Three new Net Free Areas a reality as of 1 November 2015
YAHOO!!!
As of 1 November 2015, Queensland now has three new Net Free Areas.
Every rec fisher in Qld should congratulate former Minister Byrne and the then ALP State government for delivering on their election promise.
UPDATE: The proof of the overwhelming success of these new NFAs is now there for all to see. Social media sites are alive on a daily basis with excited recreational anglers catching quality fish in these NFAs. The Central Qld NFA has been particularly inspiring with amazing barra and King threadfin catches from the area and new businesses and money flowing into the area as a result. The once vocal opponents are now licking their wounds as the economic, social and environmental benefits are there for all the world to see.
The history:
The Burns Inquiry back in 1993 called them ROFAS (Recreational Only Fishing Areas) and recommended we should have them here in Queensland. We all even agreed to paying $10 extra on our boat registration each year (PPV) to pay for the buyout of netting licences. Oh we paid the money all right, but we never saw any ROFAS. Reliable estimates are that the ever increasing PPV, (now renamed RUF & about $18+ per vessel/year) has raised around $70,000,000+ since its inception (not a typo folks). So where has all this money gone? We'll give you two guesses and the last one doesn't count.
The ALP promise to look at further Net Free Areas in Moreton Bay was never honoured unfortunately.
Fast forward to 2024. Queensland now has a new LNP State government. The majority of large mesh commercial net licences north of Baffle Creek have been bought out, with the former licence holders well compensated as a consequence of the UNESCO's intervention and the need to protect the reef and its diversity better. As an interim measure, 28 entirely new NX licences have been issued allowing the holders to continue commercial netting until 30 June 2027.
QRFN continues to have ongoing engagement with Fisheries Qld regarding the NX program and are monitoring its operations closely. We know some commercial fishing interests are lobbying the new government strongly to extend the NX fishery past its 2027 expiry date. This is totally unacceptable as far as QRFN is concerned and we will work tirelessly to prevent this from happening.
The Tropical East Coast Inshore fishery will without doubt, quickly become a globally recognised recreational fishing destination once all the nets are gone and fish stocks start recovering. This will generate billions of new dollars for the state economy and more than justify the decision to remove the nets, not to mention the environmental benefits achieved in protecting our vulnerable large marine mammals, fish and reptiles.
Gulf of Carpentaria Net Free Zones
The previous Qld Labor State government is to be congratulated for finally biting the bullet and creating 3 new Net Free Zones in the Gulf of Carpentaria in 2024. The push for Net Free Zones in the Gulf started way back in the mid 1990's when the Gulf of Carpentaria Management Plan was being developed. There was supposed to be a NFZ in Albatross Bay near Weipa, but that got squashed somewhere inside Fisheries and never made the Management Plan. Once the dust settles, we can expect to see fish stocks in the new NFZ's start to recover and the future for recreational fishing in these areas is exciting.
As of 1 November 2015, Queensland now has three new Net Free Areas.
Every rec fisher in Qld should congratulate former Minister Byrne and the then ALP State government for delivering on their election promise.
UPDATE: The proof of the overwhelming success of these new NFAs is now there for all to see. Social media sites are alive on a daily basis with excited recreational anglers catching quality fish in these NFAs. The Central Qld NFA has been particularly inspiring with amazing barra and King threadfin catches from the area and new businesses and money flowing into the area as a result. The once vocal opponents are now licking their wounds as the economic, social and environmental benefits are there for all the world to see.
The history:
The Burns Inquiry back in 1993 called them ROFAS (Recreational Only Fishing Areas) and recommended we should have them here in Queensland. We all even agreed to paying $10 extra on our boat registration each year (PPV) to pay for the buyout of netting licences. Oh we paid the money all right, but we never saw any ROFAS. Reliable estimates are that the ever increasing PPV, (now renamed RUF & about $18+ per vessel/year) has raised around $70,000,000+ since its inception (not a typo folks). So where has all this money gone? We'll give you two guesses and the last one doesn't count.
The ALP promise to look at further Net Free Areas in Moreton Bay was never honoured unfortunately.
Fast forward to 2024. Queensland now has a new LNP State government. The majority of large mesh commercial net licences north of Baffle Creek have been bought out, with the former licence holders well compensated as a consequence of the UNESCO's intervention and the need to protect the reef and its diversity better. As an interim measure, 28 entirely new NX licences have been issued allowing the holders to continue commercial netting until 30 June 2027.
QRFN continues to have ongoing engagement with Fisheries Qld regarding the NX program and are monitoring its operations closely. We know some commercial fishing interests are lobbying the new government strongly to extend the NX fishery past its 2027 expiry date. This is totally unacceptable as far as QRFN is concerned and we will work tirelessly to prevent this from happening.
The Tropical East Coast Inshore fishery will without doubt, quickly become a globally recognised recreational fishing destination once all the nets are gone and fish stocks start recovering. This will generate billions of new dollars for the state economy and more than justify the decision to remove the nets, not to mention the environmental benefits achieved in protecting our vulnerable large marine mammals, fish and reptiles.
Gulf of Carpentaria Net Free Zones
The previous Qld Labor State government is to be congratulated for finally biting the bullet and creating 3 new Net Free Zones in the Gulf of Carpentaria in 2024. The push for Net Free Zones in the Gulf started way back in the mid 1990's when the Gulf of Carpentaria Management Plan was being developed. There was supposed to be a NFZ in Albatross Bay near Weipa, but that got squashed somewhere inside Fisheries and never made the Management Plan. Once the dust settles, we can expect to see fish stocks in the new NFZ's start to recover and the future for recreational fishing in these areas is exciting.
