Just completed reading the two papers released by the Department of Fisheries, "Integrated Fisheries Management" and "Fisheries Management Paper". Yes I require a large drink and a few panadol but it was an interesting read.

The first paper "Integrated Fisheries Management" gives detailed figures, graphs and figures collected mostly from 2005/2006 surveys and data collected from professional and charter records.

The paper adds 25% increase to the formal figures collected in 2005 suggesting that they are a true indication of the recreational capture. (Go figure)

After all the reading the paper finally states that the commercial sector take 66% of the catch and recreational fishing accounts for 33%

Finally add the readings from "Fisheries management Paper" and you finally get some clarity about the outcome. Yes the department wants to reduce the catch taken by both the professional and recreation groups by 50% from the figures stated in 2005. As a result of the changes in rules over the pass few years the paper indicates that the measures taken to this point "should have created" the environment in which the fishery is sustainable.

Page 18-19, 2.2.6 Current and future management arrangements as stated in point form "are primarily aimed at ensuring that management objectives are met" " reduction of catch across the sector of both recreational and professional by 50%"

In short it seems in the short term there will not be anymore further changes to fishing rules and regulations within the near future without further data.