity for the fish species through differing water heights of the river.

The structures are then held in place within the river by large poles that are pinned into the river bed.

Mr Wilson said it was initially difficult to source native timber for the innovative fish habitat project.

“Streamline Environmental Project Management based in Yarrawonga helped us source the hardwood we needed to build these structures from tornado damaged areas,” he said.

“In doing so, we are helping to clean up storm damaged vegetation in the Yarrawonga community and offering environmental benefits for the Ovens River and its native fish populations.”

Earlier this month 5000 Macquarie perch were stocked in two spots along the Ovens River with another 33,000 released in five spots at Gapsted, Whorouly, Oxley Flats, Tarrawingee and Rocky Point last Wednesday.

About 20,000 Murray cod have been released into the Mitta River.

The North East Anglers Association with the department released 1400 catfish in Lake Moodemere near Rutherglen two weeks ago.

Fears NSW amnesty will endanger some species of fish

 community, fisheries, government, threatened species, waterways/wetlands
Feb 242014
 

Original story by , Sydney Morning Herald

Fish species such as the much-loved blue groper will be at risk if the O'Farrell government permanently allows recreational fishing in sensitive marine areas, a former government scientist has warned.

At risk: The blue groper could be targeted by fishers. Photo: Sarah Speight

At risk: The blue groper could be targeted by fishers. Photo: Sarah Speight

On Monday cabinet is due to consider making permanent an amnesty on recreational line fishing from beaches and headlands in so-called ''sanctuary zones'' - marine areas that purportedly provide the highest level of protection for wildlife.

It is understood that cabinet is likely to allow line fishing in some of these zones. Under one option being considered, this would occur in about half the state's sanctuary zones, which are designated in marine parks around Batemans Bay, Cape Byron, Jervis Bay, Lord Howe Island, Port Stephens and Solitary Islands. It would mean reinstating a ban on fishing in the remaining sanctuary zones.

A former scientist at the now-defunct Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre, Kevin Rowling, said the move could devastate stocks of some fish species including the blue groper, red rock cod and eastern blue devil fish. ''Recreational fishing can have a major impact,'' he said.

''There are millions of [fishermen] and it all adds up.

''A lot of the fish that live [around rocky headlands] … are slow growing and there are many species we don't know the biology of.''

The state's most recent update on fish species status was conducted in 2008-09 and he questioned how fishing could be allowed when stock levels were unknown.

''They could be overfished … or they could be wiped out in particular areas,'' he said.

The designation of sanctuary zones has been highly politicised. The Coalition accused the former Labor government of establishing new protection zones in the Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands marine parks before the last election to attract Greens' preferences.

But the Opposition and the NSW Greens said the government had bowed to the Shooters and Fishers Party by opening sanctuary zones to fishing in March last year.

Save our Marine Life Alliance spokeswoman Cate Faehrmann said sanctuary zones around popular Wategos Beach and the Pass, near Byron Bay, were likely to be permanently opened to line fishing despite the presence of a dolphin nursery.

''Recreational fishers already have 93 per cent of the state's waters in which they can fish … no other government in the world has wound back sanctuary zones in this way,'' Ms Faehrmann said.

President of the NSW Amateur Fishing Clubs Association, Sydney branch, Carlo Dicello said the impact of recreational line fishing was ''minimal''.

''The ocean looks like a big place, but unfortunately the good fishing spots are very small and confined. The [sanctuary zones] are our prime spots,'' he said.

A spokesman for Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel carried out a risk assessment during the amnesty which ''thoroughly considered ecological, social and economic values''.

A department spokeswoman said fish assessment was carried out each year.

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