Angler drowns at Little Bay, rescue bungled
A 39 year old angler from Warrawee was drowned when he was swept off rocks at Little Bay on 11 November.

Three men were fishing when they were struck by a large wave. All were washed into the ocean. Unfortunately only one of the three was wearing a life jacket, and that man was able to get back up the rock ledge, and eventually assist another man from the water.

The men tried to rescue the 39-year-old, but neither of them could swim, and were only able to throw a rope towards their friend. Eventually the man washed towards the rocks and with the aid of a passerby he was pulled from the ocean and emergency services contacted by mobile phone. According to witnesses an emergency Surf Life Saving alert nearby has been out of order for many weeks. ABC News reported that Surf Life Saving Australia said the alert was not operating because the wiring is being upgraded.

Attempts to revive the man on the spot were unsuccessful and an Ambulance Service helicopter didn’t arrive for 35 minutes. Witnesses said that an ambulance arrived some time before the helicopter but wasted time getting ready and in the end the helicopter crew attempted the rescue.

It has been reported that water rescue protocols were not followed properly by the Ambulance Service of NSW. NSW Police are meant to coordinate water rescues but in this case the Ambulance Service which received the call did not notify NSW Police, so no other rescue efforts by Water Police, surf life savers and the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter were triggered, despite all those organisations having rescue services that were only minutes away. The entire time this was all happening the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was sitting on a headland nearby. No one called them.

In the NSW Parliament on 13 November, Michael Daley MLA, Member for Maroubra, queried why the angler died when such a large concentration of rescue services is concentrated in the area.

"We have surf clubs at South Maroubra and Maroubra, Randwick City Council lifeguards and the offshore rescue boat at Malabar. There also is the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter at Cape Banks, which received $800,000 funding from the Keneally Government and another $1 million funding from the O'Farrell Government. None of these experts are worth anything if they are not called in situations such as this. Although they should always be called, they were not called on this occasion."

He said in Parliament that witnesses had told him that the man was washed into the water for 20 minutes and managed to stay alive for 15 minutes and then succumbed. Twenty minutes after he was washed into the water a wave delivered him back onto the rocks where a golfer, some other fishermen and a swimmer attempted resuscitation. Daley said that golfer was on the phone to the triple-0 service for the entirety of the event but that an Ambulance Service helicopter took 35 minutes to arrive after the initial triple-0 call had been made.

He said a special 13 telephone number used by rescue departments, police and ambulance services and triple-0 personnel to contact Surf Life Saving NSW was not used. Randwick City Council lifeguards who were on the nearby beach at that time were not notified, Surf Life Saving NSW was not notified and the Westpac rescue helicopter was not notified through Surf Life Saving.

Daley said "There is an offshore rescue boat that performs rescues out at sea. It is a highly sophisticated Shark Cat boat manned by expert personnel and has an Oxy-Viva and other resuscitation equipment on board. At the moment this gentleman was fighting for his life that boat was 60 seconds away on the water at Malabar being used for training purposes."

"This man drowned amidst the most densely concentrated population of capable lifesavers on the planet. He died within arm's reach of the people who are the best in the business".

"I want a coronial inquest into this matter. I want answers from the Minister. This should not have happened: this man should be alive today but he is dead."

On 14 November, for all his trouble pressing for answers from the Health Minister Jillian Skinner (responsible for the Ambulance Service of NSW) in State Parliament, Mr Daley was kicked out of Question Time.

Access problems for NSW anglers
The NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers has issued a special bulletin about the NSW government’s haste to process applications for the sale of Crown roads to adjoining farmers.

The government is accelerating the sale and closure of Crown roads (sometimes known as paper roads) which provide access to many recreational fishing locations. To do this they are changing some of the processes which publicise such sales and allow proper consultation with stakeholders. For more information on how this could affect your fishing, and what you can do about it, read the NSW CFA bulletin here.

News from Ecofishers
Ecofishers has been busy lately with a new executive committee, a new website under construction and a proactive program of liaison with NSW Fisheries, state government and other representative fishing bodies, with a particular view to forming productive and unified partnerships with other NSW angling groups.

