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

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER No 18, MARCH 2025

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. Following the election we met with the LNP Minister for fisheries (Tony Perrett). At that meeting we raised the matters contained in our policy document & he suggested that we discuss these with Fisheries & Marine Parks.

As a result, Sunfish submitted a list of the concerns raised to Fisheries Qld for discussion with their Officers & a meeting was held on11th March.

The main thrust of our policies were:-

1. Reviewing the use of our Recreational Use Fee ($7m) paid through boat registration).
   • The monies are used for a range of statewide activities such as recreational surveys, research, education, consultation, Boating Patrol, information distribution etc.
   • It is & will remain part of the FQ budget.
   • The freshwater SIP scheme is administered separately.
2. More effective involvement of & consultation with recreational fishers
   • This is a government commitment & will increase in the future. The East coast inshore working group will be reformed,
   • As the current Harvest Strategy concludes in 2 years, Consultants have been commissioned to develop a future strategy pathway for Fisheries after that date & will be contacting stakeholders for feedback.
3. Independent peer review of science used to support Fisheries Management decisions taking climate change into account.
   • Before any regulation changes are introduced because of stock assessments, the appropriate working group will be convened to discuss all the information including environmental factors.
   • An independent scientist is being used to verify the Spanish mackerel assessments which are due to be released soon.
4. Simplify Recreational fishing regulations
   • The matter was discussed with Sunfish presenting examples of how it could be done. FQ agreed & will progress the matter through the working groups & further consultation with us.
5. Urgent review on the science re Spanish Mackerel & Snapper/pearl perch.
   The major priority at present is on Spanish mackerel & there is no priority or changes proposed for Snapper or Pearl perch.
6. Information on current Fisheries activities raised by sunfish.
   • Proposed changes distributed last April for comment on crab pots etc. are still being assessed but no action expected before late 2025.
   • An additional person on the Crab WG is under consideration but at this stage the rocky reef WG will not be reformed as there is no priority on these species & no changes anticipated.
   • The Moreton Bay WG activities are on hold pending the MB Marine Park review.
   • Commercial gill & ring netting in Moreton Bay is controlled by Total Allowable catches.
   • Filleting fish at sea will be addressed through the relevant working groups.
   • Generally there will be no changes to regulations this year.

Moreton Bay MP.

• The current MBMP plan was renewed in its existing form.
• Planning has started on the next review with Minister still to be briefed
• Some stakeholder consultation will take place later this year.
• Discussion paper/Regulatory Impact Statement is expected to be released in 2026
• Consultation will occur with stakeholders after that.
• Final MBMP new plan has to be legislated by 2029
• Removal of MP boundary markers was raised & would be investigated by the responsible MP section.

Marine Parks & Area closures.
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 –
A study is being conducted yet again on how to communicate & get the support of recreational fishers to provide information.

David Bateman AM, Secretary Sunfish Qld. 13/3/2025
Note- Information contained in this newsletter is as accurate as possible as of this date.