{{start}}

North American red-eared slider turtles are spreading in the Sydney region, threatening native turtle populations by competing for food and nesting sites.

They are considered one of the world’s worst invasive species of waterways, breeding rapidly and carrying exotic diseases. They can spread salmonella bacteria to people, pets and other animals. Unlike native turtles they are also aggressive and will bite if handled.

Hundreds have been found so far in the Sydney basin and DPI is using trained detection Springer Spaniels to search for them.

The turtles have been illegally imported, and the sale or keeping of them is illegal. As a reflection of the biosecurity risks it presents, the red-eared slider turtle is classified as a Prohibited Dealing under the Biosecurity Act 2015. It is an offence to keep this species unless authorised, for example under the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 or Animal Research Act 1985. In 2020 NSW DPI officers found 90 red-eared slider turtles and two alligator snapping turtles being illegally kept in one backyard in Sydney’s south-west. A Milperra man was convicted but the fine was just $4950 plus DPI’s investigative costs which totalled $2405.72.

For more information including how to identify, go to this link.

The public is are advised that if you see one, call DPI on 1800 680 244.

{{end}}

{{start}}

Bass

Zero bag limit for bass and estuary perch starts 1 May and ends 31 August. Catch and release is allowed. The zero bag limit does not apply to fish in stocked freshwater impoundments, including Glenbawn Dam and Glennies Creek Dam in the Hunter Valley, Brogo Dam near Bega and Clarrie Hall and Toonumbar Dams in the northeast; anglers may continue to fish for these species in those waters all year round.

Trout

Spawning season starts 1 May in the Snowy Mountains and special rules apply to the Thredbo River and its tributaries and the Eucumbene River and its tributaries (upstream of the Lake Eucumbene dam wall and including Providence Portal). A minimum size limit of 50 cm, daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two trout will apply to these rivers from 1 May to the end of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Annual closure on fishing in trout streams for NSW will be in place from Tuesday after the Queen's Birthday weekend and re-opens on the October long weekend. Trout dams remain open to fishing throughout the year.

When the season opens again in October, a minimum size limit of 25 cm, daily bag limit of two and possession limit of four trout again applies to the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers and other fly and lure only waters in NSW.

Murray cod

Season closed in NSW from 1 September to 31 November, except Copeton Dam.

Eastern Freshwater Cod

The annual three month fishing closure of the Mann and Nymboida Rivers and their tributaries comes into effect 1 August to 31 October. All fishing in the specified area is prohibited to enable the endangered Eastern Freshwater Cod to spawn uninterrupted during its breeding season. Eastern Freshwater Cod are totally protected throughout NSW regardless of where or when they may be found.

Murray crayfish

Closed all year other than the following waters between 1 June and 31 August each year inclusive: (a) Murrumbidgee River between the Hume Highway road bridge, Gundagai and Berembed Weir near Ganmain and (b) Murray River from 130 below Hume Weir near Albury to the Newell Highway road bridge at Tocumwal

{{end}}

{{start}}

Read the rest of this entry »

{{end}}

{{start}}

Fishing a stream and seeing a platypus how good is that ... well it seems that unless our politicians stop passing the buck and get on with the job of protecting them from "opera house yabby traps" our kids and grand kids may never experience that.

The NSWCFA has been asking questions for many months about the delay in introducing regulations banning "opera house" style yabby traps in NSW. The traps are lethal to platypus, turtles and native water rats. Better designs that don't trap and kill animals are readily available. A ban on opera house traps was recommended a couple of years ago and we understand that regulations were drafted but have never been passed by Adam Marshall, Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales...responsible for all fisheries matters.

Since then we have seen nothing other than continuous buck passing by the government. We asked managers within DPI about the delay and were told that the recommendation had been sent to the Minister via the Recreational Fishing NSW Advisory Council. So we asked Minister Marshall about the delay, and we also asked Minister for Energy and the Environment, Matt Kean, who had expressed support for the ban in the past. We never got a sensible answer...we were just referred back to managers within DPI, none of whom had the power to get the regulation passed.

In September we even asked the Premier about the Minister's lack of action. She just referred us back to the Minister.

In the past week there have been calls by scientists for the government to classify platypus a threatened species; the platypus population has halved in the past 30 years according to a UNSW model, due to historic land clearing, river regulation, and extreme droughts. The area of eastern Australia where platypuses are found has shrunk by about 200,000 square kilometres (22 per cent) over that period.

The latest letter we received from Minister for Energy and the Environment, Matt Kean, on 18 November, is just more dithering. He states "I can confirm that the NSW Government remains supportive of banning opera house style traps and is looking to commence the prohibition as soon as effective community engagement activities can be undertaken in a COVID-19 safe way".

Well, the government announced as long ago as the beginning of April that recreational fishing was permitted during the COVID-19 lockdown. It's now December, and the government isn't capable of "effective community engagement activities" with recreational fishers? It's just the latest, flimsiest excuse for lack of action at both departmental and ministerial level.

{{end}}

{{start}}

Freeing the rivers

The Upper House has passed legislation to legalise camping on Crown Land with river frontage and grazing licences from September 2021, complementing recreational activities already permitted on Crown Land like fishing.

This is a big step forward in delivering the State Government’s Target One Million commitment, which will make it easier for families to pitch a tent by a river somewhere, wet a line with friends, and enjoy Victoria’s great outdoors responsibly!

Fisheries Officers will play a key role in ensuring everyone does the right thing and extensive consultation with licence holders, fishers, traditional owners and regional communities will be undertaken soon.

Head to this link to read more about the news.

And click here to learn more about the proposed regulations.

{{end}}

{{start}}

Bass

Zero bag limit for bass and estuary perch starts 1 May and ends 31 August. Catch and release is allowed. The zero bag limit does not apply to fish in stocked freshwater impoundments, including Glenbawn Dam and Glennies Creek Dam in the Hunter Valley, Brogo Dam near Bega and Clarrie Hall and Toonumbar Dams in the northeast; anglers may continue to fish for these species in those waters all year round.

Trout

Spawning season starts 1 May in the Snowy Mountains and special rules apply to the Thredbo River and its tributaries and the Eucumbene River and its tributaries (upstream of the Lake Eucumbene dam wall and including Providence Portal). A minimum size limit of 50 cm, daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two trout will apply to these rivers from 1 May to the end of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Annual closure on fishing in trout streams for NSW will be in place from Tuesday after the Queen's Birthday weekend and re-opens on the October long weekend. Trout dams remain open to fishing throughout the year.

When the season opens again in October, a minimum size limit of 25 cm, daily bag limit of two and possession limit of four trout again applies to the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers and other fly and lure only waters in NSW.

Murray cod

Season closed in NSW from 1 September to 31 November, except Copeton Dam.

Eastern Freshwater Cod

The annual three month fishing closure of the Mann and Nymboida Rivers and their tributaries comes into effect 1 August to 31 October. All fishing in the specified area is prohibited to enable the endangered Eastern Freshwater Cod to spawn uninterrupted during its breeding season. Eastern Freshwater Cod are totally protected throughout NSW regardless of where or when they may be found.

Murray crayfish
Closed all year other than the following waters between 1 June and 31 August each year inclusive: (a) Murrumbidgee River between the Hume Highway road bridge, Gundagai and Berembed Weir near Ganmain and (b) Murray River from 130 below Hume Weir near Albury to the Newell Highway road bridge at Tocumwal

{{end}}