PIRSA Fisheries has reminded the sardine industry and the Port Lincoln community that the practice of giving away sardines to the public whilst they are unloading at the main wharf is illegal.

PIRSA Fisheries Regional Manager West, Andrew Carr, says this practice is prohibited as it jeopardises the integrity of the quota system under which the sardine fishery is managed.

“The quota system is a vital tool in ensuring the sustainability of the sardine resource and the businesses that rely on it,” Mr Carr said.

“Quota-based fisheries require all commercial operators to declare and record all fish caught via the appropriate methods.

“It’s important therefore that the local community understand that sardine fishers must account for all their fish appropriately prior to their disposal.”

Christian Pyke, Executive Officer of the South Australian Sardine Industry Association said the reminder issued by PIRSA Fisheries is in line with legislation that has existed in the fishery since the introduction of the quota system.

Mr Pyke urged people to understand that when fishers refuse requests to give away sardines at the point of unloading they are simply adhering to the law.

“The sardine fishers will continue to contribute to the local community by providing secure employment and downstream economic benefits,” Mr Pyke said.

“We still encourage local residents to come down to the wharf to watch the boats unloading and talk to the crews about the fishery.”

Signs will be erected at the main wharf area informing the public about this decision.

Fisheries Officers have expressed their concern after witnessing a rising trend in people stealing rock lobster from other people’s pots.

The reminder comes as both the Northern and Southern Zone Rock Lobster season came to a close at the end of May.

“Another worrying trend we’ve started to see is an increased occurrence of individuals pulling their own pots plus the pots of others such as family or friends,” said Andrew Carr, Regional Manager West with PIRSA Fisheries.

“Whilst this practice is undertaken with the permission of those who the pots were registered to, it is vitally important that people realise that it is an offence to pull pots of others under any circumstances.

Mr Carr explained that Fisheries officers also seized numerous unregistered rock lobster pots.

“It is important that those fishing recreationally for rock lobster are clear on the relevant rules and requirements, in particular ensuring their pots are registered, making sure registration tags are clearly displayed and that pots are only pulled by the person they are registered to” he said.

PIRSA Fisheries wishes to ensure that recreational fishers are informed about the potential implications of a new international requirement for thresher sharks.

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) manages tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas. Australia is a member of the Commission and is represented by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) at meetings.

At a meeting of the IOTC on 1-5 March 2010, a proposal for new management measures for the conservation of thresher sharks was discussed. The Australian delegation raised concerns in relation to the proposal, however it was taken to a vote, and the proposal was adopted as an IOTC Resolution.

The Resolution includes the following measures, due to come into effect in July 2010:

• Commercial fisheries will be prohibited from taking all species of thresher sharks;
• Thresher sharks must be released by commercial fishers unharmed;
• Incidental catches of thresher sharks must be recorded; and
  Recreational and sport fishers may in no circumstances retain thresher sharks and must release them alive.

With water flowing into the South Australian Lake Eyre Basin for the first time in many years, PIRSA Fisheries has issued a timely reminder to Outback residents of the rules that apply to fishing in the region.

Inland Fisheries Management Officer with PIRSA Fisheries, Jonathan McPhail, said that Golden Perch, Grunters and Cooper Creek Catfish are three important native species that are popular targets for recreational fishers across inland waters.

“Fishers need to remember that size, bag and boat limits apply to these particular fish, which are designed to protect the sustainability of our fish stocks,” he said.

“I also can’t stress how important it is that fishers do not introduce foreign species or bait like Carp and Yabbies into the Lake Eyre Basin.

“These foreign species could have a disastrous effect on what is a rare and unique natural ecosystem.

Mr McPhail said that PIRSA Fisheries Officers have noticed an unfortunate trend in the use of non-compliant ‘Opera House’ style yabby pots through out inland waterways.

“It’s important that fishers ensure that any ‘Opera House’ pots they use must have no more than two entrance funnels and each entrance funnel must also have a rigid ring, which does not exceed 7.5cm in diameter,” he said.

Just a reminder if you hadn't seen it before, there is a Recreational Fishing Atlas available on the PIRSA Fisheries website that presents all the data from the 2007-08 Recreational Fishing survey which was released in December.

The interactive online tool provides anglers, students and other members of the public with easy to search information relevant to their own individual fishing habits. You can search to see where people are fishing, who is fishing, what they are catching and in what region.

A copy of the full survey report and access to the Recreational Fishing Atlas is available on the PIRSA Fisheries website

A great opportunity exists for recreational fishers to learn more about the South Australian seafood industry. 

The next Fish Forum, run by the Conservation Council, will bring together representatives from PIRSA Fisheries, researchers from SARDI Aquatic sciences, environmental and conservation experts as well as the general public under the title: “How green is your seafood: eco-labelling for consumers and industry”.

Details for the Forum are:
Wed 28th July from 6-8pm
How green is your seafood: eco-labelling for consumers and industry
Coglin St Community Centre, Coglin St, Adelaide (behind Central Markets)
RSVP’s to Alex Gaut at Conservation SA on 8223 5155 or alex.gaut@conservationsa.org.au