Media Release - Tweed ECOfishers Rescues Rockplatform

[Nete-Quette]

MEDIA   RELEASE
TWEED  ECOFISHERS  RESCUES  ROCKPLATFORM

[/b]

 

?Tweed ECOfishers, in conjunction with the  key user groups, will investigate the feasibility of a periodic closure over the Hastings Point rock platform.?

?We are concerned that unscrupulous and unlicensed operators may be excessively harvesting, marine invertebrates from our local rock platform.?

?Hence we will be seeking and securing, a periodic ?closure,? under the Fisheries Management Act (Section say for one month during Christmas and a fortnight over Easter each year. Cunjevoi and rock crabs would be exempt from the proposed ?closure,? as these are the main bait species for recreational fishers.?

?It?s shameful that at peak tourist times, our local biodiversity and fresh bait supplies, are denuded by unscrupulous operators, many from Queensland.

With every rock platform between Lennox head and Brunswick Heads, now locked up in Labor?s marine park, locals will need to be more vigilant in conserving what they have access to, on our doorstep.?

?Our Hastings Point rock platform is our only source of fresh local bait for recreational anglers and we intend to continue to manage it sustainably. And we will be working closely with our local Fisheries officers to achieve our aims.?

Merv Mcfie  Secretary  Tweed  ECOfishers (Inc)

[jonjenkins]

People,

Keep in mind that any closure should be based upon solid scientific evidence that the activity is either unsustainable or is causing irreparable damage. in particular the stripping of rock platforms by commercial fishermen collecting organisms for sale in the Brisbane market should be totally illegal in this last remaining area.

In the case of the Hastings point rock platform we have a single person who appears to have some vested interest in maintaining a monopoly over access to the Hastings point rock platform acting as part of a amateurish attempt to have the rock platform closed.

As with all eco-fishers policies we demand that the management should be based upon good basic science in consultation with the community.

Dr Jon Jenkins
President of Tweed EcoFishers

[Ma afu Tupala]

What you guys do trying to stop us getting shells to eat from rocks? We done this for 600 years back home Tonga. There is plenty for all our people on our rocks back home. Island has much people but are we not hungry you only have to check out size. we just walk in to team with the the All blacks because so big. shells here are different to our rock but they are same because most of it live under water and getting it from rock will never run it out. My family get shells few times for ten years in same place now and we no we can always go back any time for special dinner. People saying it all gone have liars. We know about ecofisher and thought you guys stuck up for every one. You talk about getting right with facts but I think it all talk. All you want is to keep it for yourselves and not for us to. This not good for God I prey. There are many like me hear Australia some from other places like Fiji and even Samoa who we beat at war. we all like shells. You got plenty shells and have to much rocks and should share. School teacher Brumbleby who baby cries against us. he takes to many shells to put in house and meat is lost. He make Tongan mad but we Christian we bless shell and we share. I thank my son he write this with small help from spell machine.

Tupala Tupuo Te Rangi Hiroa
Ma?afu
Malie Toa Malie Tau

[Spiney]

Cunjevoi and rock crabs would be exempt from the proposed ?closure,? as these are the main bait species for recreational fishers.?

Here is a fishing tip from futher down the coast. I assume Fishers use Cunjevoi as bait for Eastern Rock Blackfish. I target this species using bread and have no problems getting a feed. (If not then at least you can eat the bait). As a by-catch I get a lot a lot of Bream, bread is cheap at $1 a loaf, you don't damage the rock shelf and your hands don't stink. Probably the only product one would need to harvest from a rockshelf for bait is weed and cabbage. Both are fast growing and replenish within days.

Try fresh bread moulded on a No4 bronze hook and light line (12lb) and you can catch Pigs up to 2Kg easily. Landing bigger fish can be a problem but they don't taste as nice anyway.

Spiney

[jonjenkins]

The campaign for the state seat of Tweed has obviously started: the local member Neville Newell and Minister Tony Kelly were up here yesterday and did media interviews and met with all the Green groups, in short they met with everyone EXCEPT the local people who have an interest in this area and that includes ECOFishers. In other words this has nothing to do with protecting Hastings Point and everything to do with political deals for the upcoming election.

I have included both an article from today's daily News and the editorial from the editor.  If tweed fishermen don't understand what's happening then it's very very simple: this is the thin end of the wedge to ban any fishing activity in the Hastings point area.  The extremist environmental movement has locked up almost every decent fishing area to the south from the Brunswick River to Byron Bay to Lennox Head and just as I predicted they are now starting on the Tweed!  First it was the ban on four-wheel-drive access to the beaches and now it is the proposed closure of the Hastings point headland.

If you [Tweed fisher people!] don't get off your  behinds and do something about this then fishing will become a part of history on the Tweed.

Due to the size of the articles I have put the first one in this item and the others over the next two articles

jon

[jonjenkins]

This is the next article from the Daily News today.

[jonjenkins]

This is the final article from the Daily News today.

[CEO]

THE SAGA AND THE STORY CONTINUES:  See Tweed Daily News for Saturday, 24th March.
                                                         LABOR HAS ONLY 29 MORE "APOLOGISING" DAYS TO GO!
No wonder one million NSW recreational fishers don't TRUST Labor or the Greens.

[Nete-Quette]

[CEO]

 NOW UNDER LABOR'S "COASTAL RESERVE," ARE WE ALLOWED TO COLLECT BAIT OR NOT?  WATCH THIS SPACE!

[wisey]

WARNING!!!This is not the end.A vote for labour could mean it's nearer the begining![/b]

[CEO]

WISEY & ALL: Your'e right mate. The beginning of MORE Labor/Green lock-outs on the Tweed. Enough is enough. Is it any wonder one million NSW recreational fishers don't TRUST Labor or the Greens!  SO OUT WITH THE OLD - IN WITH THE NEW!

[CEO]

   LET'S  FIX  NSW  -  OUR ONLY CHANCE IS ON MARCH 24th.  OUT WITH THE OLD.  IN WITH THE NEW!
    NOW GO TO.........the next page!

[CEO]

ECOFISHERS NSW, can now confirm, that the collection of ALL invertebrates from the Hastings Point rock platform, will be PROHIBITED by Labor! It was supposed to be gazetted last Friday, 23rd February.....but wasn't! No public consultation, no thorough scientific study, just lock the community out! That's Labor/Greens for you. Apparently this latest "LOCK-OUT" has been done under Crown Lands legislation. And it will be policed by Tweed Shire Council rangers. Let's hope the "dog catcher," knows the difference between a bull terrier and a barnacle! The community won't put up with that!
                                                  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

[CEO]

DAYLIGHT  ROBBERY:  In typical bushranger fashion, Labor's Minister, Comrade Kelly, rode into the Tweed on 19/2/07 and robbed us blind! Tweed Shire Council officers today (26/2) confirmed that it will be illegal to remove any invertebrate from the Hastings Point rockplatform. The regulation, (under some obscure Section of the Crown Lands Act) will be policed by Council rangers. ECOfishers trust and hope, the "dog catcher" knows the difference between a bull terrier and a barnacle!
Will you put up with that?    WHAT  DO  YOU  THINK  ABOUT  THIS  LATEST  LOCKOUT?

   STOP PRESS: Tweed Shire Council officers, now advise (4pm 26/2) the gazettal of the Hastings Point "COASTAL RESERVE," took place on 16/2/07! Three days before Comrade Kelly came to the Tweed to announce it! All done secretly, in back room deals with the Greens! So it is now illegal to harvest any invertebrates (bait) from the Hastings Point rock platform. Is it any wonder one million NSW recreational fishers don't trust Labor or the Greens!