2019-07-18 OM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 2 - Fisheries Regulation Discussion Paper

77. Introduce provisions that enable the recovery of abandoned crab pots.
    It is proposed to introduce new rules to allow Fisheries Inspectors to remove apparatus if they
    reasonably suspect it is abandoned. A crab pot would be considered to be abandoned if:
       vessel tracking data indicates the owner has not been in the area for a period of 7 days
       the pot has not contained bait for a period of time
       dead crabs and other marine life are found in the pot
       the pot is in very poor condition (e.g. buried in sediment, barnacles on rope, located above
        Highest Astronomical Tide).
   To discourage fishers leaving pots in the water unused and abandoned, it is proposed that an
   offence also be created for persons who leave or abandon crab apparatus.
78. Introduce an offence to purchase fish from someone who does not hold an authority.
    It is currently an offence to take fish and sell it without an authority. However, there is no offence
    for the person buying fish from an unlicensed seller. To help combat black-marketing of seafood in
    Queensland, it is proposed that the buyer of seafood would be required to ensure the seller is the
    holder of an authority—it would be an offence if a buyer of seafood buys from someone without an
    authority.
79. Clarify that obstruction of persons operating under an authority is an offence.
    It is proposed that existing requirements for netting activities be applied more generally and
    provide a penalty for any individual who obstructs a commercial fishing boat or Commercial
    Harvest Fishing Licence holder when taking fish using authorised apparatus without a reasonable
    excuse.
80. Clarify the handling of seagrass while taking bloodworms.
    It is proposed to clarify the intent of existing requirements for any disturbed seagrass to be
    returned in an upright position at the original location from which it was dug. The proposed
    amendments would provide that when harvesting bloodworms, fishers must put back any disturbed
    seagrass from the place it was removed.
81. Requirement to display authority details adjacent to land-based collection point.
    A number of commercial fishing activities can be conducted from shore. It is proposed that all
    commercial fishers are required to display the details of their Commercial Fishing Boat Licence or
    Commercial Harvest Fishing Licence on a sign adjacent to their land-based commercial fishing
    operation.
82. Requirement for commercial fishers to return apparatus unintentionally trawled.
    To prevent any fishing apparatus that may be interacted with by trawlers from being dumped at sea
    and posing an environmental hazard, it is proposed that fishers are required to return the
    apparatus to a Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol office within 7 days of returning to port.
83. Clarify the measuring fish (interdorsal length) requirements.
    The Fisheries Regulation provides for the interdorsal measurement of sharks and rays. However,
    this measurement is not appropriate for certain species of rays due to the rounder profile of the
    animal. It is therefore proposed that the Fisheries Regulation be amended to clarify when
    interdorsal length can be used.




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