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STUDY ON BOATIES
Boaties in Tasmania have been urged to volunteer for a world-first study which is gathering information about recreational boat users. The National Marine Safety Committee wants 120 volunteers from Tasmania for the 18 month study, due to start in September. Committee chief executive Maureen Horder said Tasmania had 24,689 registered boat users, so the research needed a good representation from the state. Volunteers will be given regular study updates, boating and fishing prize draws and product discounts. Participants will need to fill out a diary between September this year and May 2010. To register call (02) 9247 2124, or go to www.nmsc.gov.au
GUNNS PULP MILL
TARFish have been keeping a watching brief on the progress of this significant state project and note previous Prime Minister Bob Hawkes recent comments in the media. Click here to view the media statement in The Australian newspaper on 1st July. TARFish have made submissions on this project through the proper process and remain greatly concerned over the potential environmental impacts of the project, not only on recreational fishing but on the wider environment. TARFish respects that the health of the environment is dependent on a delicate balance of complex and sensitive elements, all interrelated and inter-dependent. Many voices within the community, including environmental experts, are loudly calling for the protection of this precious and vulnerable resource. This project will, without doubt, have serious detrimental impacts on many aspects of the natural environment.
EAGLEHAWK NECK TRAILER PARKING
The Tasman Council are improving car parking facilities and have called for tenders, on July 26, to carry out civil works on The Blowhole Phase 1. The upgrade of parking facilities will provide recreational fishers with 50-60 dedicated car/trailer parking spaces which will greatly improve access to this popular fishing location. Contact the Tasman Council (www.tasman.tas.gov.au) for further details.
SCALEFISH RULES REVIEW
The scalefish fishery rules 2004 expire on the 31 October 2009 and these rules must be reviewed and updated appropriately to reflect current best practice fisheries management. The state government through the Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW) have commenced the review process. The first public consultation period closes on Tuesday 30 September 2008. TARFish encourages all interested recreational fishers to have input into the review process through the public consultation process. TARFish have already reviewed the current rules and have a number of issues we will be raising on behalf of recreational fishers. To have your say you can either provide a written submission directly to DPIW or send your comments to TARFish who will incorporate into their submission. TARFish will keep you informed throughtout the review process so checkout our website regularly for updates. For more details on the review go to the DPIW website.
ANTIBIOTICS MARINE FARMING
The use of antibiotics in the Salmonid Marine Farming Industry has come under public scrutiny and TARFish have taken the issue up with the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn. The Minister has assured the public that the scientific advise he has received from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) indicates that "The findings of this risk assessment indicate that there are no public health risks associated with the consumption of Tasmanian farmed salmon and wild fish living in the waters surrounding their cages based on concentrations of OTC supplied by the Tasmanian Public and Environmental Health Services." The Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services contacted FSANZ to request a risk assessment for oxytetracycline (OTC) in farmed salmon in southern Tasmania. Click here to download a full copy of the full FSANZ Risk Assessment. Please be patient as the file is large, 19mb, and will take some time to download. If you would like a hardcopy of the FSANZ Risk Assessment please contact us and we will post to you.
CODE OF PRACTICE
TARFish have recently adopted the, voluntary, National Code of Practice for Recreational & Sport Fishing established by Recfish Australia. TARFish are a member of Recfish Australia and TARFish firmly believes the adoption of a standardised Code of Practice in Tasmania will promote and educate recreational fishers in responsible and sustainable fishing practices. Look out for your free copy in all leading tackle and marine shops in June or click here to download a copy.
ABALONE BIOSECURITY PROJECT
TARFish have been invited, in May, by the Department of Primary Industries and Water to participate as a Reference Group member on the above project. The objective of the Reference Group is to provide feedback and direction to the project team on aspects of the project from a non-Government perspective. While the project will mostly impact on the abalone catching, processing and aquaculture sectors, there will be implications for recreational fishing activities. Click here to view a copy of the June Newsletter.
PERSONAL WATER CRAFT LICENSE CHANGES
MAST, Marine and Safety Tasmania, have announced proposed changes to Personal Water Craft licensing and safety equipment requirements. Public comments on the changes close on Friday 27th June. Further details are available at www.mast.tas.gov.au.
TARFish BULLETIN
The third edition of the TARFish Bulletin (July 2008) is available from our Communications page or at all leading tackle stores around Tasmania. If you would like a free copy posted to you please send an email to info@tarfish.org and we will send to you today.
ST HELENS BARWAY
The state government announced on the 12th June an extra $2 million will be spent over the next four years to dredge the barway to improve access to St Helens. The Labour Member for Lyons, Heather Butler, said the funding was in addition to the current $100,000 annual allocation provided to Marine and Safety Tasmania to carry out work on the barway entrance to Georges Bay. Further expenditure of $350,000 over each year of the following three years will allow for further dredging at the barway and at Pelican point as necessary. MAST have called for Expressions of Interest on 14 June for the removal of 500,000 cubic metres of sand from Blanche Beach. EOI's closed on 26 June.
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