Abandoned traps at Maroon Dam kill and injure wildlife

[Member]

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.

[Member]

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.....

[Member]

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.

[Member]

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.

[Member]

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.

[Member]

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
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[Member]

Great to see that the forums are being looked at by fisheries.
Cheers
Ray

[Member]

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?

[Member]

I have asked that question and a verbal response was legally no but how would anyone know?
Cheers
Ray

[Member]

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....  Sorry, only registered users can see this content. Please Login or Register.

[Member]

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.

[Member]

Has anyone noticed the tea bags hanging on sticks out at maroon ? 

[Member]

Is there a name and address written on the tag Bushwacker?

[Member]

"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"
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

[Member]

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.