Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => News Views & Press Releases => Topic started by: Editor on January 20, 2015, 09:22:40 PM
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Abandoned traps at Maroon Dam kill and injure wildlife
DAFF News release | 13-Jan-2015
On a recent sweep of Maroon Dam, Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) officers took possession of 26 traps prompting calls for fishers to be more responsible with their gear.
QBFP district officer Coby Walker said abandoned traps were a growing environmental issue, with numbers being recovered on the rise.
"Some of the traps found had been reported stolen and were returned to their rightful owners," Mr Walker said.
"Most of the equipment, however, was quite obviously abandoned or lost but was still catching fish, shrimp and redclaw.
"Ghost fishing is the term used for lost or abandoned fishing gear that continues to catch fish and other wildlife and it's a major environmental problem.
"Fishers need to make sure they remove their gear from the water when they've finished fishing so it doesn't unnecessarily entrap, kill or injure wildlife."
Mr Walker said it was also important fishers correctly mark their traps so that lost gear can be returned if found.
"Many of the traps collected were unmarked so can't be returned to their owners," he said.
"Anyone who uses a trap for freshwater fishing must have a tag on the trap showing the owner's surname and address.
"From 1 February, all freshwater traps will also be required to be marked with a solid light-coloured float that is at least 15 cm in any dimension.
"Previously this rule only applied to traps that weren't fixed to something stationary.
"The new rules will also come into effect relating to funnel traps and round traps, the use of set lines and marine baits, and size and possession limits for a number of fish species."
More info on Maroon Dam at http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/maroon.htm (http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/maroon.htm) - Ed.
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/data1/images/clf7.jpg)
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So that is the first actual confirmation I have seen that they meant the new rules to require a "float" to be tied on to any trap tied to trees etc. Thought it was just their usual poor wording in the press releases.
Will have to swap out my name tags for "floats" on the weekend then.
Was bored the other day so did some experimenting with putting a squirt of expanding foam in to a milk bottle, seems to work alright. Took a little experimenting to get the amount right for it to swell out to make the 150, but not to hard.
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http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-POLY-FLOAT-WITH-PLASTIC-INSERT-4-PIECE-PACK-IDEAL-FOR-CRABBING-6-FOAM-FLOAT-/230934547448?pt=AU_Accessories_Tackle&hash=item35c4c58bf8 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-POLY-FLOAT-WITH-PLASTIC-INSERT-4-PIECE-PACK-IDEAL-FOR-CRABBING-6-FOAM-FLOAT-/230934547448?pt=AU_Accessories_Tackle&hash=item35c4c58bf8)
4 x 6" foam floats, for about $23.00 delivered. Pretty simple.
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I wrote to fisheries a fortnight ago re the issue of using floats when traps tried off to trees and am still waiting for a response.
When shrimp are in close it is a lot easier to tie off the traps to trees and having a float attached will not make any difference to the incidence of abandoned traps.
The current legislation states that set lines have to have a tag attached to the tie off point but omits to have this provision on tied off traps
In freshwater the 2 main reasons for abandoned traps are unexpected water rises and flood debris moving traps away from place of depositing or people finishing their holidays and unable to recover their pots before departure due to various reasons.
There are a large number of abandoned pots on the edges of NPD visible since the dam levels have dropped and the majority of them do not have any identification marking at all.
Cheers
Ray
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In Lake Maroon, the biggest reason for abandoned traps is the well known local who sets more than the legal limit and does not mark his traps.
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From 1 February, all freshwater traps will also be required to be marked with a solid light-coloured float that is at least 15 cm in any dimension.
"Previously this rule only applied to traps that weren't fixed to something stationary.
Not sure why you'd need clarification, it seems pretty simple. All traps need to be identified with a solid light coloured float.
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been waiting for response and clarification from subject response officer since 6/1/15 enuired by phone last week with reference number and response still being investigated.
Cheers
Ray
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Not sure why you'd need clarification, it seems pretty simple. All traps need to be identified with a solid light coloured float.
Because the idea of tieing a float to a tree is absurd.........
