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Ref:539/03 |
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AUSTRALIA
- Feb 12, 2003 |
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Study into yellowtail
numbers welcomed |
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By Cherie Gerlach
The Yellowtail Kingfish
debate continues to rage while numbers in the Spencer Gulf
remain unusually high.
State Fisheries Minister Paul Holloway held a meeting in
Whyalla last week to discuss the issues of Yellowtail
Kingfish farming with concerned Spencer Gulf residents, but
after the meeting ruled out changing bag and size limits in
an effort to reduce the present yellowtail population.
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Yellowtail Kingfish farm escapes remain the centre of
controversy, with a study now being done into yellow tail
numbers and their source in South Australia. |
Mr Holloway
said the bag and size limits wouldn't be changed while a
detailed scientific study into the yellowtail population
and their source is underway.
"Much of the recent evidence about kingfish numbers,
particularly in the Spencer Gulf region is anecdotal and
it would be premature and inappropriate to change the
policy until we know more about exact numbers," Mr
Holloway said.
Recreational fishers are concerned escapes from
yellowtail aquaculture farms in the Spencer Gulf, with
18,000 reported fish escapes in the past 18 months, are
responsible for the population explosion of the fish.
The most recent escapes occurred on January 30, with two
escapes on the same day.
One of the escapes, at a farm in Fitzgerald Bay,
reported a loss of 1500 fish.
South Australian Recreational Fishing Advisory Council (SARFAC)
executive officer Trevor Watts said, while welcoming the
study into yellowtail, it is too late.
Mr Watts said studies should have been done into wild
Yellowtail Kingfish stocks and the potential impact of
aquaculture before farms were established, not after
when the damage could already be done.
"It seems puzzling, there's the attitude of 'let's go in
and do it and then do the research later'."
Corrective action needed to be taken immediately to
rectify the problem of the escapes and SARFAC is calling
for a guarantee from yellowtail/aquaculture farms that
they have no escapes, Mr Watts said.
In response to claims from Minister Holloway that the
population explosion could be a naturally-occurring
phenomena, Mr Watts said "show me the proof" as there
was ample proof of escapes from fish farms.
Local recreational fisherman and tackle shop owner Robyn
Sharp said he still receives daily reports of yellowtail
sightings in local gulf waters with fish varying in size
from 20-30cm to 80cm.
While welcoming the study into yellowtail and the debate
on the issue, Mr Sharp believes the current bag limit of
two per person or six per boat needs to be increased,
and the 60cm size limit reduced. |
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