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Welcome to the August 2022 edition

of the NSW Freshwater Fisher
Gone Fishing Day is on again

Sunday 9 October 2022 is NSW Gone Fishing Day.

Fishing Clubs and organisations are encouraged to host their own event on and around 9 October and can apply to DPI Fisheries for a Gone Fishing Day package, which includes rod and reel sets to assist with your event, some giveaways/ prizes and advisory information.

Grant funding of up to $2,000 is also available for clubs to help run their events.

Application forms and grant funding guidelines are available at https://bit.ly/3cU4J5G.

5.3 million fish stocked in past year

July saw the completion of the 2021-22 stocking season which resulted in more than 5.3 million fish released across NSW. The Narrandera Fisheries Centre produced and released a record 1.26 million Murray cod along with golden perch, silver perch and the endangered trout cod during the successful season.

Other species produced and released by DPI hatcheries included Australian bass, mulloway and dusky flathead at Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, various trout and salmonid species at the Gaden and Dutton Trout Hatcheries (Jindabyne and Ebor) as well as a number of threatened species – including the iconic eastern freshwater cod – at the Grafton Fish Hatchery.

This past season also saw community groups and organisations participate in the popular Dollar for Dollar Native Fish stocking program with Murray cod, golden perch and Australian bass released as part of this program.

The 2022-23 season has recently commenced with broodstock collection and stocking already underway.

DPI’s freshwater and marine stocking programs are funded by recreational fishing fees.


Closed season for fishing in the Mann River and tributaries

The annual three month fishing closure on the Mann River and its tributaries commenced on 1 August 2022.

The annual closure is in place to provide an increased level of protection to the endangered eastern freshwater cod (eastern cod) during its spawning season and across an important portion of its natural range. At spawning time the eastern cod becomes particularly vulnerable to capture by hook and line due to the aggressive manner in which it protects its eggs.

The fishing closure runs from 1 August through to 31 October each year. All fishing activity is prohibited in the Mann River and its tributaries upstream of its junction with the Clarence River. This also includes the Nymboida River and all of its tributaries from its junction with the Mann River upstream to its junction with Wild Cattle Creek.

The possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to closed waters is also an offence. Penalties for fishing or being in possession of fishing gear on closed waters ranges from fines of $500 up to $22,000 upon prosecution.

Because of the endangered status of eastern cod, deliberately fishing for or targeting them is illegal. Offending involving the; taking, or harming or retention of Eastern Cod at any time can result in fines of $2,500 up to $220,000 and/or 2 years imprisonment upon prosecution.

If you accidentally catch an eastern cod in other areas, you must release it immediately back into the waters from which it was taken, ensuring that you cause the least possible harm.

Fisheries Officers will be out monitoring the closed waters and that patrol activity will include both high profile and covert activities.

Fisheries Officers will also be monitoring for illegal dredging and reclamation activities on rivers and streams across North East NSW. Landowners are reminded that earthworks that impact on the bed or bank of a waterway require approval via permit from NSW Fisheries. This process seeks to limit the damage that is caused to fish habitat and to arrest the decline in the health of waterways and water quality which directly impact on threatened species such as eastern cod.

If you accidentally catch (outside of the closure) or you see an eastern freshwater cod, help DPI better understand this species and its distribution by recording as many details as you can, get a photo if possible and complete the online reporting form at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/species-protection/report-it.

You can do your part to help protect the State's fisheries resources by reporting illegal fishing activity to Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536 or online at https://fal.cn/3fMUz.

Fisheries Scientific determinations on freshwater species
The Fisheries Scientific Committee (FSC) is an independent scientific committee established under Part 7A of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 (FM Act).One of its principal functions relates to listing species, populations, ecological communities of fish and marine vegetation and key threatening processes in the Threatened Species Schedules of the FM Act.

Proposed determinations are placed on public exhibition for comment. Submissions on proposed determinations can be sent to the Fisheries Scientific Committee.
The reasons for listing species are included in the Committee’s determinations, available at this link.

The FSC is now accepting submissions on the following proposed determinations:
  • Euastacus vesper (Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish) – list as critically endangered
  • Galaxias brevissimus (Short tail Galaxias) – list as critically endangered
  • Galaxias supremus (Kosciuszko Galaxias) – list as critically endangered

All submissions must be received by 11.59 pm Monday 5 September 2022. Please note that submissions may be made public unless confidentiality is specifically requested. Only written submissions are accepted.

