Good call Tarki.
Wrote the mail below to the Manly Daily today, got an email back asking me to verify that it was me that sent the email, so hopefully we'll see it in print. Any letters of support would be appreciated. Email:
editor@manydaily.com.auCheers,
Neil
To the Editor,
Food for thought these Summer Holidays.
If you are a visitor to or resident in beautiful Pittwater this summer, chances are that you'll induldge in a spot of recreational fishing.
With Narrabeen Lagoon to the south, the beaches to the east and Pittwater to the west, we are spoilt by the choice we have in terms of location.
But we have a problem.
The lack of fish.
The problem (particularly on Pittwater) seems to be caused by illegal net fishermen. There were licenced fishmen allowed to ply their trade in Pittwater (indeed, the Manly Daily ran an article on this very subject), and now the Department of Primary Industries has declared that the haulers are no longer to operate along the Barrenjoey Headland on the weed beds, and as a result the haulers are now doing this in a clandestine manner, or are moving to other areas. This in itself is causing another problem in that it is assisting in the spread of noxious weed attached to the nets of these 'fishers' that chokes the natural weedbeds.
Since the introduction of the fishing licence scheme, I am hearing of excellent results in other waterways (eg Botany Bay and Sydney Harbour) when professional fishermen are being limited or bought out, and I am very keen to know what is happening in Pittwater and the mighty Hawkesbury River. These areas have economic models that are heavily reliant on tourism, and of this tourism a very large percentage is recreational fishing tourism. The leisure industries along the shores of Pittwater, including Boat Hire, Pubs, Hotels and Motels are all reliant at least in part to a sustainable fishing industry, not to mention the dedicated tackle and bait outlets. There are also a huge number of boating outlets and related light industries all around the Mona Vale, Bayview and Church Point areas that need to rely on the trade associated with recreational fishing.
The illegal activities that have been mentioned above are seriously threatening the fish stocks in Pittwater. We will soon lose the people who flock to the Northern Beaches to take a break and induldge in a spot of fishing if this mess isn't cleared up.
We need the DPI to treat the residents of Pittwater equally to those residents who are lucky enough to have had action taken on their behalf (ie. the residents of Botany Bay and Sydney harbour and the surrounding areas). We must also be careful not to go the other way and declare Pittwater a sanctuary, after all, the is significant evidence that sanctuary zones are ineffective as fisheries management tools.
