00:00Alicia Belitho was side by side with the Premier yesterday for the announcement of widespread fishing restrictions.
00:09This was all new to me today.
00:1124 hours on, the Port Lincoln Tackle Shop owner says the new rules have missed the mark.
00:16It's again put us back to step one of the uncertainty of are these tourists going to come.
00:21Fish stocks have plummeted in Gulf St Vincent leading the government to shut it down to commercial fishing
00:27and halve bag limits for recreational fishers.
00:31The reduced bag limits will also apply to four key species for recreational fishers in the Spencer Gulf fishing zone
00:38which extends to the west of Port Lincoln past Coffin Bay.
00:42It is a bit of a frustration that those limits have been stretched right across that coast.
00:46Are interstate people going to be bothered coming over to the west coast if you can only catch half your bag limit?
00:51But there's been no change to commercial fishing in the Spencer Gulf zone.
00:56A decision criticised by the recreational peak body.
00:59We're following the rules, we're doing what we've been told
01:03and we're being essentially accused of contributing to further demise of a species which is absolutely garbage.
01:11The government says bag limits on both gulfs are necessary because recreational fishers can move between them
01:17while commercial operations can't.
01:19So the reasons for all of the restrictions are for sustainability of our fisheries going forward.
01:24Major financial help for commercial operations shut down by the algal bloom has been extended.
01:29The industry says the new rules are warranted.
01:32We have been working together with government to make sure that we are on the trajectory of rebuild.
01:38The restrictions will take effect at the start of November and remain in place until the end of June 2026.
01:45We have been working together with government to make sure that we are on the right side of June 2026.
01:46We have been working together with government to make sure that we are on the right side of June 2026.
Comments