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.

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.

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

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER No 19, JUNE, 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.

Congratulations to Bruce Alvey AM on his appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia- the recognition is well deserved for his contribution to recreational fishing. Members are reminded that the Sunfish AGM will be held on August 10th at the Chermside Library starting at 9.30 am.

Following our March meeting with Fisheries Qld another has been held this month & the following information has been provided.

• Information on the use of the Recreational Use fee is still being prepared & we will circulate it when received.
• Contact points for all Fishery Managers have been provided
• Issues in relation to simplifying Recreational fishing regulations will be part of the new working group responsibilities. (see later)

Additionally we raised other following issues in relation to recreational fishing & the strategic direction for Fisheries Qld.

With the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy due to finish next year the Government is embarking on a new pathway that builds on previous work but with increasing community consultation.

This pathway will consist of the following

• A DPI 2050 Action Plan for all primary industries including fishing - submissions for this have closed & will be collated by a consultant in the near future.
• Later this year a “Ministerial Round Table for recreational fishing” will be convened with appointed statewide anglers voicing their thoughts for the future management of recreational fishing. A similar commercial round table will occur.
• This will lead to the development of a 5-year industry specific Strategic Plan for recreational fishing.
• Working groups will be reappointed with a change in responsibilities to reflect the industry strategic plans.
• Consideration is being given to having an FQ Manager for recreational fishing.

Research –

The new Spanish Mackerel stock assessment shows that the stocks are now stable.

The Sunfish Scientific Officer has commenced a new project in conjunction with the U of Qld on snapper reproduction. This follows Barry Pollock’s successful paper on flathead reproduction & several publications on snapper & bream.

The current Recreational Fishing Surveys by FQ will be scaled down in favor of other data collection methods.

The Fisheries Research & Development Corporation are calling for people to nominate for a position on the Qld Research Advisory Committee. The application form can be accessed through the FRDC website.

FQ Grants.

Several Members have applied successfully for grants to conduct fishing events for Juniors. Others have been “knocked back” & we have asked why.

Marine Parks.

Stakeholder consultation is expected to commence later this year on the Moreton Bay MP.

with a completion date for the new plan by 2029

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

David Bateman AM, Secretary Sunfish Qld. 14/6/2025

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