2015-11-10 - P&O Agenda - Item 7, Attach 1 - Historical Ecology of the Noosa Estuary Fisheries

used to observe large schools of fish in the waterways, but that the volume of fish
observed was now less. Some raised concerns about water quality, but many
interviewees compared the Noosa River favourably to other coastal rivers in the
region. Concerns were more commonly expressed for fish spawning and nursery
habitat lost as a result of development, or the detrimental effects of wash on the
banks and mangrove habitat from fast moving boats.


Commercial fishers spoke of natural cycles and seasons, emphasising that fish
varied in abundance from year to year. Generally they did not perceive any major
changes in the abundance of mullet, in common with the commercial landings
records. Two commercial fishers stated that stocks of some other species
(flathead and bream) were less in the river, but that they were not at
dangerously low levels. All recreational fishers stated that they had observed
declines in fish abundance.


All fishers (recreational and commercial) attributed declines in fish (at least in
part) to development of the river mouth and altering of the channel. Some
recreational fishers perceived the net fishery to be detrimental to fish stocks in
the river. Others mentioned the lack of prawns in recent years (which they
related to a lack of rainfall) and stated that a declining food base affects the
abundance of fin fisheries. All commercial and recreational fishers interviewed
had observed an increase in the numbers of recreational fishers in the river
throughout their lifetimes, with many stating that overpopulation affected fish
abundance, both directly (from fishing) and indirectly (a loss of habitat and
declining water quality as a result of development).




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