I'm emigrating to Aus in January and was getting excited to stroll along some river banks in search of some big new species which I've never had the pleasure of catching before. Whilst doing some research into freshwater species and which river systems they inhabit I came across an article which said that due to modern agricultural practices, (fertilizers, pesticides etc.) mixed with sandy soil with high drainage properties, the rivers have become poluted and there are no longer fish in them!

Is this true? If it is, then I'll be up for getting a team together to liase with farmers and local government and see if we can't get the rivers cleaned up and back to how they were. I personally love all types of fishing, but for me rivers are the best as they are constantly changing and offer the greatest challenge. I was devestated to see that the rivers are in such a bad state. Surely there must be some environmental grants that can be tapped into.

Does anyone know of any organisation that is already involved in or has an intention to get ther rivers cleaned up?

Its been an absolute pleasure watching Rick Mazza MLC go from forming the party to transforming into the smooth operator he has now become. Take a look at the Youtube link to see him ask all the tough questions to the police during the Estimates Hearing

Can't wait till he starts on the fishing! It's a pity the firearms licensing price hike has got in the way but I know he's got alot happening in the mix

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y6gRWjMNXc 

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/18534680/peel-harvey-estuary-a-toxic-mess/

Ref: Rhianna King, The West Australian Updated August 17, 2013, 2:40 am

Toxic black sludge in Mandurah's fragile Peel-Harvey estuary has reached levels unseen anywhere else in the world, research has found, amid suggestions the Dawesville Cut is failing to alleviate algal growth and nutrient build-up.

And a separate investigation has found the estuary is returning to the state it was in before the $57 million cut was created, and warns its rehabilitation is unlikely under existing management.

Almost 20 years after the completion of the Dawesville Cut, designed to flush out algae and excessive nutrients, the waterways are plagued by toxic algal blooms and sulphidic black sediment.

A four-year study funded by the Australian Research Council, to be completed next year, has uncovered unprecedented levels of black sulphidic ooze, which can cause deoxygenation and lead to fish deaths.

Lead researcher Richard Bush, from Southern Cross University, said the rapid development in the region was a contributor to the build-up of black sediment and phosphorous, caused by fertilisers.

"It's an incredibly toxic material that is accumulating very fast. The concentration of sulphide exceeds any of the reported levels we've seen in similar environments across the world," he said.

Professor Bush said the Dawesville Cut "definitely doesn't seem to have fixed the problem in terms of toxic sediments".

A separate report, to be released by Murdoch University in conjunction with CSIRO, WA Marine Science Institution and WA Fisheries, found the health of the estuary was at a "critical juncture" and action was needed to prevent further decline.

Sarah Metcalf, from Murdoch's school of management and governance, said housing values, tourism and recreation were at stake as the condition deteriorated.

The report highlighted flaws in the management of the estuary, with overlapping jurisdictions and fragmented administration resulting in "weak or non-existent" monitoring.

Jan Star, chairwoman of the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, said the estuary was being neglected. "The pressure to put more urban development down there is only going to increase the nutrient load going into the river," she said.

Department of Water science branch manager Malcolm Robb said the problem was in the upper reaches of the estuary, near the Murray and Serpentine rivers.

Substantially less flushing from the rivers contributed to the nutrient loads. Marine scientists were investigating reports of increased black mud and algae.
"Livestock grazing, dairies, horticulture, urban development and septic tanks all contribute to the problem of nutrient loading," Mr Robb said.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/18534680/peel-harvey-estuary-a-toxic-mess/

www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/shooters-fishers-could-force-greens-scott-ludlam-out-of-the-senate/story-fn59niix-1226725184

Rick Mazza budget response speech;

http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard.nsf/0/5df8c8686897d31448257be9005bd154/$FILE/C39%20S1%2020130917%20p2c-13a.pdf

Fw crew, if you feel like I do about the Marine Parks being brought in on the back of no scientific evidence, please click on the link below and send a letter to the Prime Minister. It takes about 30-60 seconds.

www.keepaustraliafishing.com.au/

Yesterday morning, we had an uninvited guest trying enter our house.  Luckily for the young aboriginal girl, we managed to stop my dog from tearing her apart.

This now has me thinking, what is the best way to protect myself from the law, and to protect my dog from the gas chamber.

What legally can I do?  ie Enter at own risk signs?

Anyone had this problem before.  I would hate to see my best mate get put down

The Shooters and Fishers Party has just launched its Federal Campaign, this is a new level of commitment by the SFP, brought apart by issues such as the federal marine park process debacle, state marine parks not based on science, foreign sell off's of agricultural land etc.

www.shootersandfishers.org.au/news/shooters-and-fishers-party-launches-senate-campaign

At the state level, the Hon. Rick Mazza is already starting to make inroads with the goverment recently backflipping on a wild dog bounty being brought into rural WA.

This is the time to strike if your main interests revolve around shooting, fishing, 4wding, trail bike riding, camping etc.

The greens are stumbling, now is the time to get people actively running them out of town.