Any person or entity may make a written submission which should be forwarded by email to fsc@dpi.nsw.gov.au or by post to:
Fisheries Scientific Committee
c/- NSW DPI Fisheries
LMB 3020
NOWRA NSW 2541

NSWCFA Interclub Fly and Lure Fishing Meet 2023
The Central Coast Fly Rodders club will be running a Fly and Lure Fishing Interclub Meet on behalf of the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers at Lake Glenbawn, Friday and Sunday 17-19 March 2023. The Meet will be based at the Scone Amateur Fishing Club clubroom at Diamond Point North on Lake Glenbawn. Further details of the event will be provided shortly.

Next meeting of NSW CFA
The next quarterly general meeting and the AGM of the NSWCFA will be on Saturday 20 August at 10.00 am via Zoom. Notices and agenda etc will be sent to delegates and members prior to the meeting.

Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Management update
Control of wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park occurs in accordance with the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan.

Outcomes of the control program are now available on the Department’s website at this link. They reveal that just 334 feral horses were removed between February and June 2022. The report also comments that instances of interference with control operations and threats against NPWS staff have been referred to the police, and that s survey of wild horse populations will occur before the end of 2022.

Major floods on inland rivers
Up to 90,000 megalitres are being released from Burrinjuck Dam following heavy rain in parts of New South Wales. Farmers on the Murrumbidgee River are preparing for flooding in the Gundagai area.

The dam began spilling on 5 August as more than 230,000ML – a quarter of its full capacity – flowed in from the heavy  rain that fell in recent days. Water NSW said that flows from the Yass River into the dam were the "highest ever recorded".

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority's (MDBA) Murray River annual outlook, released on 8 August, showed southern basin storages are at unusually high levels for this time of year, with the Hume Dam sitting at 95 per cent capacity. Dartmouth Dam records 97 per cent capacity, the Menindee Lakes sits at 115 per cent capacity and Lake Victoria at 62 per cent. Water flowing into South Australia has hit a six-year high at 53 gigalitres a day. 

Controlled outflows are set to continue for weeks until levels go down, with peak flows still four to six weeks away.

World Recreational Fishing Conference themes announced
The headline theme for next year's 10th World Recreational Fishing Conference in Melbourne is “Keeping pace in a dynamic and challenging world with changing fisheries”. 

The International Scientific Board has announced that it will be accepting abstracts across 10 themes: 
• Climate change impacts and adaptation measures
• Harnessing recreational fishing stewardship, leadership, and advocacy
• Resource monitoring, data acquisition, assessment and adaptive management
• Technology use in citizen science and engagement
• Fostering community support and tourism in an increasingly urbanised and nature disconnected world
• Effectiveness of fisheries management interventions
• First nations peoples-interactions with recreational fisheries and opportunities
• Resource sharing – meeting the needs of recreational, commercial, subsistence and indigenous stakeholders and rights holders
• Catch-and-release fishing and the intersection between fishing, fisher behaviours and community attitudes
• Recreational fishing participation and diversity, promotion and education.

Endangered southern pygmy perch returning to Murray River

The southern pygmy perch is making a comeback to the Murray River in numbers not seen since before the Millennium drought. Environmental watering and high rainfall have been attributed to the species' resurgence.

During the Millennium drought reduction in flows coming through the Murray system put the fish at risk. Water levels became so low that fish were stranded with a lack of food, and were preyed upon by pest species such as redfin. The endangered perch plays an important role as an indicator species — revealing information about the general health of the ecosystem.

In 2008, researchers from Flinders University's molecular ecology lab, working with less than 100 fish, managed to breed some, and when the drought broke they were reintroduced. After a slow start there has been a gradual increase in the numbers. Surveys earlier this year found the pygmy perch population rising by hundreds.

The research took place on Ngarrindjeri country around Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert, in collaboration with the Department for Environment and Water, and the native title body, the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation. The southern pygmy perch is culturally significant to the Ngarrindjeri people.

Death of John Tingle, founder of Shooters Party 
John Tingle, the founder of the Shooters Party (now the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party) has died at the age of 90. Tingle founded the Shooters Party in 1992 and was its vice-chairman until 1995. 

His career started in 1949 as a broadcaster and news editor for a Deniliquin radio station for a few years, before joining the ABC, where he stayed until 1968, and then worked in various Sydney radio stations until the mid 1990s.

EOI open for fish screens in the Northern Basin 

Modern fish-protection screens are self-cleaning and available to suit any size or type of water pump or channel.

NSW DPI Fisheries is helping water users access this best-practice technology. Over $20 million is available to install modern screens on the Barwon–Darling and Gwydir rivers.

Water users can submit an EOI to get involved. EOI is open until 31 August.

