Animal Welfare Reform – sign the NSW Parliament E-Petition

If you want to continue fishing you must SIGN this E-Petition to the NSW Parliament!

There is no doubt the animal rights movement are licking their lips; they think their time has come to finally get at fishing in this country while NSW DPI and Minister Adam Marshall are asleep at the wheel.

Every NSW fisher should question the NSW Government why it would blindly support the notion, that fishing “harms” the fish and why it would propose new laws that will specifically acknowledge psychological suffering in the definition of cruelty; in addition to the existing provisions around pain and physical suffering. 

Sign the E-petition here and stop this from progressing to becoming law in NSW. We have not had a proper debate around the issues, and until we do, recreational fishing is under threat.

Draft Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan
The Draft Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan is now available for community feedback.

The draft plan has been prepared to meet the requirements of the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018. The draft plan identifies the heritage value of sustainable wild horse populations within identified parts of Kosciuszko National Park and sets out how that heritage value will be protect-ed while ensuring other environmental values of the park are also maintained. 

The draft plan is available on the Environment, Energy and Science website .
You can have your say on the draft plan by:
•    completing the online survey form at that website.
•    emailing your submission to npws.wildhorses@environment.nsw.gov.au .
•    or posting your submission to The Project Team, Draft Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan, National Parks and Wildlife Service, PO Box 472, Tumut NSW 2720.

Submissions on the draft plan close on 2 November 2021. 

Have your say on Warragamba Dam
The community is being encouraged to have its say on a WaterNSW proposal that would raise the Warragamba Dam wall.

The deadline to make a submission is Friday, 12 November 2021.You can submit feedback on the proposal through the Department’s Planning Portal website.

The proposal includes raising the dam wall by 14 metres, to temporarily store floodwaters upstream and hold them back from the Warragamba catchment, before releasing them in a controlled manner.

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will assess the project against the requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and other legislation. The proposal would also require Commonwealth approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in order to proceed.

To view the proposal and make a submission, visit the Warragamba Dam project page.

Burrendong Dam's world-first thermal pollution curtain reassessed after failures
A cost-benefit review is underway of the cold water curtain installed at Burrendong Dam in 2014, after it has failed twice.

It was a world-first engineering design meant to stop cold water being released into the river from the bottom of the dam and harming the freshwater environment in the Macquarie River downstream. It particularly affects the breeding patterns of native fish and it is believed that populations of some species have disappeared altogether.

Water that was being released from the bottom of the deep dam was often 12 degrees Celsius lower than the surface water temperature. The cold water affects the river for about 160 km downstream. Not surprisingly the river's native fish struggled with that artificially low temperature. To mitigate this, the curtain was meant to divert warm surface water into the dam outlet valve. 

The curtain was damaged in 2016 during major inflows into the dam, and more damage was discovered again late in 2020. It has spent more time out of action than it did operating properly.

WaterNSW says that an investigation into the failures has been completed, and an engineering and cost-benefit assessment is underway to determine how to fix the curtain or adopt another type of design. Decisions are expected by the end of this year.

Successful application for rainbow trout redd mapping project
Danny Simpson of Pulse Consulting has advised us they have been successful in gaining grant funding for the rainbow trout habitat mapping project which was submitted to the Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust last year. The application was supported by the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers.

The project will trial the use of UAV’s (drones) to identify and map preferred spawning sites for rainbow trout in selected areas of the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers. UAV’s will be flown in pilot reaches to collect spot point survey data and high-resolution video imagery of predicted rainbow trout spawning areas. The information will be analysed and mapped using GIS to locate a measure the area of spawning habitat. Data will be used to support research on rainbow trout spawning location preferences and will inform the development of management intiatives to improve the rainbow trout fishery.

The project will benefit recreational fishing as it will build greater knowledge of the rainbow trout fishery in Lake Jindabyne and its catchment areas. Primarily, the project will establish a baseline of information about spawning site preferences of rainbow trout and potential spawning capacity within the system. This knowledge will inform the development of targeted management initiatives which aim to improve the spawning success and hence the quality of the rainbow trout fishery in the Thredbo and Eucumbene catchments.

The project will start with desktop work this year with the aim of undertaking the field work during low flows in about March 2022.

The project is supported by NSW DPI Fisheries and the Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust.

Invasive Species Council says Kosciuszko horse plan locks in damage 
The NSW Government's draft Kosciuszko feral horse plan released in October has promised a significant reduction in feral horses in the park, but also locks in damage to key areas in one of Australia’s favourite national parks. 

