TOP End anglers have dismissed calls for more conservation amid concerns from the commercial sector that increased rec fishing effort is depleting the barramundi fishery.
In recent months anglers have been reporting good numbers of metre-long barramundi being caught at well-known spots such as Shady Camp and the Mary River near Darwin.
The ABC reports about 100 boats were fishing at the mouth of the Mary River 100 kilometres east of Darwin on Friday and Saturday.
Fishermen described the scene as “like the First Fleet”.
This wet season was the first in decades where the Mary River was opened year-round to barramundi fishing after the NT Government overturned conservation measures.
The commercial fishing season for salmon and barramundi re-opened yesterday, February 1.
Professional fisherman and spokesman for the industry, Peter Mundy, told the NT Country Hour he was concerned amateur anglers were catching mature egg-laying barramundi.
“The threat is that the amateurs will not accept any conservation measures,” he said.
“Even if they made a catch and release [program] it would be better than bragging in the newspaper about these huge barramundi they’re catching, which are filled usually with about 12 million eggs.”
But Darwin Game Fishing Club president Steve Roberts said most recreational fishers observed sustainability measures.
“There’s a lot of tag and release going on,” he said.
“It’s really helping with the sustainability of the whole fishery.
“We’re getting good reports of recaptures and that tells us that our fish stocks aren’t dwindling.”
Read ABC News report at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-01/amateur-barramundi-anglers-dismiss-calls-conservation/6060784?section=nt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY4qE3W5QKs
