Anglers are being encouraged to have their opinion during a month-long consultation period. According to the Amateur Fishermans Association of the Northern Territory (AFANT) closing the areas will help preserve fish stocks. The authority has plan a ban of commercial fishing in the area to rebuild the stocks.
The association’s executive director Chris Makepeace says the move is necessary. He added that the announcement from the Minister that he’s closing all of Bynoe Harbour and at least that part of Fog Bay is a bit of a milestone for AFANT. He also said that it will make some difference as time goes on, and the number of recreational fishers grows, it’ll certainly mean that we’re not going to be in a position where we may be putting pressure on the fish stocks in those areas, that they simply won’t be able to sustain.
It is told that from the point of view it’s both a good move at this point and a good precautionary move for the future. But the Northern Territory Seafood Council says the Territory Fisheries Minister has “misled” commercial fishermen by choosing to close part of Fog Bay. Seafood Council chairman Rob Fish says Minister Kon Vatskalis has explained that in repeat face to face meetings that he would not close Fog Bay. The Minister had given us a commitment that Fog Bay wasn’t being shut, and clearly the intention from the maps that have been issued are that quite a large area will be closed.
