Platypus drown in yabby traps

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is concerned about wildlife drowning in yabby traps in local rivers around the South West Slopes.

NPWS ranger Angela Lonergan said that NPWS have had several reports of platypus dying in traps in recent months.

Ms Lonergan says air breathing mammals such as platypus and water rats, and amphibians such as tortoise are attracted to yabby traps by yabbies and shrimp feeding on the bait used.
Ms Lonergan said platypus commonly live in the rivers, streams and lakes of eastern Australia, from the Annan River in northern Queensland to far-south Victoria and Tasmania. They are found in the major permanent river systems in the south of NSW, west of the Great Dividing Range, and occasionally in South Australia.
“Like other native animals, platypus and water rats are protected under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act.”

Ms Lonergan said the only legal method for taking yabbies or Murray Crayfish, during the Murray Crayfish season which runs from the 1st of May to the 31st of August each year in the Murrumbidgee River, is by hoop or lift net.

“The nets should be marked either at or above the waterline with a tag with the person’s name and residential address or boat registration number.

She said all traps and nets are illegal in notified trout waters except for the use of hoop or lift nets in Lake Eucumbene and Lake Jindabyne.

For further information on fishing regulations please contact Department of Primary Industries on 1300 550 474. For further information on native animals please contact Department of Environment and Climate Change 1300 361 967 or the web site www.environment.nsw.gov.au

Shark pictures show amazing killing display

Swiss to ban Catch and Release fishing

Catch and Release fishing will be banned in Switzerland from next year, it was revealed this week.

And anglers in the country will have to demonstrate their expertise by taking a course on humane methods of catching fish, under new legislation outlined by the Bundesrat - the Swiss Federal Parliament.

The new legislation states that fish caught should be killed immediately following their capture, with a sharp blow to the head from a blunt instrument. Under the new regulations, the use of livebait and barbed hooks is also prohibited except in certain situations.

The laws come into effect in 2009 but while the Swiss government does not mention Catch and Release specifically, it does say that "it is not permitted to go fishing with the 'intention' to release the fish."

EFTTA lobbyist Jan Kappel has been in contact with Martin Peter, Vice President of the Swiss Angling Federation, to see whether a joint approach to the Swiss government could persuade them to amend the legislation - which forms part of a much wider animal welfare programme.

The law on the protection of animals was passed by the Swiss parliament in 2005 and officials have spent three years refining the details, taking into account the comments of interested parties.

Said Jan: "Catch and Release is one of the most difficult issues we have to deal with, and one of the most important in my opinion.

“The new Swiss law doesn't make use of the term 'Catch and Release', which is the same as in Germany – but I don't see how governments can enforce legislation which makes 'intent' illegal.

“And demanding that people kill the fish they catch gives no thought to the conservation benefits from releasing them."

It’s believed that the legislation could affect as many as 275,000 anglers in Switzerland, who generate around 30 million Euros in annual tackle sales.

EFTTA acting president, Pierangelo Zanetta, said: "EFTTA does not believe that forcing anglers to kill their catches is either good for nature or for recreational sport fishing - which makes a significant financial contribution to the EU economy.

“Making the killing of fish obligatory will simply reduce fish population and, at the same time, run the risk of having a negative impact on sport fishing.

"Anglers and the sport of angling invest time and money to improve water quality and create larger and healthier fish populations. We believe is it far better for the fish if the fisherman decides, according to the situation, whether to keep and eat the fish or to release it."

Review of the zoning plans for Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands Marine Parks

The Marine Parks Authority is commencing a review of the zoning plans for Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands Marine Parks on *31 March 2008*.

NSW marine parks conserve marine biodiversity, maintain valuable ecosystems and support sustainable uses of the marine environment.

Marine park zoning plans are a key tool for managing NSW marine parks. They identify the different activities that are allowed in parts of the marine park and are designed to provide protection for sensitive areas and for ongoing sustainable use such as fishing and tourism.

The current zoning plans for Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands marine parks came into effect in 2002 and the Government has committed to a review of the plans after five years of operation.

Purpose of the review

The review will determine whether the current zoning plans for Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands Marine Parks remain appropriate for securing the objects of the /Marine Parks Act 1997/. In brief, these are to:

* Conserve marine biodiversity and habitats, and maintain ecological
processes, and
* Provide for ecologically sustainable use, public appreciation and
enjoyment.

The review will commence on *31 March 2008*. Public submissions will be invited for a period of two months from that date.

Information package (available from 31 March 2008)

To assist the community in participating in the review an information package will be made available from the Marine Parks Authority website. It will contain:

* fact sheets on the review of zoning plans
* background documents on the natural, economic and social values of
each marine park
* a form for making submissions

How to be involved

Workshops and information days will be held during the consultation period. These will be advertised in local newspapers and on the Marine Parks Authority website.

Public submissions will be invited from the *31 March 2008** * for a period of two months.

Further information

Please contact the Environment Line on *1300 361 967*

Get along to the Sydney Easter Fishing Festival
(Fri 21 - Mon 24 March 2008, Brighton Le Sands). Plenty to see and do - enter the fishing competition for your chance to win a great Ally Craft fishing boat package valued at $60,000. Bring the kids for a day of fun.

Ongoing testing has confirmed that dioxin levels in Sydney Harbour are still above acceptable and safe limits. As a result it is recommended - for your own health & safety - that any fish, crustaceans or shellfish taken from anywhere west of the Harbour Bridge be released and NOT be eaten.

For fish taken from the eastern side of the Harbour Bridge - out as far as the Heads - the following maximum monthly intakes should be observed.

(Please note that if you consume the maximum monthly intake of any one of the listed species, you should not consume any other listed seafood from the harbour during that month).