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PostPosted: 26 Oct 2012, 10:11 
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Southern Freedivers has representation on the fisheries round table, and that gives us early warning about some matters. There are proposals to change the snapper regulations. I attach related documents. A quick skim of the documents suggests that the proposed changes should have little impact on divers. The bad news is that the changes have been proposed because there have been several years of poor breeding, suggesting that there may be a reduced abundance of snapper in coming years.

Ric



Fisheries Act 1995
DRAFT FISHERIES NOTICE NO. X/2012
I, Anthony Hurst, Executive Director Fisheries Victoria and delegate of the Minister for Agriculture
and Food Security, make the following Fisheries Notice under Section 152 of the Fisheries Act 1995
(the Act) and after conducting consultation according to Section 3A of the Act.
Dated:
Anthony Hurst
Executive Director Fisheries Victoria
FISHERIES (SNAPPER COMMERCIAL CATCH LIMIT) NOTICE NO. X/2012
1. Title
This Notice may be cited as the Fisheries (Snapper Commercial Catch Limit) Notice
No. X/2012.
2. Objective
The objective of this Notice is to implement measures that will protect snapper
populations by establishing catch and trip limits and reporting requirements for the
Trawl (Inshore) Fishery and reporting requirements for the Western Port/ Port Phillip
Bay Fishery.
3. Authorising Provision
This Notice is made under Section 152 of the Fisheries Act 1995.
4. Commencement
This Notice comes into operation on XX.
5. Definitions
In this Notice –
‘Fishing trip’ means the interval between the vessel leaving a port or mooring and
returning to a port or mooring.
‘Eastern Zone’ means Victorian waters east of a line running south of the Wilsons
Promontory lighthouse not including Corner Inlet.
‘Western Zone’ means Victorian waters west of a line running south of the Wilsons
Promontory lighthouse.
‘Snapper’ means Pagrus auratus.
‘Snapper Zone’ means any one of the following:
(a) Eastern Zone; or
(b) Western Zone.
‘Aggregated amount’ means the total amount of snapper taken by all fishers operating
in the Trawl (Inshore) Fishery from 1 October 2012.
‘Specified snapper details’ means –
(1) for the purposes of clause 10(1)(a) of this Fisheries Notice –
(a) the number allocated by the Secretary to identify the access licence;
(b) the estimated weight (in kilograms) of snapper on board the vessel;
(c) the snapper zone from which the snapper were taken;
(d) the vessel name and identifying mark;
(e) the port or mooring area the vessel will enter;
(f) the estimated time at which the vessel will enter the port or mooring area;
and
(g) the amount of snapper in kilograms, even if nil, taken from each snapper
zone between 1 October 2012 and the commencement of this Fisheries Notice.
(2) for the purposes of clause 10(1)(f) of this Fisheries Notice –
(a) the number allocated by the Secretary to identify the access licence; and
(b) the total net weight (in kilograms) of snapper landed under the licence.
(3) for the purposes of clause 10(3) of this Fisheries Notice –
(a) the number allocated by the Secretary to identify the access licence; and
(b) the total net weight (in kilograms) of snapper landed under the licence
during the week beginning Sunday at 12.00 AM and ending the following
Saturday at 11.59 PM; and
(c) the amount of snapper in kilograms, even if nil, taken between 1 October
2012 and the commencement of this Fisheries Notice.
6. Daily trip limit
The holder of a Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access must not – ,
(a) take during any fishing trip or on any day;
(b) land following a fishing trip or on any day; or
(c) possess on-board a boat;
more than 50 kilograms of snapper.
Penalty: 50 penalty units
7. Snapper must be landed before boat departs port or mooring
The holder of a Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence must ensure that when the
boat authorised to be used under the licence departs any port or mooring there are no
snapper in or on the boat.
Penalty: 50 penalty units
8. Fishing in more than one zone prohibited
(1) The holder of a Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence must not take snapper in
more than one snapper zone during any fishing trip or on any day.
Penalty: 50 penalty units
(2) The holder of a Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence must not use commercial
fishing equipment in more than one snapper zone on any fishing trip or on any
day if –
(a) the licence holder has snapper in their possession or control; or
(b) there are snapper on-board the boat authorised to be used under the licence.
Penalty: 50 penalty units
9. Exemptions
(1) A Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence holder is exempt from clause 6 of this
Fisheries Notice, if –
(a) Eastern zone –
i. the person is operating in the eastern zone; and
ii. an aggregated amount of less than 10 tonnes of snapper has been
caught under Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licences in the
eastern zone since 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013; or
(b) Western zone –
i. the person is operating in the western zone; and
