The government is ready to introduce possession limits that would restrict the number of fish people can have in storage, such as freezers. Ceduna’s mayor Allan Suter said efforts are needed to stop recreational anglers taking commercial quantities of fish. SA Fisheries Minister Michael O’Brien also says it’s time for tougher limits. He added that there is a great need to draw up the regulation with a possession limit.
Trevor Watts from the Recreational Fishing Advisory Council says the fact that some people only have a fishing holiday once a year means conflict will be inevitable. He told that the introduction of possession limit is jut satisfactory number of fish in fishers’ pocket. He also said that finding that number that everybody is going to be happy with is going to be so hard and it is going to be so divisive that it’s going to create lots of problems.
Shane Mensforth, the editor of SA Angler, doesn’t believe the new restrictions are warranted. He said that they are being considered mainly to counteract the ‘caravan park’ fishos, ie those who visit SA country ports with caravan, tinny and freezer in tow. They catch a boat limit every day for a fortnight, then take the lot home.”