Chairman is Chris Wallis and Secretary is Les Palmer. Their Fish Habitat Network spokesperson is Geoff Ruse. You can contact Ecofishers via secretary.ecofishers@hotmail.com .

Along with other recreational fishing groups they lobbied for an extension to mulloway submissions in response to members’ concerns about the manner in which the submission process was being handled.

They recently worked with Community Action for Fish Rock (CAFR), RFA and ANSA to persuade NSW Fisheries to amend fishing rules at GNS sites in relation to land based fishing and are continuing to pressure NSW Fisheries to reconsider all facets of fishing rules at GNS sites. especially regarding surface baits.

Their latest bulletin to their members can be read here.

Call for funds to replenish native fish
A rare coalition of conservationists and fishermen is demanding the federal government pay to restore native fish numbers in the Murray-Darling Basin after a 50-year plan with the states was axed.

The Australian Conservation Foundation and the Murray-Darling Basin Recreational Fishing Council will today condemn the sudden culling of the Native Fish Strategy and call on Canberra to fund a replacement. The strategy was meant to be a 50-year plan to restore native fish to the Murray Darling Basin but was axed when state governments in September stopped funding, following a NSW government $20 million cut in its contribution to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

 ‘‘Native fish populations are at roughly 10 per cent of pre-European settlement levels. The health of native fish populations is a key indicator of river health in the basin,’’ the groups said in a statement.

The groups propose a new plan with two five-year stages to restore habitat, boost research and continue community programs. The first five years would cost $100 million.

The plan has delivered a series of fish ladders between the Murray mouth and Lake Hume to provide fish with safe passage through 2225 kilometres of river, as well as many other habitat restoration projects, community outreach programs and key scientific research. Another 3900 kilometres of fish passage was planned over the next 10 years of the strategy.

The chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Recreational Fishing Council, Christopher Collins, said the group was deeply concerned about the effect the strategy’s cut would have on native fish numbers. He said the recreational fishing industry was worth $1.3 billion annually to basin communities. The Australian Conservation Foundation’s Ruchira Talukdar said there were several existing environment funds that could pay for the new fish plan.

Cronulla Fisheries closure ... backflip after backflip
On 20 November Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner ordered the Cronulla Fisheries closure be put on hold while the government considers and formally responds to the scathing NSW Upper House inquiry report recommending that it be saved.

Inquiry chairman, Reverend Fred Nile, announced the backdown to a  rally of about 200 staff and supporters outside Parliament House after he had spoken to Mr O’Farrell about the report findings. Minister Katrina Hodgkinson had previously stated that the shutdown would go ahead, regardless of the findings of the inquiry. According to Mr Nile, government officials had already begun dismantling the centre, disconnecting phones and moving staff, files and equipment.

However on 24 November the Sydney Morning Herald reported that "Cronulla fisheries move is still on".

"Staff at the Cronulla Fishereis Research Centre and a key cross bench MP are furious the relocation is still going ahead despite a pledge from the government it was on hold.

"...executive director of NSW Fisheries Dr Geoff Allan informed staff the only thing on hold was the decommissioning of plant and equipment on the site, according to a leaked staff email.

 "Mr Nile said on Friday he had written to the Deputy Premier demanding an explanation".

Win one of 24 free life jackets from the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW
Enter the RFA's Rock Fishing Safety Life Jacket Competition and win one of our 24 free life jackets! There's still 20 left...Leanne Scurr Gary Coble and were last month's winners.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW is giving away two lifejackets every month for 12 months from September 2012. All details are on the RFA's Safe Fishing website at www.safefishing.com.au

Here's a photo of Leanne Scurr's daughter Carly modelling the life jacket. The life jacket is stored in a small bum bag on the waist, but pull it out of the bag and over the head and you can see the hi-vis reflective strips and the pull-cord to set off the compressed gas that immediately inflates the jacket. This is typical of the many life jacket designs that are available now in fishing and boating shops...convenient to carry, easy to use, no bulky jacket to wear.