This is GOLD.

 well just got reamed by the coppers for a gun lic and additions, the cost has doubled or more.

How long till the fisheries see what Liza Harvey has done and ream me again with a price rise on fishing.

Can you imagine if you had to lic every new fishing rod you buy and it cost's 150 bucks and you have to wait between 1 and 3 months before you can use it and only at certain spots, if you want to use a big beach rod then you can only go where big beach rods are safe to use etc, and if you want a 4X4 you again have to pay and wait to use it, and a boat, etc etc, this govt has it's hands so deep in my pocket I'm thinking they can at least tie my shoes for me.

On the 24th June 2013 a draft management plan for our fishery was released for public consultation and can be viewed online by going to the fisheries web-site and clicking on legislation and then on Draft Legis. on the left hand side.I'm sure Recfishwest would welcome feedback from the fishing community.

Here's the latest email our esteemed Environment Minister just put out. I find it a tad offensive that he suggests that voting Liberal means you are voting for a future of "plundering the oceans".

Hi,

You have previously written to me regarding the Government’s network of marine reserves.

Labor has created the World’s largest network of marine parks around Australia to protect our precious oceans.

Earlier this month a plan by the Liberal Party to stop these marine parks failed in the House of Representatives. But the Liberal Party has again moved to stop those marine national parks in the Senate.

Senator Richard Colbeck - who was also the principle advocate in the Parliament for the super trawler  -  has moved to disallow the marine national park management plans in the Senate.

This is the final hurdle for our marine parks. 

In the next 15 Senate sitting days, members of the Senate will vote on whether to protect our precious oceans, from the Coral Sea to the South West marine region.

I know many of you have been campaigning for ocean protection for many, many years. This final hurdle is crucial

Can you share this email with your friends and family? The best thing we can do to protect our oceans is make sure as many people as possible know about Tony Abbott’s and Richard Colbeck’s plans to scrap marine parks.

Labor will be voting to protect the environment.

Under John Howard, the Liberal Party used to support protecting the ocean in this way and implemented marine national parks in the Great Barrier Reef and the south east of our oceans and rejected a super trawler proposal.

Under Tony Abbott, the Liberals and Nationals want to say no to anything that involves protecting the oceans. They want to abolish national parks in the oceans and invite the super trawler back as soon as they can.

They have even moved to abolish the management plan for the one marine national park which was established under the Howard Government.

There are two futures on offer at the upcoming federal election: Tony Abbott’s is about plundering the oceans, ours will protect them.

Share this email with your friends and family, and we can ensure that our oceans are protected forever.

Yours sincerely,
Tony Burke

Are you happy to donate your time to help Labor promote marine parks?

Take the survey and let them know...check out the first question...the gall of these people...

http://www.alp.org.au/marineparkssurvey

 Fellas ,I have a 7.4 ali boat with bad electolisis and flaking paint also anti foul on hull , Im wanting to sand blast as I have been told this is best option and start again with a total re spray, Im looking for some help on finding a distributor who sells Wattyl poly u400 marine paint , so far im not having much luck , any other sugestions on another product is welcome.

Also seeing as Im painting , Im also looking at re powering with a single 225 or 200 four stroke and looking to spend around 15000k , I currently have twin 90hp evinrudes on the back that are 2000 model 2 strokes .

So if any one has any info on re spraying  and Knowing if any one is selling an out board or woukd like to purchase the existing motors would be apreciated . 

ps im re spaying the boat my self around December.

Thanks Ray

www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard.nsf/0/af0b462faf84157848257b87005a0d2f/$FILE/C39%20S1%2020130611%20p23b-35a.pdf

I dont have to wear a tie at work, but I am going to a few times, and it IS going to be blue. Us blokes (sorry girls on here) should all wear blue ties as a protest to the insult to us made by the Ginger Ninja. Wouldn't it be funny if someone in an overall turns up to work with a blue tie.

So pissed off at this sexist insult. Mini rant over.

The PM is reportedly coming to WA on Wednesday for 2 nights to help Melissa Parkes in the upcoming Federal Election. Pity the fishing community hasn't anything planned to greet her with. Rotten eggs comes to mind with squid ink generously supplied.

I don't know if anyone noticed in todays West Australian but the new state environment minister is considering expanding the Marmion Marine Park North of Perth.So, the BS continues.

 Hi Guys and gals, here is a litte thing that the NSW branch have done for the fishers in NSW, as soon as our member (and hopefully future member'S) get sorted they also can put a fishermans point across in the parliament here in WA.

http://www.shootersandfishers.org.au/news/unacceptable-fisheries-proposals-based-on-opinion-not-science

Unacceptable Fisheries proposals based on opinion, not science

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Peter Johnson  

Proposals to impose limits on fishing because of community opinion rather than scientific evidence must be rejected, says the Chairman of the Fishing Branch of the Shooters and Fishers Party, Mr Peter Johnson.

