It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 11:53pm:


Do you let them know it is a no take zone?

pjb05 wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 9:26am:


So you encourage this sort of thing?

Do you encourage people to exceed bag limts, minimum sizes etc?

pjb05 wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 9:52am:


Would you respond with this in real life:

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?

I thought you supported marine parks in some circumstances? Would that change how you felt about poaching?

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Depends upon the 'authority' upon the boat i'm on and my 'local area'.
Other than this - my mates and I have succeeded once in pretending to be 'Rangers' and confiscated gear from illigal fishers. We had to reurn the gear once the Rangers turned up laughing because they continued to use 'hand-lines' hours after we told em to leave and were busted by the Rangers themselves. In the end, the Rangers rang to tell us we can keep the gear because the culprits couldn't pay the entire fine. We said "bin em" as we prefer to SpearFish which is more selective and responsible ...these days.
We were warned though that 'impersonations' are illegal as well, so we just yell out "Efin knobheads" rather than encroach upon the official duty. But Rangers have my full support and do a great job, even though they are extremely short staffed.

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Depends upon the 'authority' upon the boat i'm on and my 'local area'.
Other than this - my mates and I have succeeded once in pretending to be 'Rangers' and confiscated gear from illigal fishers. We had to reurn the gear once the Rangers turned up laughing because they continued to use 'hand-lines' hours after we told em to leave and were busted by the Rangers themselves. In the end, the Rangers rang to tell us we can keep the gear because the culprits couldn't pay the entire fine. We said "bin em" as we prefer to SpearFish which is more selective and responsible ...these days.

Yes It's wise you put that proviso in considering spearfishing nearly wiped out groper and the GNS. I don't see the sport in spearing a fish either.

We were warned though that 'impersonations' are illegal as well, so we just yell out "Efin knobheads" rather than encroach upon the official duty. But Rangers have my full support and do a great job, even though they are extremely short staffed.

Yes those poor public sevants. They have have such tough working conditions.

...gotta go to work again.

Back from work...

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On the contrary PJ, I dive and 'see' the difference of 'dive sites' where there is a lot of fishing and minimal fishing. Batemans Bay is a good example where the areas heavily fished are nothing more than empty urching barrens and the protected areas have some sense of a natural setting inhabited with fish ...mostly nursery fish (feeling protected I guess>?). Just beyond the viz of Divers though you can just catch a glimpse of the 'big' fish which are more 'flighty' in their behaviour.

So you have 'areas' that are of benefit to Aquatic Life and if you look at the Gravel Loader at Bass Point or Rapid Jetty (SA) - you will see what 'Artificial Reefs' could do to provide 'structures' that are beneficiary. Go to Tathra Wharf or Merimbula Wharf or any wharf and you will see schools of fish underneath the wharf but they never go out beyond its protection to nibble the bait.

So you have beneficiary 'areas' and 'structures' - the 3rd step would be 'beneficiary Fishing methods' that don't trawl the sea floor into desert wastelands, etc, etc or non-selective net/line catching that catch a 70% throw-back stock (that hardly ever survive).

Structures/Artificial Reefs: You see a lot of great Aquatic photos coming out these days, but there is a lot to listen to underwater too.
Fish can 'hear' a Bommie up to 30km away ...thats how they find their way across vast expanses of sand to another Bommie. They don't use a Sextant, thats for sure. They listen to the buzz of activity that the Bommie is offering and Fish are incredibly social creatures - they make their way there. Why a Bommie? Why do people build and flock to Pyramids, let alone the concept of a City? American Divers put all sorts of things into Quarries that are flooded - planes, trains and automobils = why? Because they need 'stimulation'. Fish need stimulation too ...especially when it comes to breeding. Nothing worse than seeing a fish go round and round and round in a pen like a docile autistic 'thing'. Pens are the answer that 'civilised' people can only offer to compensate for the 'natural' world they have ruined. Parks/Sanctuaries/Zones are what 'natural' people can offer instead.
You tell me which you prefer?

I think we have experienced 100 years of people taking as much as they can, even beyond the term 'need', from the seas and oceans - and putting only 'rubbish' back in return.
I think times are changing for the better and like all things 'evolutionary' - I kinda pity those fishermen who still live in the past and can't see their own 'extinction' ahead.