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[url]http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-POLY-FLOAT-WITH-PLASTIC-INSERT-4-PIECE-PACK-IDEAL-FOR-CRABBING-6-FOAM-FLOAT-/230934547448?pt=AU_Accessories_Tackle&hash=item35c4c58bf8[/url] ([url]http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-POLY-FLOAT-WITH-PLASTIC-INSERT-4-PIECE-PACK-IDEAL-FOR-CRABBING-6-FOAM-FLOAT-/230934547448?pt=AU_Accessories_Tackle&hash=item35c4c58bf8[/url])
4 x 6" foam floats, for about $23.00 delivered. Pretty simple.
Even simpler. - Tins of spray foam in shed and old 3 litre milk bottles - cost nix.
Also those ones you put the link up for are not complaint, they are not solid, they have a hole in the them. So the home made ones will be compliant.
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Because the idea of tieing a float to a tree is absurd.........
Why? It would help locate traps which could otherwise be lost or identify those that are unmarked. I'll bet that most of the abandoned traps were floatless and/or unmarked...
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Why? It would help locate traps which could otherwise be lost or identify those that are unmarked. I'll bet that most of the abandoned traps were floatless and/or unmarked...
If the water rises the float will be under the water as it will be tied to the tree, if still above water, how do you know it is abandoned? Remember it is illegal to interfere with a fishing apparatus, so it is illegal to check it. My pots have been in NPD for something like 4 years, so they look pretty decrepit, certainly worse than ones I know are no longer used.
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In my opinion the fact that a pot is marked or unmarked will not reduce the incidence of ghost fishing as Binder said it is illegal to interfere with a pot that is not yours.
It may help fisheries to recover unmarked pots if they ever check them. To my knowledge there has only been a pot check in NPD twice in over 10 years and that was at the request of the PRFMA. The first time they passed the buck to SEQ water who paid overtime for some of their staff to check pots. Only problem was that the people who did the job were not aware of what they were doing and pulled in every pot that they found and when advised that they were doing the wrong thing they simply dumped the pots where they were so a bunch of pots both legal and illegal ended up in the one spot.
The only way to properly reduce the incidence of ghost fishing is to require pots to be checked on a regular basis and this would require a check date to be on a pot and for a regular program
conducted to regularly check pots.
Most of the pots on the banks at NPD have floats or the remnants of plastic bottles and have been exposed due to the water level dropping about 30 feet over the last year.
Another reason for pots being lost/abandoned is the use of plastic bottles which become brittle in the sun and the float sinking.
Cheers
Ray
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Isn't this post about a pot check at Maroon? It's not the first their either. I would assume that because there is a fair degree of difficulty getting onto NPD for the average poacher, that Fisheries don't give it a lot of attention. This is the second time that I know of that fisheries have filled thir car with traps at Maroon.
Binder, I'm sure you'll find that the foam floats are legal, they don't want old milk bottles that perish and sink. I don't believe it is illegal for Fisheries officers to check traps, but if you see them, have a go at them and see how you get on.
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Fisheries are the only people who can legally check pots that is why the PRFMA call in fisheries.
Personally I have always been against the use of any plastic floats of any type as even the yellow ones with hooks on them to wind the cord on break down and go brittle.
I thought that the main purpose of the post was to illustrate the problems of ghost fishing.
Cheers
Ray
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In Lake Maroon, the biggest reason for abandoned traps is the well known local who sets more than the legal limit and does not mark his traps.
He deserves to have them confiscated and to be dobbed in so that fisheries can obverse and prosecute. Wonder if that would entitle them to confiscate his boat and gear
similar to saltwater.
Cheers
Ray
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I have a habit of checking pots that I believe have been left behind. Floats have to be covered in slime but will pull them up. Have found heaps of ghost pots in lots of different dams with all manner of life and some cases death in them
I relocate the pot way up the bank when I do.
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Because the idea of tieing a float to a tree is absurd.........
I agree. Also, it just makes it easy for the share farmers to find your pots and raid them.....
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The first year NPD was open I got snagged while trolling and pulled up a red claw trap. The nearest float was about 50 metres away, so I followed the rope attached to the trap I snagged on. It turned out to be a string of 8 traps all under that one float. I'm sure the poacher who owned them wondered what happened to the other 7 pots when he lifted his one remaining pot.
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SteveM, technically, pulling up those old pots is illegal. I'm not saying it's wrong, but it is illegal. Some people leave their traps in permanently, which is why the laws a changing to not permit bottles as floats.
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Yep I'm a criminal by the terms of the law. I'm ok with that. I just relocate to the bank. What shits me is when you find them with no name info etc.
Jeff had one taken last time we out on Maroon. Others of his were moved and checked as well.
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As a result of this discussion thread, DAFF have issued a media release to clarify this topic. Please see http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?topic=7539.0 (http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?topic=7539.0)
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Great to see that the forums are being looked at by fisheries.
Cheers
Ray
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A hypothetical question. If a bloke leaves his 4 traps permanently in the water at Maroon, and then goes to Somerset, could he set 4 traps for some red claw?
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I have asked that question and a verbal response was legally no but how would anyone know?
Cheers
Ray
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A hypothetical question. If a bloke leaves his 4 traps permanently in the water at Maroon, and then goes to Somerset, could he set 4 traps for some red claw?
Legally NO the way I read the regs. 4 is 4 in total.....not 4 per lake. I reckon there's people who leave pots in semi-permanently at various location, each with their wife, kids or parents names on them, if at all.
That's why I reckon a SIP should be required to use cray pots/traps. B&FP / rangers can check the name on the trap against the database, if no SIP in that name they can confiscate it. That one act will see a significant reduction in ghost traps.... :tick Sorry, only registered users can see this content. Please Login or Register.
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I have asked that question and a verbal response was legally no but how would anyone know?
Cheers
Ray
If there's no name on a float / trap, then how can anyone prove its theirs. I reckon first to grab it, owns it. Sorry, only registered users can see this content. Please Login or Register.
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Has anyone noticed the tea bags hanging on sticks out at maroon ? :popcorn)
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Is there a name and address written on the tag Bushwacker?
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"That's why I reckon a SIP should be required to use cray pots/traps. B&FP / rangers can check the name on the trap against the database, if no SIP in that name they can confiscate it. That one act will see a significant reduction in ghost traps..
http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?topic=7535.msg30221;topicseen#msg30221 (http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?topic=7535.msg30221;topicseen#msg30221)"
You would need more than just a persons sir name on the float.How many smiths would fisheries have to look up to check
The new NSW regs are superior in that it needs your name and birth date and plus they require you to nominate the pot type eg shrimp trap. Having to have your sip number not much use as it changes each year. Also that would prevent your kids from having traps.
Beats me why there is a regulation to control the use of aparatus used to capture a feral species that should not be returned to the water.
Cheers
Ray
Cheers
Ray
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They're not feral up north, and shrimp aren't feral down here. If blokes are going around keeping 4 pots in one lake and another 4 pots in another lake, they're no better than sharefarmers. I'd guess the guys who leave them in permanently would tie them off underwater, or hide the strings so Fisheries officers cannot see them anyway. Not much difference to setting lines for Cod really.
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Beats me why there is a regulation to control the use of aparatus used to capture a feral species that should not be returned to the water.
Cheers
Ray
....because the exact same apparatus also catches endemic species, not just redclaw.
If you can come up with a trap that only catches redclaw and absolutely nothing else, then let me know I'll lobby long and hard for you to be allowed 50 of 'em Ray. :thumbsup
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Is there a name and address written on the tag Bushwacker?
There was actually it read
Bushells
Unilever Australasia
20-22 Cambridge Street
Epping NSW
2121 Australia
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There was actually it read
Bushells
Unilever Australasia
20-22 Cambridge Street
Epping NSW
2121 Australia
:Clap) :FunnyPost)
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Post of the year so far Steve.
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8)
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Yep I broke the law again on the weekend
Found this ghost pot at Wivenhoe. No names, no tags and thankfully no dead wildlife.
If it's yours I relocated it from the bouy line back to the bin at Logan's ramp
Picture now added.