Marine Park Plan - Australian Recreational Fishing Community the Big Losers
The Australian recreational fishing community is the big losers out of the Marine Park Plan announced in October, according to The Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) Chief Executive Allan Hansard. He said “that the Government’s Marine Plan will hurt recreational fishing communities all around Australia.

“Not only is the Government locking recreational fishers out of over 1.3 million square kilometres of Marine Park, without a valid scientific reason, but recreational fishers and the communities and businesses that support them will not be compensated.

“The Government is providing $100 million to commercial fishing operations based on a Government economic assessment that excluded the impacts of Marine Parks on the recreational fishing community and focused only on the commercial fishing sector.

-  Australia’s recreational fishers will not be compensated for the lost opportunity to fish some of the most iconic fishing spots in the world - some areas described as the recreational fisher’s Mt. Everest;
- The Charter operators that take recreational fishers to these areas will not be compensated;
- The corner store that sells fishing gear and bait will not be compensated;
- The other businesses in the affected communities, the caravan park and hotel owners, the supermarkets and petrol stations will not be compensated.

“What is perplexing about the Government’s stance on this is that recreational fishers will be banned from Marine Parks yet divers, tourist charter operators, container ship and even Defence Force activities will be allowed in.

“We ask the Government to review its Marine Park Plan and base the decision to allow activities into Marine Parks on sound science. We also ask the Government to recognise that this decision will hurt local communities and they will not be compensated for their loss.”

ANSA National on Facebook
The Australian National Sportfishing Association now has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ansa.national. The Facebook page will be used for urgent bulletins and up-to-date news on recreational fishing issues, as well as general Association news to members.

Burke Sells Out Aussie Anglers says Keep Australia Fishing
“Environment Minister, Tony Burke, has caved into pressure from environmental lobbyists to create a flawed and uninspiring marine parks plan,” says Keep Australia Fishing (KAF) Managing Director, Jim Harnwell.

“He had the chance to create marine protected areas that achieved key conservation goals yet recognised the unique socio-economic benefits of a sustainable recreational fishing sector.
“However, it is clear with the announcement today that Minister Burke has simply toed the line given to him by the environmental lobby.

“Minister Burke had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create an inspiring and visionary marine parks network. But he’s followed the same old line of locking it all up and throwing away the key.
“This lock-up agenda is exactly what green and anti-fishing groups have demanded for the past several years. Today Minister Burke has delivered exactly what these groups have required from him. It is now crystal clear that the Minister and his Government have been hogtied on the marine parks issue by the Greens and other anti-fishing groups.

“There was no scientific rationale behind the Government’s moves to lock anglers out of 1.3 million square kilometres of ocean. We’ve been asking for years why we need to be locked out. However, Minister Burke has never yet answered our questions. All we can do is keep asking, ‘why are you doing this to us?’

KAF questioned the Minister’s decision to reward the commercial fishing sector with $100 million in compensation. “Why is the commercial fishing industry getting millions in taxpayer-funded compensation yet nothing is being provided for the rec-fishing communities?

“Minister Burke’s decisions today are a slap in the face for our nation’s millions of recreational anglers. We’re the only user group getting locked out for no reason and with no compensation. Anglers won’t forget that our Federal Government has this day treated us with contempt.

KAF and other rec-fishing organisations will now lobby hard to ensure the management plans governing the commonwealth marine parks allowed for well-managed recreational fishing activities.
“Our Environment Minister should have rejected the extremist views espoused by anti-fishing groups and instead would have worked with anglers and other reasonable environmental groups to create an efficient and effective marine parks system.

“Since the Minister has failed to do this, we’ll now push hard to ensure the management plans governing these new marine parks do not exclude anglers without good reason.

“KAF and other angling organisations are committed to ensuring fishing rights for future generations of Aussie anglers.” Harnwell said.

Grey Nurse Shark changes on public exhibition
Proposed changes to Grey Nurse Shark critical habitats are underway, with a report detailing the plans now on public exhibition.

Department of Primary Industries Director Aquaculture Conservation and Marine Parks, Bill Talbot, said the report is part of the implementation of a package of measures announced in September following the review of Grey Nurse Shark protection.

“Several changes have been made to recreational fishing and scuba diving arrangements at Grey Nurse Shark critical habitat and other aggregation sites,” Mr Talbot said.