ii. an aggregated amount of less than 35 tonnes of snapper has been
caught under Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licences in the
western zone since 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013.
(2) A Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence holder is exempt from sub-clause
10(1)(f) of this Fisheries Notice, if –
(a) Eastern zone –
i. the person is operating in the eastern zone; and
ii. an aggregated amount of more than 10 tonnes of snapper has been
caught under Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licences in the
eastern zone since 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013; or
(b) Western zone –
i. the person is operating in the western zone; and
ii. an aggregated amount of more than 35 tonnes of snapper has been
caught under Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licences in the
western zone since 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013.
(3) A Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence holder is exempt from sub-clause
5(1)(g) of this Fisheries Notice if this information has been provided to the
Secretary.
(4) A Western Port/Port Phillip Bay Fishery Access Licence holder is exempt from
sub-clause 5(3)(c) of this Fisheries Notice if this information has been provided to
the Secretary.
10. Reporting, landing and record keeping
(1)A Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence holder must –
(a) ensure that the specified snapper details are provided to the Secretary at least
2 hours before the vessel specified in the licence enters a port or mooring area
on any day if the vessel has any snapper on board; and
(b) ensure that any snapper on-board the boat are landed at the port or mooring
specified to the Secretary under sub-clause (a); and
(c) ensure that no snapper are landed from the boat specified in the licence before
the estimated time for entering a port or mooring area provided to the
Secretary under sub-clause (a); and
(d) ensure than all snapper on-board the boat specified in the licence are landed
no later than one hour after arriving at the port or mooring specified to the
Secretary under sub-clause (a); and
(e) ensure that any snapper landed from the boat specified in the licence are
weighed no later than 2 hours after landing; and
(f) ensure that the specified snapper details are provided to the Secretary no later
than 2 hours after landing; and
(g) ensure that all details of the daily catch record are completed in the manner
required by the Secretary before providing any details to the Secretary under
sub-clause (f); and
(h) ensure that no snapper taken under the licence enters any vehicle that already
contains fish, is sold or leaves the place of landing of the snapper or enters
any premises to which fish is processed or held, until the licence holder has
complied with sub-clause (f).
Penalty: 50 penalty units
(2) A Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence holder must ensure that the daily catch
record book is on board the boat specified in the licence at all times –
(a) when the licence holder or any person acting on behalf of the licence holder is
on-board the boat; or
(b) when snapper is on board the boat.
Penalty: 50 penalty units
(3) A Western Port/Port Phillip Bay Fishery Access Licence holder must ensure that
between 1 October 2012 and 31 March 2013 and when their snapper catch
exceeds 100 kilograms in a week, the specified snapper details are provided to the
Secretary each week before 5.00 pm the following Sunday.
Penalty: 50 penalty units
Note: Reporting and record keeping requirements specified in clause 10 of
this Fisheries Notice are in addition to the reporting requirements specified in
the Fisheries Regulations 2009.
11. Transfer of snapper at sea prohibited
(1) The holder of a Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence must ensure that snapper
are not –
(a) transferred in, under or on any waters from the boat specified in the licence to
any other boat; or
(b) sold, transferred or delivered to another person in, under or on any waters.
Penalty: 50 penalty units
(2) The holder of a Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence must ensure that snapper
taken by a person who is not acting on behalf of the licence holder are not
transferred in, under or on any waters to the possession or control of the licence
holder or any person acting on behalf of the licence holder (whether on board the
boat or not).
Penalty: 50 penalty units
(3) Sub-clause (1) does not apply to a licence holder who allows snapper to be
transferred to a tender boat prior to landing, if that boat proceeds directly to the
port or mooring notified to the Secretary in accordance with clause 10(1)(a).
12. Fisheries reserves
For the purposes of section 152(4) of the Act, this notice also applies to any fisheries
reserve.
13. Revocation
Unless sooner revoked, this Fisheries Notice will be automatically revoked 12 months
after the day on which it comes into operation.
Note
Penalties under this notice are set in accordance with section 152(7)(c)
of the
Fisheries Act 1995 which allow the imposition of penalties not exceeding 50
penalty units for a contravention of an offence under a fisheries notice.

