Interstate anglers are plundering local fish stocks and to stop this menace South Australia authority will consider setting possession limits. The limits would set a maximum number of fish anyone could have in their possession at any one time and would apply in addition to daily catch limits.
Agriculture Minister Michael O’Brien said that the possession limits measure is already in force in Victoria, NSW and Western Australia. He added that there was evidence interstate fishermen were coming to SA waters instead. He also informed that reports are there about the travelling of interstate visitors to regions such as Eyre Peninsula to take and stockpile large quantities of fish, especially during holiday periods.
According to him possession limits can be useful in preventing such stockpiling and controlling high levels of localised fishing effort, thereby promoting stock sustainability and reducing the risk of localised depletion. The government has announced that the possession limits would be applying on selected maritime species such as King George whiting, southern garfish, snapper, southern calamari and razorfish. The limits would apply to individuals, not commercial fishermen.
O’Brien has informed that coastal dwellers recommended having tighter control to ensure fish stocks were protected. He also told that the government is working to see that this measure should not impact unnecessarily on the majority of legitimate recreational fishers’ activities or the tourism industry.