“It is important we get the balance right between protecting this important species while still retaining recreational fishing access.”

The changes include:

• Delisting the critical habitat site at Bass Point, near Shellharbour, and

• Amending the shape of the critical habitat sites at Green Island near South West Rocks, and Magic Point in Sydney.

“Bass Point has been recommended for delisting by DPI scientists as it provides little if any protection for Grey Nurse Sharks as they no longer use the site,” Mr Talbot said.

“Critical habitat sites at Green Island and Magic Point will be amended to exclude waters within 50 m of the mainland shore.”

Mr Talbot said these changes will further reduce social impacts associated with the new rules.

“Recreational fishers are particularly keen to retain access for land based fishing for species such as bream, tailor, mulloway, blackfish and drummer,” he said.

“Sydney anglers have also been concerned that restrictions at Magic Point may lead to anglers fishing at alternative, more dangerous rock platforms. The implementation of these changes highlights the NSW Government’s commitment to finding harmony between fishers and our fisheries resource.”

Copies of the report are available from DPI head office, regional fisheries Offices and on the DPI website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Written submissions from the public are invited on the report. Submissions close on Friday 14 December.

For further information please see www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Huntleys Point Ferry Wharf upgrade
The NSW State Government is upgrading the Huntleys Point Ferry Wharf. A new $4.9 million wharf will improve safety and amenity for customers, and ferry berthing efficiency. Work to build the new wharf is expected to start in December 2012 and will take about four months to complete, weather permitting. The Huntleys Point Ferry Wharf will be closed during construction of the new wharf.  On completion of the new wharf, the existing wharf will be retained for water taxi and recreational use. We understand that that includes recreational fishing..

For more information go to this link.

Kids’ fishing workshops
NSW DPI is running two kids’ fishing workshops at Gaden Trout Hatchery at Jindabyne during the Christmas school holidays. Dates are Friday 18th and Saturday 19th, January, 2013.

Kids 8-14 years old are invited. Instructors are experienced volunteers and NSW DPI staff. The day runs from 10 am to 2 pm and covers fishing techniques, size and bag limits, fish handling for catch and release etc.

At the last workshops held on the opening weekend,  everyone had a ball despite the rain and snow and wind. All the kids caught a fish, some caught five!  The big surprise was a 4 kg salmon the staff had released earlier in the year into the pond. Five kids caught a salmon and a few were lost. The picture shows Jake with a monster fish he caught.

Cost is $40 and everyone receives a rod and reel, shirt, hat, tackle box, and show bag to take home.

Bookings are essential for these popular workshops, only 25 kids are in any session, so get in early.

Workshop details are on the web at this link.

Phone Stephen Thurstan, NSW DPI on 02 4220 8484, or 0438 245 190 or email stephen.thurstan@dpi.nsw.gov.au for details.
 

Murray cod season opens 1 December
Freshwater fishers will be able to target Murray cod from Saturday 1 December when the NSW season reopens following the annual three-month Murray cod breeding closure.

DPI Inland Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway, said Murray cod is a popular catch among recreational fishers in the Murray-Darling River system.

“Murray cod is a prized catch of freshwater anglers as they are one of Australia’s largest freshwater fish, growing up to 1.8 metres and weighing more than 100 kilograms,” Mr Westaway said.

"A three month ban on taking or attempting to take Murray cod is in place each year from September to November inclusive to protect this important native species during its breeding season. Since the closure was first introduced more than a decade ago there have been significant increases in Murray cod numbers. DPI’s fish stocking program and the Dollar for Dollar scheme, which is funded through the sale of recreational fishing licences and by community groups, have also boosted Murray cod numbers.”

DPI Director Fisheries Compliance, Glenn Tritton said fisheries officers will continue to regularly patrol inland waterways including the upcoming holiday season to ensure fishers are complying with the rules when fishing for Murray cod and other species.

“It is important that freshwater fishers are fully aware of the fishing rules in relation to Murray cod before dropping a line,” Mr Tritton said.

