BARRA AND GOLDEN SNAPPER ON THE MENU AT AFANT AGM
Alarming news this week is that the golden snapper stocks in the greater Darwin area have not responded to significant management measures put in place nearly 10 years ago, and thus remain depleted.
According to an NT Fisheries golden snapper stock assessment, the biomass is estimated at 21% of unfished levels and is not recovering anywhere near quickly enough.
The dire predicament of the golden snapper stocks will be the subject of an NT Fisheries presentation at the AFANT AGM at 6.00pm sharp this Thursday at the Travelodge.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Recreational Fishing, Gerard Maley, will be addressing the meeting.
He is expected to outline the new CLP Government's commitments to recreational fishing, including its promise to phase out commercial barramundi gillnetting by 2028.
As a background to the burning golden snapper issue, in 2015, five Reef Fish Protection Areas were established, including Charles Point Wide and Lorna Shoal, primarily to recover heavily-fished black jewfish and golden snapper stocks.
Possession limits and other measures were also introduced and, while the jewfish stocks are well and truly back in the black, golden snapper in the greater Darwin area are still in big trouble.
AFANT Executive Director, David Ciaravolo said: “It doesn’t come as a surprise as this stock assessment update has been expected for a while now.
“Essentially it indicates that the actions that are currently in place – possession limits and closed fishing areas – according to the scientists, are not on track to bring about the recovery in the desired timeframe.
“It’s one reason why AFANT sought election commitments from Government on complementary activities, such as better investing in education and stewardship, as well as to look into building fish habitat within some of the existing closure areas.
“The Harvest Strategy for the Coastal Line Fishery – the document that establishes the management decisions for golden snapper stocks – states that fishing mortality should be reduced by 50-100% in order to achieve recovery within 14 years.
“It states that spatial and temporal closures should be employed to achieve this, and also calls for a Recovery Plan to be established,” David said.
“We raised the issue of golden snapper stocks with the new Minister shortly after the election – as well as before the election – and we are very pleased by his focus and determination to work with stakeholders and fishery managers on this challenging issue.
“It is exceptionally disappointing that, despite 10 years of actions aimed at recovering this fishery, the trajectory is still not right and the public has only just been officially informed that the strict possession limits and the Reef Fish Protection Areas have seemingly been insufficient to get stocks back up from an overfished status.
“We have been informed that we will be invited to participate in a Stakeholder Reference Group and we look forward to contributing to a draft recovery plan that will go out for public consultation.
“It is important to note that recreational fishers and fishing tour operators are responsible for the vast majority of the golden snapper catch, hence most recovery strategies to reduce fishing mortality are expected to be directed at our sectors.”
The AFANT Executive Director also stated: “At minimum, in addition to any unavoidable restrictions on recreational fishing, we will be seeking to understand:
Why the existing closures haven't worked and why the monitoring didn't lead to a publication of concerns earlier;
What role the increase in fishing charter catch has had and how this can be effectively remedied (especially around Dundee and Darwin Harbour);
If building new fish habitat within existing closure areas could assist with stock recovery and if there is support to commit some of the $2 million in this year’s budget to a trial;
When the $400K funding for education and stewardship initiatives announced in the May budget will become available for NT Fisheries, AFANT and the NTGFIA to undertake behavioural change campaigns;
If stocking snapper could be a complementary approach to enhancing stock recovery (stocking is being undertaken to assist the recovery of depleted saltwater stocks in SA, WA, Tas and NSW);
If the NT advice on barotrauma is still best practice, or if the return of snapper in certain water depths could play an important role in improved stock recovery; and
What role improved compliance and enforcement activities could have now that NT Fisheries has a dedicated fisheries compliance unit.
Registrations for Thursday’s AFANT AGM at the Travelodge open at 5:15pm, with the meeting commencing at 6.00pm sharp.
There will be lucky door prizes on offer thanks to Fishing and Outdoor World and NAFA Magazine.
There will also be a great member’s prize draw from Reidy’s Lures and Rod & Rifle Tackle World Katherine valued at $1500.
AFANT President Warren de With said: "Our AGM is also a great opportunity to hear about all the work AFANT has been doing to represent our community and our valuable industry, with recreational fishing contributing $270 million and 2,500 jobs to the Territory economy.
"We look forward to welcoming Minister Maley and recognise the commitment the new Government has made to supporting Territory lifestyle, of which recreational fishing is a huge part.
"We anticipate hearing from the Minister about how the CLP Government will be supporting recreational fishing over the next four years, including its plans to phase out gillnetting and reform the barramundi fishery,” Warren said.
I reckon this will be one of the most-important and enlightening AFANT AGMs in recent years.
Depleted golden snapper stocks will be a focus at the AFANT AGM. Ben MacFarlane caught this one in Darwin Harbour.
