Are you a recreational fisher in South Australia, or could you be in the future? If so, keep reading because this affects you! The South Australian State Government has just announced a wide range of new recreational fishing rules to come into effect on 1 December, 2016. The changes will affect legal limits and management arrangements relating to 26 fish species. This has been in response to extensive state-wide community and industry consultation held earlier in the year.
Why the Changes?
Recreational fishing is a popular pastime in South Australia, with more than 277,000 people of all ages and genders engaging in the activity each year. Unfortunately, South Australia’s fish stocks can’t keep up with current levels of activity, so the Government has had to step in. The new rules have been implemented to ensure the sustainability of SA’s fish stocks so that future generations can also enjoy the benefits that recreational fishing has to offer.
What are the Changes?
The main changes to SA’s recreational fishing rules include:
- Increased size limits for Mulloway, Bream, and Samsonfish.
- Decreased bag/boat limits for Samsonfish, Gargish, large Yellowtail kingfish, and Western Blue Groper.
- Increased bag/boat limits for Spangled Perch and Snapper in the Spencer Gulf.
- Limits introduced for Whaler Sharks, Albacore, Congolli, Trevally, Sea Urchin, Blood Worms, Harlequin Fish and Wrasse.
- Vehicle limit introduced for Pipi.
- Boat limits introduced for Mulloway and Yabbies in the Coorong.
- Simplification of limits on Hyrtl’s Tandan Catfish.
- Removal of limits on Yellowfin Tuna.
- Removal of protection for Cooper Creek Catfish.
One of SA’s most popular and iconic species is the King George Whiting. Changes to improve the stock status of this species include:
- Reductions to the daily bag limit
- Increased size limits for waters East of Cape Catastrophe.
- A spatial spawning closure from 1-31 May in the waters of the southern Spencer Gulf, southern Gulf Vincent and Investigator Strait.
Get Informed Today!
It is vital that all recreational fishers familiarise themselves with the new rules to avoid getting into trouble with the authorities, and more importantly, to preserve our precious swimming resources.
If you would like more detailed information about the changes, please see www.pir.sa.gov.au/newrecfishrules, or contact me with any questions you may have.
Katherine Hawes
Aquarius Lawyers