“There is a daily bag limit of two Murray cod per person per day and a total possession limit of four when fishing in any inland waters. The minimum legal length of Murray cod is 60 cm, however fishers may have only one over 100 cm in their possession.”

Other rules relating to the Murray cod include:

• Two attended lines may be used in all inland waters except some trout and closed waters, but these lines must be within 50 m and in your line of sight.
• Set lines can no longer be used in any inland waters and are totally prohibited.
• Live finfish including carp, birds and mammals cannot be used as bait 

Vandals strike Marine Rescue vessel at start of peak boating season
Marine Rescue NSW has condemned the mindless vandalism of the service’s new Wooli vessel, causing an estimated $50,000 in damage and reducing vital rescue resources on the Mid North Coast at the start of the peak boating season.

MRNSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos said the $345,000 offshore rescue vessel was one of four Marine Rescue vessels gathered at Coffs Harbour for a multi-agency regional Search and Rescue Exercise on the weekend of 24-25 November.
A NSW Fisheries boat and the NSW Police Force vessel Fearless also were targeted by the vandals.

 “Sometime between 4.30pm yesterday and 7am today some mindless fool has slashed the sponsons – the boat’s airfilled buoyancy tubes – all the way around the vessel with something like a Stanley knife,” Commissioner Tannos said.
“Members of Marine Rescue NSW are all volunteers. They give their time to protect the community by helping boaters in trouble on the water.

“They deserve nothing but our thanks and support but this vandalism is just a slap in the face in return for their selfless commitment.”

The Wooli vessel, which was only delivered at Easter, is now off the water for major repairs at the start of the peak summer boating season.

“We have already been in touch with the boat’s builder, Yamba Welding & Engineering, who will look at a temporary fix to try to get the boat on the water as soon as possible while permanent replacement tubes are sourced,” Commissioner Tannos said.

“The Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers are among the State’s most popular summer boating playgrounds and it is vital that our rescue crews are trained and equipped to respond immediately when needed. We will re-position a rescue vessel from our Iluka-Yamba unit to Wooli in the interim and will have the Wooli vessel back on the water as quickly as we can but this is a potentially life-threatening act of senseless stupidity. As well as the expensive damage caused, it has also wasted significant public funding and resources by forcing today’s Search and Research Exercise, which was designed to test regional agencies’ rescue skills and capabilities, to be considerably scaled back.

Abalone traffickers jailed
Three abalone traffickers on the NSW South Coast have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment for their roles in the theft of abalone, according to Fisheries NSW Director of Compliance, Glenn Tritton.

"In the first matter, a 39 year old man from Mogo has been sentenced at Bateman’s Bay Local Court to 15 months in jail (six months non-parole period) for charges of abalone trafficking, possession of prohibited size abalone in circumstances of aggravation and shucking abalone adjacent to waters," Mr Tritton said.

"The man was found in possession of 158 abalone during a Fisheries compliance operation at Kioloa in April 2010. He was also fined $2400. In the second matter, two men faced Bega Local Court on charges of abalone trafficking, possession of prohibited size abalone in circumstances of aggravation, shucking abalone adjacent to waters and providing false information to Fisheries Officers. The men were found to be in possession of 451 shucked abalone when apprehended by officers from the State-wide Operations and Investigations Group in an operation at Goalen Head, near Bermagui on the NSW South Coast in April 2010," Mr Tritton said.

"Officers seized the abalone and two sets of diving equipment. A 31 one year old man from Wagga Wagga was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment with a non parole period of 12 months while the 28 year old from Sydney was sentenced to a 12 month suspended jail sentence and ordered to complete 150 hours community service."

They were both also fined a total of $9400.

NSW Angler Access Project update
The parliamentary Standing Committee 5 takes final submissions next month on the review of public land management in NSW. Angler Access has made a submission to the enquiry and we requested the opportunity to speak to that committee in person. Following support from many quarters we have been granted permission to address the committee and to answer any questions they may have with regards our submission. Malcolm Poole, Chairman, NSW Recreational Fishing Alliance and I will be attending Parliament House early in December to give our presentation.

Work has begun on a few new sites brought to the project’s attention by local fishing groups, a couple of sites on the Murray River and one in the Blayney area.

