Short-Term Fishing Closures Extended
10 February 2012AUSTRALIA - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) has extended some of the short-term fishing closures for ocean waters off north and mid-north coast rivers by up to two weeks.
“The closures prohibiting trawling in ocean waters were introduced two weeks ago to protect fish and small prawns displaced by recent flooding,” said NSW DPI Director Commercial Fisheries Andrew Goulstone.
“Our monitoring of conditions in these ocean waters has shown in most cases there is still the risk of non-target fish and small prawns washed out of the rivers being unintentionally caught in trawl nets.”
Closures are now in force until the following dates for ocean waters off north and mid north coast rivers:
- Richmond River until 25 February 2012
- Clarence until 25 February 2012
- Bellinger until 18 February 2012
- Nambucca until 18 February 2012
- Macleay until 18 February 2012
- Hastings until 25 February 2012
- Manning until 21 February 2012
- Wallis Lakes until 21 February 2012
Mr Goulstone said the closures were implemented and extended with the support of local industry leaders.
“The action we have taken to temporarily stop trawling in these inshore areas following flooding is a standard management response to minimise the fishery’s interactions with non-target fish and prawns,” he said.
“Allowing fish and prawns that are pushed out to sea an opportunity to settle and grow protects this valuable resource and should provide for increased production and better returns for local fishers.
“NSW DPI officers and industry leaders will continue to monitor conditions to determine if the closures should be lifted early or extended.”
Detailed information on the fishing closures is available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au or by calling your local Fisheries NSW office.
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