2019-07-18 OM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Fishing Futures

      2017    Ring Netting             W35      16            7   Trevally - unspecified                  3.40
      2017    Ring Netting             W35      16            6   Whiting - unspecified                   2.16
      2018    Ocean Beach Netting      W35      16            5   Bream - unspecified                     0.03
      2018    Ocean Beach Netting      W35      16            8   Mullet - unspecified                  135.32
      2018    Ring Netting             W35      16            5   Bream - unspecified                     0.27
      2018    Ring Netting             W35      16            5   Flathead - unspecified                  0.44
      2018    Ring Netting             W35      16            8   Mullet - unspecified                   33.90
      2018    Ring Netting             W35      16            5   ponyfishes                              1.48
      2018    Ring Netting             W35      16            6   Trevally - unspecified                  1.52


To accurately establish the catch data would require direct conversations with the active commercial fishers
to closely identify their fishing activity and recorded catch in the lakes. Some local stakeholders have indicated
the process to remove nets from the lakes commence with the least fished of the lakes, Lake Weyba however
this requires logbook data validation and confirmation from local fishers. Coupled with the advent of VMS21,
over the next three years FQ will have a more robust catch record data set of the commercial fishing activity in
the river and lakes that will benefit an application to apply the Reallocation Policy framework should this option
receive support.

                                                              MEDIUM TERM – OPTION TWO
             WORK WITH THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT ON A NOOSA REGIONAL MANAGEMENT TRIAL

The Moreton Bay Regional Management Trial is now well underway and has identified some significant
challenges and complexities associated with achieving agreement on future fisheries management
arrangements under a regional management model with a diverse cohort of stakeholders and user groups.
Council has for some time noted a desire to have a greater level of involvement in the future management of
the permitted activities in its waterways and a regional management model could be a vehicle in which to
achieve this objective. The Noosa Council already supports projects that aim to deliver improvements in
aquatic biodiversity and fish abundance that will assist the restoration of the rivers, estuaries and lakes. Council
recognises the commercial fishing sector provides an income producing resource to local fishers who also seek
to continue to harvest this resource sustainably. Council also recognises there must be a balance between the
extractive activities permitted in the waterways and the communities desire to preserve the aquatic resources
and fish abundance for future generations.

This option proposes that Noosa Council identifies a framework and set of objectives for a regional
management trial for Noosa’s rivers, lakes and beaches and establish a stakeholder working group to bring
together representatives from key user groups of the river, lakes and beaches to provide a Regional
Management Trial Plan to submit to the Queensland Government for consideration.

The aim of the Noosa Stakeholder Working Group would be to develop a plan for future management priorities
for the sustainable use of aquatic resources including commercial, charter, recreational and indigenous fishing.
These objectives would ideally include consideration of some of the following principles;

Ecological Objectives
    Advocate for habitat protection and rehabilitation
    Minimise the risk of localised depletion of fish stocks and reduce bycatch
    Advocate for continuous data collection and scientific knowledge assessments of fish stocks and water
        monitoring
    Protect vulnerable spawning aggregations



21
     Vessel Monitoring System
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