================================================================

Summary of Proposed Management Arrangements
The proposed management arrangements for limiting snapper harvest in the Victorian inshore trawl
fishery (VIT) and additional reporting requirements for the Western Port/ Port Phillip Bay (WPPPB)
fishery will be implemented using a Fisheries Notice.
The following provides a summary of key proposed management actions. Please refer to the draft
Fisheries Notice for specific requirements, prohibitions and exemptions.
Please make submissions on this proposal to Bill Lussier, Manager Marine and Estuarine Fisheries,
at GPO Box 4440, Melbourne 3001 or <bill.lussier@dpi.vic.gov.au> by 5 November 2012.
Proposed management arrangements for the Victorian inshore trawl fishery
•Establish an annual 35 tonne total catch limit on snapper taken west of the Wilson Promontory
Lighthouse (the western zone) and an annual 10 tonne total catch limit east of the Wilson
Promontory Lighthouse (the eastern zone).
•Establish a 50 kilogram trip limit for landing snapper from a zone once the total catch limit for that
zone is reached.
•Require VIT fishers who land snapper to report their intention to land, the estimated weight of
landed fish, landing location, estimated time and vessel details, report the amount they landed, land
snapper within one hour of arriving at a port or mooring and weigh snapper within two hours of
landing.
•Require VIT fishers who land snapper to report the total amount of snapper for each zone, even if
nil, caught between 1 October 2012 and the commencement of the proposed Fisheries Notice.
•Prohibit fishing in more than one zone in a day, transporting snapper between moorings and ports
unless in a tender vessel and transferring catch between vessels.
The reporting required under this Fisheries Notice is in addition to that required under the
Fisheries Act 1995.
Proposed reporting arrangements for the Western Port/ Port Phillip Bay fishery
•WPPPB fishers must report their weekly snapper catch between Sunday at 12.00 AM and ends the
following Saturday at 11.59 PM when it exceeds 100 kilograms for that week.
•Fishers must report this information to DPI before 5:00 PM of the next day (Sunday).
•WPPPB fishers must report this information to DPI until 31 March 2013.
•WPPPB fishers who land snapper must report the total amount of snapper, even if nil, caught
between 1 October 2012 and the commencement of the proposed Fisheries Notice.
The reporting required under this Fisheries Notice is in addition to that required under the
Fisheries Act.
========================================================

There is also a pdf cover letter, which I am trying to copy onto the forum, but with little success. I will try again in a later posting.

Ric

_________________
Ric Fallu started spearfishing in Pt Phillip in the early 1960s, and never really stopped


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PostPosted: 26 Oct 2012, 10:22 
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Joined: 23 Nov 2007, 12:20
Posts: 305
Location: Melbourne/Sth Gippsland
The forum doesn't seem to want to let me load the pdf file that contains the cover letter.

In short, the letter says that commercial inshore trawl fishers to will have limits on how much snapper they can take (the amounts depending which side of Wilson's Prom they operate on) . Port Phillip Bay commercial fishers who take more than 100 kg per week have to report the fact.

By limiting the catch, Fisheries hopes to spin out the remaining fish longer, and hopes there will be some more good spawning years coming up.

If you want to complain about this (though why, I don't know) the letter gives information about how to lodge the complaint.

