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PIRSA News June 2023
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PIRSA News
SA bans use of opera house yabby nets
South Australia will ban the use of opera house style yabby nets, effective from 1 July 2023 to further protect platypus and other air-breathing animals at risk from the use of the nets.
The ban follows research and consultation with the key recreational fishing stakeholder groups and impacts all fishers, recreational and commercial.
Executive Director, PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, Professor Gavin Begg said the main issue with the nets is the real dangers posed to air-breathing animals such as platypus, freshwater turtles and Rakali (water rats) that could potentially get caught in them.
It will also bring consistency for fishers travelling between states as the ban will put South Australia in line with most other states – Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania – who have already banned the nets. Queensland allows use of the nets only in limited areas, where platypus or at-risk animals are not located.
Fishers will still be able to use pyramid nets for yabby fishing, allowing people across South Australia to fish for yabbies without the need to change gear.
"There was a common desire to ensure people could still enjoy the time-honored tradition of yabbying in a way that didn't impact on the non-targeted species particularly platypus, freshwater turtles and rakali (water rats)," Professor Begg said.
For further information on the ban of opera house nets and advice on permitted yabbying devices in South Australia see Permitted fishing gear.