Crown roads are still a major area of concern and the increased work being placed on the Fisheries’ Access Officer is considerable. We need to support his considerable efforts by assisting with the assessment of these road closures and by lodging our own club/personal objections when the road closures impact on our fishing access, send your objection to the local Crown Lands office, your local member and to Andrew Stoner, Deputy Premier. If you receive a request from the Fisheries Access Officer and need help with identification contact him or myself and we will do our best to assist.

New access issues are still coming in, problems with access to TSRs, Crown roads that give access to Crown reserves along waterways being closed off with electronic gates and anglers abused. If you have a similar problem in your area please call the Angler Access Project on 0428 187 874 and we will do our best to assist.

Chris Robertson

Aquaculture project proposed for Jervis Bay
Plans are in the pipeline for a commercial aquaculture industry in Jervis Bay, on the NSW South Coast, boosting an already growing industry, according to Executive Director Fisheries NSW, Dr Geoff Allan.

Dr Allan said a meeting with South Coast stakeholders, including government agencies, Shoalhaven City Councillors and staff and the University of Wollongong was held with Fisheries NSW in October to outline the proposal to gain approval for three aquaculture leases in Jervis Bay to culture Blue Mussels and other shellfish.

“Jervis Bay had a history of Blue Mussel cultivation starting in the late 1970’s, as well as scallop research undertaken by Fisheries NSW in the 1990’s,” Dr Allan said.

“Planning approval will be sought for a 10 hectare lease off Vincentia – where previous mussel culture rafts were located – and two 20 hectare leases near Callala Bay.

“If approved, these aquaculture areas would be tendered for lease to commercial operators.

“The leases would be used for longline shellfish production of species such as Blue Mussels, scallops and oysters.

“The leases are expected to have less visual impact than rafts as shellfish would be suspended from lines supported by buoys.”

Preliminary investigations indicate that Jervis Bay is well suited for shellfish aquaculture and this activity is consistent with the Jervis Bay Marine Park Zoning Plan.  Shellfish aquaculture is low impact and would result in the nett export of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus from the bay.

“Developing sustainable seafood production is a priority for the NSW Government as close to 85 per cent of seafood purchased in this State is imported,” Dr Allan said.

“This project is classified as a State Significant Infrastructure proposal and requires consent from the Minister for Planning.

An Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Management Plan will be prepared and include issues raised during consultation with stakeholders.  The documents will address issues that may pose an environmental risk during construction and operational phases of any lease development.

Fishers in hot water on Central Coast
A number of illegal fishers have found themselves in hot water during a four month operation targeting illegal fishing at power stations on the NSW Central Coast. Fisheries NSW Director of Compliance, Glenn Tritton, said the power stations attracted a high number of fishers during the cooler months as warm waters are discharged from the Vales Point and Eraring power station outlet canals.

“The warm water attracts large numbers of prohibited size fish which also attracts some unscrupulous fishers to the area,” Mr Tritton said.

“As a result, a closure is in place in these waters during May 1 to August 31, banning the taking of fish from these areas from 6pm to 6am. NSW Fisheries Officers conducted numerous patrols of the area as part of the multi-phase operation, detecting 56 people illegally fishing in the hot water outlets and nearby waters, including the Lake Macquarie Recreational Fishing Haven. Officers issued the alleged offenders with 48 penalty notices. During the second phase of the operation starting on 1 September, an additional 18 people were detected with 10 penalty notices issued for a range of offences. Offences included taking fish from declared waters, possess fishing gear in prohibited waters, possess prohibited size fish, possess more than the possession limit and fail to pay the recreational fishing fee.

Many of the charges carry maximum penalties of $44,000 and/or 12 months imprisonment for second and subsequent offences.

Almost $20,000 worth of fines were issued by Fisheries Officers over the four month operation. Fisheries Officers also seized 7 fishing rods and reels and 131 individual fish including yellow fin bream, tarwhine and tailor.

RFA videos now on YouTube channel


The RFA of NSW now has a YouTube channel where all our safe fishing videos can be viewed. Go to www.youtube.com/safefishing to see the channel in its early form...we'll be adding more content shortly.