Ric

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Ric Fallu started spearfishing in Pt Phillip in the early 1960s, and never really stopped


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PostPosted: 29 Oct 2012, 10:07 
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Joined: 23 Nov 2007, 12:20
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Location: Melbourne/Sth Gippsland
As indicated in previous postings on this topic, the proposed changes to snapper regulations were accompanied by a cover letter. The cover letter was sent to Mr Merv McGuire, in his capacity as the Chair of the Recreational Fisheries Roundtable. It came from Anthony Hurst, Exec Director of Fisheries Victoria.

The forum software wouldn’t allow me to post the PDF file the letter came in. So, I copied the letter and keyed it in directly

It said
:
Improving the management of the Victorian Snapper Fisheries
I write to advise you that I propose to implement via a Fisheries Notice management arrangements that are aimed at sustaining and sharing Victoria’s valuable snapper fishery.

I propose to establish the Victorian inshore trawl (VIT) fishery:
• an annual 10 and 35 tonne total snapper catch limits east and west of Wilson’s Promontory respectively;
• a 50 kilogram trip limit that begins when a total catch limit is reached; and
• pre- and post-landing reporting requirements.

In addition, it is proposed that Port Phillip Bay commercial fishers who land more than 100 kilograms of snapper in a week be required to report their weekly catch.

The proposed Fisheries Notice and summary are included with this letter.

Why has DPI proposed these management arrangements for the VIT sector?

High productivity in the western snapper stock (west of Wilson’s Promontory) has been underpinned by successful recruitment between 1998 and 2006. Monitoring by the DPI indicates that spawning success has been below average or poor since and the total catch and catch rates will decline over the next five years. The snapper stock is therefore vulnerable to depletion until another strong recruitment event occurs.

Following annual catches of less than 2 tonnes during 2000 to 2010, snapper taken in the VIT fishery during the last quarter of 2011 exceeded 34 tonnes. Responding to this change in fishing activity is important because the fishing power of trawling and large numbers of unused licences (45 of the 60 trawl licences did not report catch in 2011) could see fishing effort rise to an unsustainable level. The 35 tonne cap west of Wilson’s Promontory will allow VIT fishers in that area to take the same catch as in 2011 while preventing further growth in catch.

Snapper catch from eastern snapper stock is comparatively low at this time. The proposed 10 tonne snapper catch limit east of Wilson’s Promontory will prevent an increase in snapper targeting and ensure that changes to trawl practices are understood quickly but is unlikely to affect fishers who target crustaceans such as prawns, bugs and crabs.

Monitoring the catch of Port Phillip Bay fishers

DPI recognises the historic role of Port Phillip Bay as the main source of commercial and recreationally caught snapper while acknowledging the significant growth in catch that occurred there in recent years.

The Port Phillip Bay commercial sector lacks the same power as trawl fishing and does not pose the same risks to the snapper stock as the trawl fishery. After discussion with fishers, Fisheries Victoria proposes that Port Phillip Bay fishers landing more than 100 kilograms of snapper in a week report their catch weekly until 31 March 2013. This reporting will help ensure that changes to fishing patterns are detected quickly but will not effect most bay fishers.

Long term management arrangements for the Victorian snapper fishery

DPI is developing a fully integrated stock assessment model and a broad harvest strategy for the western snapper stock that is underpinned by robust science.

Steps are also being taken to effectively measure the recreational harvest of snapper and other key fish species with the view to incorporate this knowledge into future stock assessments and management arrangements.

These long-term management arrangements are in the early stages of development. Industry and other stakeholders will be consulted as this process progresses.

Consultation on proposed management arrangements

On 17 October 2102 [sic] Fisheries Victoria met with a group of commercial and recreational fishing representatives to discuss the proposed management arrangements. Fisheries Victoria will work with Seafood Industry Victoria and VRFish to meet with fishers during the consultation period to explain the proposed arrangements.

Making submissions on the proposed Fisheries Notice

A copy of the draft Fisheries Notice and a summary of the proposed management arrangements are attached. Please refer to the attached draft Fisheries Notice when reading the summary for specific requirements, prohibitions and exemptions.

Please make submissions in writing to Bill Lussier by 5 November 2012-10-28

Yours sincerely …..”

_________________
Ric Fallu started spearfishing in Pt Phillip in the early 1960s, and never really stopped


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