All details are at www.fishscreens.org.au/eoi

Howlong man caught with Murray crays

Fisheries Officers from the Statewide Operations and Investigations Group and the South West Zone combined to apprehend a 49 year old Howlong man. It will be alleged the man used 2 unlawful wire traps in the Murray River near Howlong to take 27 Murray crayfish, including 13 that were of a prohibited size and 9 that were carrying eggs. Upon seizure the officers were able to return the Murray crayfish to the water alive (pic above).

Murray crayfish are listed as a threatened species in NSW with a vulnerable status. In recent years this iconic freshwater species has declined in both range and abundance due to adverse environmental influences. The recovery of our Murray crayfish population is a long process as they are a slow growing species that take several years to reach maturity. Strict controls are in place to ensure that recreational fishing for this species is sustainable for the future. The take of Murray crayfish outside these strict control measures seriously compromises the recovery of these vulnerable populations.

Murray crayfish can be taken from prescribed waters of the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers between June and August. The daily limit is 2 per person and a minimum carapace size limit of 10 cm and a maximum carapace size of 12 cm applies. Any Murray crayfish carrying eggs externally must be immediately returned to the water with the least possible injury. Recreational fishers can use up to 5 hoop nets per person to take Murray crayfish from prescribed waters.

The use of any form of trap to take Murray crayfish is prohibited.

The Howlong man is likely to be charged with a number of offences in relation to the incident. You can report illegal fishing activity to Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536 or online at https://fal.cn/3fMUz.


Thank you to our Foundation Members
These Foundation Members have generously made a special financial contribution to the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers in the interests of all freshwater anglers in NSW.

Australian Trout Foundation, Damian Balfour, The Barrington Club, Don Barton, Bill Blair, Ken Chapman, David Connon, David Copperthwaite, Richard Cottam, Radge Diakiw, Fred Dunford, Dan Frogan, Stefan Fuchs, Peter Gibson, Michael Hall, William Hall, John Harris, Max Harris, Kevin Kai, James Mackie, Rob Marich, Peter Mason, Neil McAully, NSW Rod Fishers' Society, David Pinsent, Wayne Power, Greg Prowse, Ian Roache, Don Salter, Paul Sanders, Joe Searl, David Sheers, Mike Timbrell, David Tinworth, Steve Tizard.

Freshwater anglers are invited to make a special contribution to the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers (NSWCFA) in the interests of all freshwater anglers in NSW.

You will be well aware of the challenges freshwater anglers face in sustaining the freshwater fishery in NSW, especially regarding the preservation of angler access. The NSWCFA constantly strives to overcome those challenges but we need your financial support to meet the costs of that work.

We are appealing to members who can afford to make a small extra annual contribution to become NSWCFA Foundation Members to help meet our operating costs. Foundation Membership is just $25 per year—less than the cost of a NSW fishing licence.

Foundation Members are recognised on a special page in the NSWCFA website and at the foot of NSWCFA newsletters.

Your contribution will help meet the cost of hiring meeting venues across NSW and out-of-pocket expenses for committee members who attend meetings on your behalf (such as train, taxi, bus and parking). Your contributions will also be used for the production of our monthly email newsletters, which are sent to hundreds of members, for stationery, copying, postage, internet and telephone costs, insurance to cover the personal liability of committee members, affiliation fees to the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW and corporate return filing fees.

Click here for website with payment form and PayPal link.


NSW Angler Access website 

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has launched the Angler Access website, which provides thousands of locations across inland NSW where rivers, streams and lakes can be legally accessed for fishing. DPI worked with the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers, over the past six months to fine tune the site. The website provides recreational fishers an easy-to-use map showing more than 4,000 verified sites to fish for native species including Murray cod, golden perch and Australian bass, as well as brown trout and rainbow trout. For more information about Angler Access, and to view the map, visit the DPI website at this link


Fishing season reminders

Bass
Zero bag limit
for bass and estuary perch starts 1 May and ends 31 August. Catch and release is allowed. The zero bag limit does not apply to fish in stocked freshwater impoundments, including Glenbawn Dam and Glennies Creek Dam in the Hunter Valley, Brogo Dam near Bega and Clarrie Hall and Toonumbar Dams in the northeast; anglers may continue to fish for these species in those waters all year round.

Trout
Spawning season
starts 1 May in the Snowy Mountains and special rules apply to the Thredbo River and its tributaries and the Eucumbene River and its tributaries (upstream of the Lake Eucumbene dam wall and including Providence Portal). A minimum size limit of 50 cm, daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two trout will apply to these rivers from 1 May to the end of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Annual closure on fishing in trout streams for NSW will be in place from Tuesday after the Queen's Birthday weekend and re-opens on the October long weekend. Trout dams remain open to fishing throughout the year.

