Proposed new bag and size limits for recreational <b>fishing</b>

Recreational fishers in NSW are invited to comment on proposed changes to fishing rules. The proposed new rules cover bag limits, size limits and fishing methods. The NSW Department of Primary Industries says the proposals are based upon community feedback and advice from expert anglers. With approximately one million people enjoying recreational fishing the department says the rules are about providing a sustainable fish stock.

The intention of the rules is said to support the opportunity for recreational fishers to catch and eat fresh fish while protecting stocks by prohibiting the sale of their catch or bartering the catch for in-kind services.

The Department is working with the Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council to meet the needs of Aboriginal cultural fishers.

The proposed rules include a general reduction in the bag limit from 20 to 10 for species that do not have a prescribed bag limit.

The proposed rules for specific saltwater species include:

Reduce the recreational bag limit from 20 to 10 for flathead (other than Dusky Flathead), Yellowfin and Black Bream, Tarwhine, Tailor, Trevallies, Luderick, and Blue Swimmer Crabs.

Reduce the bag limit from 10 to 5 for Dusky Flathead, Snapper, Mahi Mahi, Grey Morwong, Jackass Morwong.

Reduce the bag limit from 5 to 2 for Yellowtail Kingfish, Cobia, Blue-eye Trevalla, Banded Rockcod, Hapuku, Bass Groper, Gemfish, Spanish Mackerel and Spotted Mackerel, Wahoo, Mangrove Jack, Teraglin.

The proposed rules for specific freshwater species include extending the spawning closure for Australian Bass and Estuary Perch in all NSW waters from 3 months to a 4 month period from 1 May to 31 August to protect early migrating bass from excessive fishing pressure.

Comments are sought on the management of trout and salmon stocks.

One specific proposal is to reduce the bag and possession limit for trout in general inland waters (areas not notified trout waters) from 10 and 20 to 5 and 10 respectively, so as to bring the limits in line with those for general trout streams and dams.

Other proposals include the prohibition of 'transshipping of fish species from one boat to another when on any waters by persons where the fishing activities that resulted in the catch are subject to NSW recreational fishing rules'.

This proposal is to prevent that transfer of a catch between boats as an illegal sale or as a way to get around bag limits.

Another proposal has been put forward by Game Council NSW to allow bow and arrow fishing of Carp.

Submissions can be made online or in writing up to July 31, 2013.

See the DPI discussion paper for details: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/464765/review_discussion_paper_web.pdf

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Report Details Risks of Proposed Mine Near Alaska&#39;s Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay, in Southwestern Alaska, is the home of one of the world’s largest runs of Sockeye salmon. In fact, all five types of salmon spawn in the bay’s freshwater tributaries.

Bristol Bay could also become the home of a new mine to extract copper, gold and other minerals.

The Environmental Protection Agency has released a risk assessment study on how mining could impact the ecosystem there. The Agency will hold a public hearing in Seattle Thursday.

Ashley Ahearn reports that fishermen in the Northwest are watching the process closely.

Fisherman’s Terminal in Seattle is all a-bustle this time of year.

Bearded, weathered-looking men are checking nets, sanding down hulls and climbing around on boats. They’re getting ready to make the trip to the rich salmon fishing grounds of Alaska. They’ve done this for decades.

Foresman: “Yeah let’s run it all the way down and put a new hole in the engine room bulkhead…”

Ray Foresman and Jason Lake are reconnecting steering lines on Foresman’s ship, the Silver Isle. It’s a 60-foot fishing vessel that’ll be heading to Alaska in the coming days.

Lake: “Right. I’ll look in the engine room and see. I don’t think there’s any obstructions there.”

Jason Lake doesn’t miss a beat when I ask him about Pebble Mine – the one that could be built near Bristol Bay. He’s been fishing there for 25 years.

Lake: “No, they put that mine in and it’s going to be the worst thing for Bristol Bay. Look what every other mine’s done. It’s just a sad deal.”

Lake’s not alone in his concerns. Fishermen around the Northwest fear mining in that pristine watershed could destroy salmon spawning habitat and hurt their industry. Nearly 1,000 Washingtonians hold commercial fishing permits in Bristol Bay, bringing in over $100 million a year in revenue to the state. Sport fisherman in Oregon and Washington bring in close to another hundred million each year from fishing in the Bristol Bay watershed.

That’s prompted politicians in both states to call on the Environmental Protection Agency to step in. And the EPA listened.

The agency just released a report that’s over 1000 pages long and assesses risks to 20,000 square miles surrounding Bristol Bay.

The report says mining could block streams and reduce water quality. Road development and waste storage facilities could destroy habitat.

Just to be clear though: the mining companies have not yet submitted an application for a permit to mine.

Mike Heatwole is a spokesman for the Pebble Partnership – which represents the mining companies interested in Bristol Bay.

Heatwole: “For such an important subject to be rushing through a study when there is no permit application and full information in front of an agency is of extreme concern to us and we’re not alone in that.”

The Alaska Attorney General wrote a letter to the EPA saying that the agency’s review is “unlawfully preemptive, arbitrary, capricious and vague”.

The letter also said the state will explore all available legal options if the EPA tries to exert any authority under the Clean Water Act.”

Dennis McLerran is the head of EPA region 10 – which includes Alaska and the Northwest.

He says the EPA has not made any decisions about regulatory action on Pebble Mine. Right now they’re gathering information.

McLerran: “We think we have very clear authority to do science and study watersheds and we’ve used that extensively around the country so any discussion about regulatory authority is something that should come later down the road.”

The EPA will hold public hearings about the report in Seattle and Alaska.

The Pebble Partnership is in the process of finalizing plans for the mine and could submit a permit application by the end of the year.

Bristol Bay opens for salmon fishing on Friday.

Copyright 2012 Northwest Public Radio

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