Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, has today (September 12) announced changes to recreational fishing rules in NSW. The changes follow extensive consultation and taking into account feedback from thousands of recreational fishers.
Ms Hodgkinson said the NSW Government released a discussion paper with 43 proposals for recreational saltwater and freshwater fishing rules for public comment between May and August 2013, which resulted in 5440 submissions and more than 30,000 comments.
"The NSW Government has listened to the feedback and issues raised as part of a comprehensive consultation process and, as a result, I am today announcing a total of 16 changes to bag and size limits and gear," Ms Hodgkinson said.
"These modest changes will apply to recreational saltwater and freshwater fishers from November 3, 2014, and were supported by the majority of people who made submissions.:
Key changes include:
<< Bag limit reduced from 20 to 10 for flathead species (other than dusky flathead), bream and tarwhine, tailor, blue swimmer crab, trevally and luderick. The possession limit of 20 will remain for these species.
<< Catch and release requirement (maximum size limit) introduced for Murray cod caught at more than 80cm (the current minimum size limit of 60cm remains).
<< Spawning closure for Australian bass and estuary perch extended to four months to protect early migrating bass. Catch and release will be permitted during the closure.
<< Number of witches hats/hoop nets/lift nets reduced from five to four and increase the number of crab traps from one to two in saltwater.
<< Change of marking requirements of recreational nets and traps to specify trap type, fisher's initial and surname, year of birth and postcode.
<< Fishers will now be permitted to use five hoop nets to take yabbies in Lakes Lyell, Lake Wallace and Googong Dam.
Ms Hodgkinson said of the 16 changes, five include minor rule adjustments to reduce red tape and streamline fishing rules.
"The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is absolutely behind the more than one million recreational fishers that wet a line and contribute more than $1.6 billion to the State's economy each year," Ms Hodgkinson said.
"Whether that is through modest changes like today's announcement, or directing funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts into projects and initiatives which benefit the recreational fishing sector, we are backing our recreational anglers."
Ms Hodgkinson said the consultation undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) showed there was strong support to implement new bag and size limits, with all 16 changes receiving majority support from the community and recreational fishers.
"Importantly, recreational anglers will have time to adjust to the new rules, with an advisory period of three months from the commencement date applying," Ms Hodgkinson said.
"These changes will be introduced under the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 and are based on expert advice and information from the extensive consultation with the fishing community.
"Reviews are undertaken periodically, approximately every five years, to ensure healthy and sustainable fish stocks."
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The two lead photos supporting this article are courtesy of the community group Sydney Harbour Recreational Fishing Haven, which is campaigning to make the harbour an angling-only fishery. We publish them with the aim of furthering their cause. Join the group and see more at https://www.facebook.com/sydneyharbourrecreationalfishinghaven. Normal
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