Most proposals – such as reducing bag limits of trevally, luderick and bream from 20 to 10 – appear to have no valid reason beyond community feeling that current bags are excessive.

“These three species in particular are some of the most fecund fish in our local waters, and are very important to recreational anglers,” Mr Johnson said.

“No scientific data was put forward in this discussion paper to recommend a reduction in the limits for these species, and NSW Fisheries states that only 1% of recreational anglers achieve the bag limit of 20 in the first instance.

“It is ludicrous to consider regulation based merely on social opinions.

Whilst Mr Johnson was scathing of most aspects of the Discussion Paper, he was supportive of the recommendations to allow bow hunting for carp; fin clipping to identify amateur-caught fish, should they be found in a commercial marketplace; and new identification of crab and lobster traps to protect the identity of anglers.

He suggested Fisheries should consider a much simpler limit on crab traps that allowed anglers to be properly equipped to catch the crabs of their choice, still within existing bag limits that have no scientific basis for reductions.

“It is well and truly past time that recreational anglers were represented properly by a Statutory body, something akin to the NSW Game Council,” Mr Johnson said.

“Recreational anglers need their own body to achieve practical, workable outcomes for the fisheries resource. We’re paying a fee to access it, so let us manage it.

“We need stocks for the future, based on proper science, not on ideological social commentary from Green groups.”

Fkn Unions marching on the place where 3 people died?? Dogs IMO. The families would not want to have the death of their loved ones used as a political pawn.

How sick!

Thousands of fish have died this morning in the Wonnerup wetlands, mullet, black bream and pilchard and it's a bloody disgrace that the group that manages the system sit on their bums and do nothing about improving water quality. Their only form of defence is to open up the flood gates after the fish have died.I'm really pissed off big time.

 talking to a mate the other day, as we know there is a permanent plague of bowies in the swan / canning system. The reason is likely that the water quality is so poor, however the result is that other species, prawns and whatnot, just get eaten as juveniles. He suggested a fix: have fisheries rig up an old prawn trawler and just take the bastards out. Chuck the good stuff back. I reckon a cuple of months of this and you would see a serious improvement in the river. Comments anyone ?

 when reading a few posts of late ive seen words highlighted in blue when you hover the mouse over them its advertising scams! is this something you have promoted adam or is the site being hacked?? check out the tuna off fremantle thread it has various words highlighted with links

The Hon. Troy Buswell has just been announced the new Fisheries minister in WA.That has got to be a win for the fishing fraternity being a keen fisherman himself.

Marine Parks Fishing Ban uplifted in NSW. Well for LB anyway  :)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-12/recreational-fishing-allowed-in-nsw-marine-parks/4567642?section=nsw

What are we seeing here, common sense from a state government? Or pressure from organisations that are pro-fishing access?

G'day guys,

I'm pretty pissed off by the libs and the greens plans to lock us out of our rights to go out and RESPONSIBLY catch a feed of fish for our family.

I dont claim to know much about politics and really dont give two shits about it, they are all a bunch of crooks and are just as bad as each other.

dont know exaxctly what labors stance is on turning all of our coastline into marine parks. but I'm lead to believe they too like the libs will want to lock out recreational fishers of every bit of water for no other reason than to satisfy the bleeding hearts of the greens.

I think the only way we can stop this shit happening and ensure we will be ALLOWED to take our kids fishing in the future is to get some people in government who will look out for our rights to fish responsibly. The way I see it is either liberal or labor will get in because its a two horse race but if we can get a few seats for people that support our views we might be able to block wholesale emotion based (non scientific) marine parks and fisher lock outs.

In my brief  research the only party I can find worthy to vote for is The Fishers and Shooters Party 

Does anyone know any others?

Super trawler's operator surrenders registration

Seafish Tasmania, the operator of a super trawler that has been banned from fishing in Australian waters, has surrendered the ship's Australian registration.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed the company relinquished the registration yesterday.

The move comes after Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke imposed bans on Seafish Tasmania using the super trawler to fish its quota or as a floating freezer for catch from other ships.

The 140-metre Abel Tasman, formerly known as FV Margiris, has been docked at Port Lincoln in South Australia since last year, when the Federal Government first banned it from fishing in Australian waters for two years on environmental grounds.

Seafish has confirmed the vessel has been sold and it is expected to leave the country next week.

Seafish Tasmania director Gerry Geen says the Government left it with no choice but to look at other options.

"To even ban the vessel from accepting fish caught by smaller Australian boats and processing them on board - at that point it was abundantly clear that Minister Burke wasn't going to allow this boat to operate under any fashion" he said.

He says the company still wants to fish its quota of jack mackerel and red bait using a large-scale freezer trawler.

"Whether it's the Abel Tasman or smaller vessel, it will be that type of boat," Mr Geen said.

Seafish Tasmania is challenging the Federal Government's trawling ban in court and says it is considering further legal action after the latest ban.

 not sure if i heard correct but i caught the tail end of a report saying that bill marmion will increase the sanctuary zones if he gets back in.

has anyone else heard this