When the season opens again in October, a minimum size limit of 25 cm, daily bag limit of two and possession limit of four trout again applies to the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers and other fly and lure only waters in NSW.

Murray cod

Season closed in NSW from 1 September to 31 November, except Copeton Dam.

Eastern Freshwater Cod
The annual three month fishing closure of the Mann and Nymboida Rivers and their tributaries comes into effect 1 August to 31 October. All fishing in the specified area is prohibited to enable the endangered Eastern Freshwater Cod to spawn uninterrupted during its breeding season. Eastern Freshwater Cod are totally protected throughout NSW regardless of where or when they may be found.

Murray crayfish
Closed all year other than the following waters between 1 June and 31 August each year inclusive: (a) Murrumbidgee River between the Hume Highway road bridge, Gundagai and Berembed Weir near Ganmain and (b) Murray River from 130 below Hume Weir near Albury to the Newell Highway road bridge at Tocumwal


Fish Habitat Network on Facebook
FHN has a Facebook page that frequently carries news about fish habitat events and projects as well as links to news items from other states and countries.
Go to http://www.facebook.com/fishhabitatnetwork and Like their page to stay in touch.


Get your free Skin Check Guide
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Two in three of us will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70. More than 95% of skin cancers are treatable if found early so it is important to know what to look out for.

Protect yourself and your family by learning how to check for signs of skin cancer.

Download the Cancer Council of NSW free Skin Check Guide at this link.


Who represents anglers?

Recreational Fishing NSW Advisory Council
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/recreational-fishing-fee/licence-fees-at-work/rfnsw

Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee members and minutes
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/recreational-fishing-fee/licence-fees-at-work/rfftec

Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust Expenditure Committee members and minutes
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/recreational-fishing-fee/licence-fees-at-work/rfstec

Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW Facebook page
www.facebook.com/RFANSW

NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/NSWCFA

Is your club a member of the Council of Freshwater Anglers?
The NSW CFA is the main umbrella group for freshwater fishing organisations in NSW and enjoys a productive relationship with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and other agencies and recreational fishing organisations. We welcome all freshwater fishing clubs as members and as visitors to our meetings. Member organisations are able to send voting delegates to our quarterly meetings. For information about joining the NSW CFA, visit our website www.freshwateranglers.com.au or contact Mr Radge Diakiwv at diakiwv@live.com or (02) 9449 3539.|

Council of Freshwater Anglers Members
ACT Fly Fishers; The Barrington Club; Bass Kempsey; Canberra Anglers Association; Canberra Fisherman's Club; Central Coast Flyrodders; Clarence Fly Anglers; Council of Southern Districts Angling Clubs; Hastings Fly Fishers; Hunter Native Fish; Illawarra Fly Fishers; Lakeside Fly Fishing Club; Monaro Acclimatisation Society; New South Wales Rod Fishers' Society; Orange Trout Acclimatisation Society; Southern Bass Fishing Club; Sydney Fly Rodders.

Handy links
NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers Peak freshwater fishing body in NSW www.freshwateranglers.com.au
Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW Peak recreational fishing organisation in NSW www.rfansw.com.au
NSW Department of Primary Industries www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries
Fisherman's Watch Report all illegal activities Free call 1800 043 536

 
Privacy
Subscriber details collected for Freshwater Fisher are used only for this newsletter and are not used for any other mailings by the NSW CFA, nor are they revealed to or used by any other organisation.

 
Newsletter banner photograph
Courtesy Alistair McBurnie, © A McBurnie 2016

Subscribe to this free newsletter by clicking here

The NSW CFA is an independent, not-for-profit organisation operated by volunteers. Since 1958 it has been the recognised representative body for the State's freshwater anglers, focusing on fisheries management, conservation and regulatory matters, angler access, angling ethics, animal welfare and politics. For more information visit the NSW CFA website.


Sharing this newsletter
Angling clubs and like-minded organisations are welcome to re-send Freshwater Fisher or excerpts from it to their members. To share the newsletter click the 'view in browser' link at the top right, then click the 'past issues' button, open the newsletter you wish to share, and copy the URL. Paste that URL into a message to your members.

Enquiries
To contact the editor email
Peter Gibson 

Follow us on Facebook

The NSW Council of Freshwater Fishers has a Facebook page with current news, announcements and updates at www.facebook.com/NSWCFA

Next meeting of the NSW CFA

Quarterly Meeting and Annual General Meeting
Saturday 20 August 2022, 10.00 am
(This will be a Zoom meeting).
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