“The new draft plan aims to increase areas of Kosciuszko free of feral horses from 47% to 68%, which is significant progress. Areas in the north, west and around the alpine regions will have horses entirely removed,” Invasive Species Council conservation director James Trezise said. 

“Unfortunately, the plan aims to leave 3000 horses trampling a third of the park which will lock in long-term environmental damage for these areas. The Long Plain, Currango Plain and Snowy Plains in the north and Byadbo, Snowy River and Pilot areas in the south will have to suffer permanent horse populations. We can have the current number of 14,000 feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park, or we can have healthy ecosystems and recovering native wildlife – but we can’t have both. 

“In an important breakthrough, the draft plan provides for ground shooting, one of the most effective and humane options for feral horse control. But the plan falls short in rejecting the most effective control method – aerial shooting – necessary in rugged parts of Kosciuszko.

“Feral horses damage sensitive ecosystems and harm unique wildlife in Kosciuszko. They are a danger to motorists and a financial burden to NSW taxpayers. Trapping and rehoming horses has proven to be inadequate for feral horse control unless accompanied by other control measures.

“The real test will be whether the NSW Government can finally deliver a plan to reduce horses in Kosciuszko. Time is running out for the Alps and our Australian wildlife,” Mr Trezise said. 

The plan is the result of controversial legislation introduced in June 2018 that overrode the Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management and abandoned an earlier draft horse plan that had widespread support. 

Mr Trezise said, “The community has been waiting for this plan since 2014. It has gone through the prolonged process John Barilaro legislated. Now it’s time to act. We appreciate that there is a lot of emotion when it comes to horses in Kosciuszko. But failure to act will consign native Australian wildlife and our natural and Indigenous heritage to a grim future.”

Trout season open
The NSW trout opening season opened on the October long weekend with many streams and rivers in good condition following favourable seasonal conditions and spring weather and well-stocked waterways. It will close again on the June 2022 Queen's Birthday weekend.
 
Last stocking season about 2.7 million trout and salmon were released into the rivers and streams across throughout NSW. Releases were conducted with acclimatisation societies as part of the NSW DPI Fish Stocking Program. 

It’s important all anglers check local COVID-19 rules for their area and the region they’re fishing in. Some popular trout fishing districts are still in lockdown. For example stay-at-home orders have now been extended for Oberon LGA and Snowy Monaro Regional LGA  until at least 11 October.

Visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules for more info.
   
Recent meetings of the NSWCFA
The NSWCFA Executive Committee met by Zoom on 29 September. Business discussed included the following.

Angler access website
The NSWCFA has engaged with DPI—Fisheries to help make improvements to the information in the Angler Access website at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/angler-access, and a small NSWCFA sub-committee is working with NSW DPI—Fisheries’ Alistair McBurnie. Very significant progress has been made in the past couple of weeks and we are now in an informal trial period to test out some new ‘citizen science’ update methods before this is released to a larger group or to the public.

Fishing in Sydney water impoundments 
Letters have gone to Minister Adam Marshall and Chair of the Recreational Fishing Advisory Council Johan Bell expressing concerns over recreational anglers being excluded from the interagency working group that is handling the review. This was a project that instigated by the NSWCFA and the Recreational Fishing Alliance in 2016, and funded by $30,000 of our licence money in the Trusts, and it is not satisfactory that we are now cut out of discussions.

Review of CFA Insurance cover
Our Treasurer Don Salter is examining NSWCFA’s insurance cover, especially in the light of recent court decisions that could entangle publishers of Facebook pages in defamation cases.

COVID problems affecting advisory committees and stocking activities
Some meetings of DPI advisory committees are being delayed by COVID-19 uncertainties. For example, the Gaden Trout Hatchery Management Committee and Snowy Lakes Strategy Committee have not met since 2019. Meetings were considered for late this year but that is all up in the air. Trout stocking arrangements are also being impacted, with Fisheries having to do their best with travel restrictions, restrictions on the involvement of volunteers, etc.

NSW DPI Animal Welfare Discussion Paper
This is an issue that all anglers need to keep any eye on as it has possible adverse ramifications for recreational fishing. For info, go to the discussion paper on the DPI website and also see the Recreational Fishing Alliance's letter to Minister Adam Marshall expressing concerns. There is an e-Petition on the NSW Parliament website aimed at calling for the Legislative Assembly to withdraw and abandon the review process and it not proceed to legislation.

Next meetings
The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be on Wednesday 27 October 2021 and the next Ordinary General Meeting of all members will be on Saturday 20 November 2021.

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, William Hall, Max Harris. Kevin Kai, 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.

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.