SA’s south-east snapper allocation already snapped up
Recreational fishers bag five months’ worth of South Australian snapper in just six weeksSouth Australia has issued an apology of sorts to recreational fishers who have booked holidays in the state’s south-east only to turn up from this week and find the snapper they came to catch are now off limits.
The state yesterday slammed the door shut on the south-east snapper fishery after more than 700 recreational fishers bagged what was to have been five months’ supply of the highly desirable catch – 1077 snapper – after just six weeks.
"Given the February-June allocation has been caught, the fairest way forward for recreational fishers, while protecting the snapper stocks, is to close the south-east recreational fishing season from 11.59pm on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 and when it reopens, to reduce the bag limit,” Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, David Basham, said.
"We are giving a week's notice to try and limit the impact on people who may have already booked a holiday in the south-east...”
Long wait
The next opportunity for South Australia’s snapper hunters will fall between July 1 and October 30, with an allowable catch for that five-month period set at just 862.
However, that number may be even smaller, with overcatch reported before yesterday’s closure to come off the top of the July to October allocation.
As well, the daily bag limit will fall from two to one, with the boat limit set at three per boat.
Mandatory reporting
South Australia last year introduced mandatory reporting of snapper caught by recreational fishers after studies showed that natural stocks of the fish all along the state’s coastline had fallen to perilously low numbers due to overfishing.
Last year, only 452 snapper were caught recreationally in the south-east fishery despite 3000 tags being allocated.
Anyone caught keeping snapper out of season faces a $315 on-the-spot fine. If the matter goes to court, that fine could jump up to a maximum $20,000.
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