THE NSW government is giving away 5,000 yabby nets to recreational fishers as part of a comprehensive program to phase out the use of enclosed ‘Opera House’ style yabby traps in NSW from 30 April 2021.
‘Opera House’ style yabby traps can pose a risk to native wildlife such as platypus, water rats and turtles, which can inadvertently get caught in traps.
Open top nets allow mammals to exit through the top, unlike ‘Opera House’ style traps which only have openings on the sides. By transitioning to using open top nets, fishers can keep fishing, while also continue to do their part to protect our wildlife and ensure the ongoing health of our inland river systems.
‘Opera House’ style yabby traps are already prohibited east of the Newell Highway as well as parts of the Murray, Edward and Murrumbidgee Rivers west of the Newell Highway, where platypus are mostly abundant.
Up to five nets, comprised of either open pyramid lift nets, hoop/lift nets or a combination of both, can be used to catch yabbies in all inland waters where it is legal to use lift nets.
To assist with this transition, the DPI is giving away 5,000 open-top nets. To obtain a free open-top yabby net, please phone (02) 6051 7760 (Monday to Friday). You can also collect one from these locations:
- Tamworth Agricultural Institute, 4 Marsden Park Road, Calala Hours, 8.00 am – 4.00pm
- Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, 7878 Mitchell Highway Trangie, 8.00 am – 4.00pm
- Narrabri- Australian Cotton Research Institute, 21888 Kamilaroi Highway, Narrabri 8.30am – 4.30pm
- Narrandera Fisheries Centre – John Lake Centre, 70 Buckingbong Rd, Gillenbah 9am – 2pm
More information about the recreational fishing rule changes are available online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/info/yabbytrap-faqs, or by contacting your local NSW DPI Fisheries office.
