G’day All
I have just received a fax outlining the new closure for Murray Cod in SA
The SA Government in their infinite wisdom have just continued the closed
season for Murray cod fishing until 31/12/09, yes that’s correct, until the
end of December 2009.
Their reasons are that due to the drought and MURRAY COD ARE DEPENDEANT ON
FLOWS FOR BREEDING a yearlong closer will come into place. Taking into
account that the season has already been closed for 5 months that will be a
17 month closure, and I will bet my last dollar that it will stay in place
for many a year to come.
The fax I received states that Murray cod are dependent on flows to breed,
the advice I was just given by NSW fisheries is that is not correct, which
explains why cod are breed in farm dams for stocking.
The Minister for everything plus fisheries in SA has in my humble opinion
lost the plot or has been very much influenced by those wanting fishing
banned.
The consequences will be far reaching, the tackle shop in SA that is reliant
on the anglers for his survival will now be looking at putting of staff, not
to mention all the people along the river that depend on the anglers from
all over Australia that come and stay, shop, sleep and spend $ in the small
towns along the river, and yes to catch and in almost all cases release the
cod caught.
All this decision will do is force a lot of businesses to the brink and for
many anglers to break the law to fish, as who is going to determine if you
are fishing for cod or callop (yellow Belly). Many, many, cod are taken on
callop sized lures and many, callop are taken on cod lures.
Who will be the judge on which lure is for what.
I believe this decision is ill-informed and made with no credible
scientific evidence to justify a closure of this nature.
A very simple solution would have been to ban the TAKING of ALL MURRAY COD
for one year, and considering that cod will only breed during their breeding
cycle why close or stop fishing for Murray Cod for the whole year. WHAT WILL
IT ACHEIVE????????????????????????????????????
For more information www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing