The deaths of a large number of juvenile and adult turtles found washed up on beaches in Boyne Island and Tannum Sands last week raises questions on the use of commercial netting in the river. But nothing concrete has been found against the use of netting be it legal of illegal. While mounting speculation points to the seemingly healthy turtles having died as a result of drowning in nearby nets, Fisheries Queensland has responded to questioning by The Observer by verifying this area is open to commercial netting.
Fisheries Queensland has stated that while the Boyne River is closed to commercial netting from September 1 to April 30 each year there is a boundary across the mouth of the Boyne River, delineated by FB boards, where seaward of these boards is open to commercial netting. The statement also read that the Boyne River is closed to the taking of all fish for all persons 200 metres upstream to 400 metres downstream of the Awoonga Dam wall.
Fisheries Queensland said that a commercial fisher who is fishing in the near shore zone in the regulated waters can use a set mesh net only if the net is no longer than 200 metres; each net has a mesh size of at least 100mm but no more than 215mm; and the entire net is in near shore waters while it is being used. The spokesman said the requirement for a person to be within 800 metres of a set mesh net at all times is in place to ensure that any bycatch such as turtles and dugongs can be immediately removed from the net and have the best chance of survival.
The statement states that public information on suspected illegal fishing is essential for us to ensure compliance with fishing rules and, in turn, maintain the sustainability of our fisheries.
