Eden fishermen say changes to bag limits for several popular species are unnecessary and will serve little purpose, and could even have a negative impact on local tourism.
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Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson announced on Friday that daily bag limits for flathead (other than dusky), bream and tarwhine, tailor, blue swimmer crab, trevally and luderick will be halved from 20 to 10, as of November 3.
Ms Hodgkinson said the changes, along with several others announced on Friday, were supported by the majority of the 5440 submissions and over 30,000 comments on the proposal submitted during public consultation.
But retired commercial fisherman Fritz Drenkhahn, and amateur fisherman Eddy Evans, say fish stocks are not at a level that called for the new measures to be imposed.
Mr Drenkhahn, who now fishes recreationally, said two commercial industry buyouts in 2006 had solved any concerns around flathead stocks, and that he is particularly disappointed by the reduction in bag limits for that species.
“Eight years ago, between 70 and 75 per cent of the effort was taken out of both the State and Commonwealth flathead fisheries,” he said.
“There were two buyouts, and the purpose was to allow the flathead to bounce back, which they have done, in great numbers.
“The commercial guys have left them alone because of the agreement, and that should have allowed the recreational fishermen to come along and catch their 20 flathead with no problem at all.
“It just makes no sense at all with the flathead species, and I’m very disappointed [with the changes], but at the same time I’m relieved that it’s quite sedate compared to some of the options that were proposed in the discussion paper.”
Mr Drenkhahn said he fears local tourism could also take a hit.
“We can’t afford to lose those families who come to Eden for fishing holidays,” he said.
“Whether it’s one family or 10, and whether they stay for a week or a month, this area just can’t afford it.”
A large number of Victorians visit Eden for the eight-day March fishing competition each year, and participants travelled from as far as Western Australia to take part in this year’s competition.
Eden Amateur Fishing Club publicity officer Eddy Evans said he hopes the changes won’t have a negative effect on entries for the annual March fishing competition.
“I would hope it doesn’t affect us in terms of the competition, but anyone who comes from interstate now to fish here is going to have to realise that the rules have changed,” he said.
“It will be up to the club to notify all entrants of the changes, because a lot of them probably won’t even be aware until they arrive.”
Mr Evans also said he believes the reduced bag limit will do little to increase stocks.
“Take flathead for example; if you go out after November 3 and you reach your new bag limit of 10, you’ve got two options,” he said.
“Either you can say, ‘That’s enough, I’m happy’, and go home, or you can continue fishing and every time you catch a fish that’s bigger than one you’ve already got, the smaller one goes back.
“There will be a lot of fishermen who take the second option, and when they throw the smallest fish back, who gets the feed then?
“It will just be open slather for the larger fish, and for the seals and the birds.
“To be honest, I don’t think a great deal of thought has gone into it."