Commenting on the Coral Reef Fin Fish Draft Management Plan released by the QFMA on 10 July and discussed at a public meeting in Townsville last night.

"It is a total fraud" said Mr Peter Hazard.

Mr Hazard has been in the recreational fishing industry for over 30 years and is a strong supporter of the QFMA, serving on the Local Zonal Advisory Committee.

"This Draft Management Plan covers all aspects of good fishery management but falls dismally short on statistics to substantiate a cut in bag limits for the recreational sector with no cut in total allowable catch for commercial fisherman", Mr Hazard said.

"Recreational data used by the QFMA is 15 years old and any responsible manager charged with protecting fish stock in World Heritage Barrier Reef waters should be ashamed to admit it", Mr Hazard said.

"The only statistic in the draft plan shows clearly that the increase in fishing pressure on the reef is by the commercial sector and that amounts to 112% or 1,500 tonn to 3,251 tonn in 10 years," Mr Hazard said.

"The snow job by the QFMA and QCFO that commercial fisherman have cut their fishing effort in the line fishery by agreeing to the amendment of L3 licences, has only formalised that what they can’t do now they didn’t do anyway; that is commercially fish the reef. L3 licences were mainly held by trawlers and in short net fishermen", said Mr Hazard.

"The QFMA have got it wrong and are going to face a very hostile body of recreational fishermen before this management plan is put to legislation."

Peter Hazard

Lounds Pro Tackle

CATCH LEVELS (Commercial) PAGE 51 – ITEM 2

"It is generally considered by stakeholder groups that coral reef fin fish are overfished".

PRIMARY FISHING BOATS EFFORT

1988               =                       366

10 Years 1997     =                       589

NUMBER OF DAYS FISHED PRIMARY BOATS EFFORT

1. 12,437 Days

1. 26,869 Days
   

   Increase 14,432 Days Last five years 9,641 Days

   Up 116% in 10 years Up 54.9% in 5 years

CATCH

2. 1,533 Tonn

1. 3,251 Tonn
   

   Increase 1,718 Tonn Last five years 636 Tonn

   Up 112% in 10 years Up 24.3% in 5 years