Baitfish - does NSW Fisheries really care?
by RFA of NSW 15 Jun 2021 06:36 AEST
A mulloway, Argyrosomus japonicus, with a school of baitfish at a depth of 8 m, `The Needles`, Julian Rocks, New South Wales © David Cowdery
The bait fish species on our coasts and seas, although small in size, are critical to the well-being of the entire saltwater food chain. Examples of bait fish are whitebait, mullet, yellowtail, slimy mackerel, anchovies, etc.
Due to the importance of bait fish species, the RFA of NSW, in an effort to bring needed attention and resources to the research and conservation of these underappreciated and overlooked saltwater fish, asked NSW DPI over two months ago a few questions. Once again, there has been silence.
The RFA of NSW asked to have an update of the Baitfish Working Group, including:
1. Details of any current Policies or permits in place to be provided
2. Details on past or current members and when they last met
3. Copies of the most recent minutes of the last meeting
4. Details on how many permits have been issued in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and the operators who hold them and a list of available vessel names, operating ports, target species and reported baitfish take, log book returns in each of those years
5. An update on the future management of bait access by state-based and ETBF operators including the form and longevity of access and monitoring, research and compliance requirements
6. Detail of any Compliance Officers reports or activities around the illegal take of baitfish.
To be blunt, no baitfish = no fish. The entire debate about the decline in iconic recreational species will be substandard unless all the facts are presented around the take of baitfish in NSW, and how this is being managed.
Hopefully we don't have to wait to much longer.