Workshop overview 2 December 2022

Moreton Bay Working Group members, and other select stakeholders, met in Brisbane for a Moreton Bay Fishery Workshop on 2 December 2022 to discuss the future of the Moreton Bay Working Group.

There were three presentations throughout the workshop. Assoc Prof. Daryl McPhee (Sustainable Fisheries Expert Panel member) provided attendees with a presentation on Moreton Bay and its history. Alex Campbell (Stock Assessment Manager, Fisheries Queensland) outlined the process of stock assessments and the schedule going forward. Cherelle Broughton (A/Fisheries Manager, Fisheries Queensland) provided an overview on harvest strategies.

Attendees were invited to provide a general update from their respective sectors. These are summarised below.

Commercial:

  • Trawl – Concerned with discarding dead fish product (bycatch) that could otherwise be retained and sold as byproduct.
  • Crab (mud crab) – Fishery is felt to be well managed, with the main concern being the interference of crab pots (a concern shared with recreational fishers). The crab catch rates are good, despite an increase in fishing effort (recreational and commercial).
  • Net – Recent changes to the fishery, implemented through the Harvest Strategy, can be difficult to understand, resulting in more time being taken to implement and comply with the new legislation. Total catch declines may be attributed to declining effort days and/or fewer commercial fishers.
  • In general, the commercial sector has been through significant change over the last 5 years.

Recreational:

  • Wished to continue discussions with other sectors around the possibility of a net free zone in Moreton Bay.
  • Communicated the need for increased fish stocks to improve the overall recreational fishing experience.
  • Highlighted the importance of education in the recreational fishery, as well as organisations such as Women in Recreational Fishing (WIRF) and 2 Bent Rods that promote participation.
  • Fishing media is an important way to communicate education, research, regulations and other management actions.

Charter:

  • Expressed a need for more charter representation in the Moreton Bay Working Group, and an eagerness to work with Working Group members now and into the future.

Retail/Processing:

  • Communities are concerned that a significant proportion of fish flesh sold in Queensland is imported, as most Queenslanders want to buy local and Australian caught seafood.

All attendees agreed there needs to be open dialogue, respect, and cooperation between each sector going forward. Attendees also agreed that future Moreton Bay Working Group membership should also include representatives from the boating industry, charter, marine parks, conservation, WIRF, oyster industry & traditional owners.

Attendees noted that the Moreton Bay Working Group expression of interest (EOI) process will likely open in February 2023 (coinciding with the EOI processes for other Working Groups), with a meeting to be organised once membership is confirmed. Attendees also discussed the need for obtaining better recreational fishing data, as well as considered labelling and origin of seafood.

Fisheries Queensland expressed that they would release an EOI for positions in the Moreton Bay Working Group by the end of February 2023 and release a schedule for future Working Group meetings once membership is confirmed. Fisheries Queensland has also committed to publish these workshop notes on the Moreton Bay Working Group communiques web page.

Apologies for this meeting were: Darren Burns, Joel Bolzenius and Matthew Vujica.

Attendees: Fisheries Queensland Chair – Dallas D’Silva, Principal Fishery Manager – Tony Ham, Senior Fishery Manager – Jeffrey Ikin, A/Fishery Manager – Cherelle Broughton, A/Fishery Manager – Connor McDougal,– Brett Depper District Manager QBFP - and Christopher Watts District Officer QBFP, Michael Wood, Greg Savige, Mark Kleinschmidt and Jason Thomson (commercial fishing), Judy Lynne, Barry Pollock, Martin Cowling, Liam Fitzpatrick (recreational fishing), Rhiannon Wordsworth and Samantha Beckmann, Women in Recreational Fishing),  Mark Templeton (retailer), Assoc Prof. Daryl McPhee Sustainable Fisheries Expert Panel member, Norm Good (science), Mathew Hubbard (charter), Ben Collins (media) and David Bobbermen (QSIA).