Original story by Genevieve Hayward, Pine Rivers Press
A north Brisbane fish stocking group says its financial future may at risk if boat permits are scrapped.
Pine Rivers Fish Management Association (PRFMA) says it will face a sharp drop in funding if a report due next month ends the scheme.
Barry Tucker, from the Pine Rivers Fish Management Association, about to release Australian bass in to Lake Samsonvale. Source: News Limited
Such a move would leave the association without the bulk of the $30,000 it needs each year to restock lakes Samsonvale and Kurwongbah.
“It (the review) could be the death of the Boating Access Scheme and see funds for stocking dry up,” said PRFMA treasurer Barry Tucker.
“The fish are very important for the environment of the lake. They control predator fish, they control excess weeds and water quality improves when a lake is well stocked with fish.”
Mr Tucker also said the quality of fishing may decline.
An Seqwater spokeswoman said a consistent permit scheme across all lakes was being considered as part of the recreational review of lakes Samsonvale and Kurwongbah.
It would also be unlikely for PRFMA to see any funds from a new permit scheme, said the spokeswoman.
Moreton Bay Regional Council has provided $7000 annually for fish stocking over the past four years and the association receives funding through the Stock Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS), which requires people to buy a permit to fish Lake Samsonvale, but funding from these alone will not be enough to cover costs.
“Seqwater say if the lakes are opened up there will be more people using the SIPs permit. That will offset the loss a little but we might not be able to maintain current stocking levels,” Mr Tucker said.
The association recently celebrated 21 years since their first meeting on March 11, 1993 and in that time has stocked lakes Samsonvale and Kurwongbah with more than two million native fish.
These are also integral to controlling numbers of destructive introduced species, mosquito populations and water quality.
The lakes require continuous restocking as the native Australian Bass and Golden Perch released cannot breed in an enclosed environment, needing brackish water and running, shallow water respectively to lay their eggs.
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