This newsletter is for general distribution to your members & the public.

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER No 17 DECEMBER 2024

Editors Note – This newsletter is being produced to ensure our Members are kept informed on relevant matters. Issues will be covered briefly & for further details please contact Myself by phone or email.

Sunfish activities. The State elections was a busy time for Sunfish in reviewing our policy documents & contacting all the parties for their Policies.

The main thrust of our policies were:-

• Reviewing the use of our Recreational Use Fee ($8m paid through boat registration).
• More effective involvement of & consultation with recreational fishers
• Independent peer review of science used to support Fisheries Management decisions taking climate change into account.
• Simplify Recreational fishing regulations
• Urgent review on the science re Spanish Mackerel & Snapper/pearl perch
• Removal of commercial gill & ring netting in Moreton Bay

Before the election we were able to meet with the LNP shadow minister for fisheries (Tony Perrett) who was subsequently elected.

This was followed up with a face-to-face meeting on 5th December 2024.

We raised the matters listed in our policy document & explained the reasoning for them. The Minister agreed that we should know how the recreational levy was spent & he would follow it up. He was happy to advance further communications & suggested we meet with Fisheries to discuss our issues & keep him informed of the results. He made no actual commitment on any conflict issues as he was still to meet with other “fishing related groups”. As a result, Sunfish will submit a list of the concerns raised to Fisheries Qld for discussion with their Officers.

FQ Grants;-

Sunfish Members have received grants & are proceeding with their activities. Hopefully these will occur with the incoming government but under a different format to be discussed with Fisheries Qld.

Fisheries Updates.

It is disappointing that the Working Groups for the East Coast Inshore & Rocky Reef Fisheries have not been reformed but hopefully this may change as they are 2 of the most important recreational fisheries. The submission on proposed legislation changes re crab pot specifications, some reef species, black jewfish & freshwater apparatus are still in limbo but action has been promised in the new year. Don’t expect any decisions soon as regulations will need to change & be subject to public consultation & some will need a phase in period.

Marine Parks & Area closures.

Community consultation on the Moreton Bay MP will occur early next year & hopefully more consideration will be given to the public use rather than closing access. An assessment should also be done of the values of existing green areas. GBRMPA are proceeding with their 3-year consultation on the future management of the Southern section of the GBR. This generally extends from Mackay to Bundaberg & seawards.

Research Projects affecting Recreational fishing –

Our Scientific Officer Dr Barry Pollock is continuing to work on several “Citizen Science” projects for Sunfish including a new grant application to “research” tailor.

Discussions are still underway re the value of spawning closure periods especially in light os FQ science which indicates that the Pearl perch closure is not a breeding period. We have approached Fisheries to remove Pearl Perch from the “no take” species during that closure period & reassess the value of the snapper closure. A study s being conducted yet again on how to communicate & get the support of recreational fishers to provide information. More to come in the new year.

Wishing you all a MerryXmas & a Happy New Year from the Chairman of Sunfish & the Management Committee.

David Bateman AM, Secretary Sunfish Qld. 5/12/2024

Note- Information contained in this newsletter is as accurate as possible as of this date.