Changes to NSW Saltwater fishing rules

by NSW Government DPI on 13 Aug 2007 The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has announced changes to saltwater and freshwater fishing rules after extensive consultation with NSW recreational and commercial fishers.

Bag and size limits for recreational fishing are reviewed periodically to ensure a sustainable future for high quality recreational fishing in NSW. The size limits also apply to commercial fishing.

DPI Director of Wild Harvest Fisheries, Anthony Hurst said these changes reflected the findings of scientific assessments, the National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey, the Palmer inquiry into illegal fishing, advice from expert committees of fishers and more than 3300 public submissions.

The changes to freshwater fishing include:
- Increasing the minimum legal length for Murray cod and a new closed season for Australian bass and estuary perch to protect breeding fish.
- Leaving a line unattended will now be prohibited but the distance a fisher can be from each line has been increased.
- Simplifying the trout water classifications.

The changes to saltwater fishing include:
- New minimum legal length limits for pearl perch, yellowtail kingfish, luderick (blackfish) dolphin fish (mahi-mahi), blue groper and morwong.
- Bag limit reductions from 20 to 10 for bonito, dolphin fish, octopus, rubberlip and jackass morwong and a new combined bag limit of 20 for bream and tarwhine.
- Bag limit reductions from 2 to 1 for popular billfish species, including marlin.
- Mr Hurst said a number of changes would also be made to improve the management of fishing competitions, including developing a voluntary code of practice.

'About one million people enjoy recreational fishing each year in NSW.

'These changes are about working with the community to progressively improve fishing rules to ensure the future sustainability and viability of our valuable fisheries resources,' he said.

The changes will start on September 3, 2007. NSW DPI will undertake an extensive public advisory campaign over the coming months to promote the changes, including new fishing guides and updated signage around NSW waterways.

New Recreational fishing rules - additional background information

The major changes to freshwater fishing include:

- Leaving a line unattended will now be prohibited; this aims to reduce the injury, stress and death of fish and invertebrates that result from being caught on unattended lines. However the distance a person can be from each line will increase from 10 metres to 50 metres.
- Increasing the minimum legal length for Murray cod, to provide better protection for immature fish. The current legal length will increase to 55cm after 1 December 2007 and to 60cm after 1 December 2008.
- A new closed season for Australian bass and estuary perch from June 1 to August 31 each year to allow the fish to spawn.
- Simplifying the trout water classifications to two categories; artificial fly and lure only waters and general trout waters.
- The bag limit for unlisted native fish, which previously had no limit, will now be set at 10.

The major changes to saltwater fishing include:

- Introducing a new minimum legal length of 30cm for pearl perch.
- Increasing the minimum legal length for yellowtail kingfish from 60cm to 65cm.
- Increasing the minimum legal length for luderick (blackfish) from 25cm to 27cm.
- Introducing a minimum legal length of 60cm for dolphin fish (mahi-mahi). Additionally, only one fish may measure over 110cm.
- Introducing new combined bag limit of 20 for bream and tarwhine.
- A bag limit reduction from 20 to 10 will now apply to bonito, dolphin fish, octopus, rubberlip and jackass morwong.
- A bag limit reduction from 2 to 1 will now apply to highly prized billfish species, including sailfish and swordfish. A bag limit of 1 will also apply to each species of marlin. Reducing the bag limit will still allow for a trophy fish to be taken.
- A minimum legal length of 30cm will be introduced for blue groper. These fish mature as females between 24 and 34cm and change sex to males at about 60cm.
- The new size limit will protect females prior to maturity.
- The legal length for rubberlip morwong has been increased by 2cm to 30cm and the bag limit reduced to 10.
- The minimum legal length for red morwong will be increased from 25cm to 30cm. This aims to improve protection of small fish in shallow water.
- A combined bag limit of 5 will now apply to all shark and ray species, including only 1 tiger, mako, blue shark, hammerhead and whaler species. A zero bag limit will now apply to wobbegong sharks.

Complete summary at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/summary-bag
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au