Latest news with #VictorianFisheriesAuthority
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Fisherman cops $2000 fine after sinister discovery in Aussie river
An Australian angler has copped a $2000 fine after authorities discovered he was allegedly using live carp as fishing bait, a serious breach of the law, and also deploying illegal setlines — unattended fishing gear anchored and left in the water with multiple hooks attached. This week, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) officers were out patrolling Broken Creek in kayaks, a part of the Murray-Darling Basin, when they came across "several setlines baited with live carp". A man was allegedly found to have had live carp on his rods near Nathalia, along with approximately "17 live carp in his possession". VFA said "given the risk of the man's fishing activity spreading carp to other Victorian waters", officers proceeded to inspect his property, where they located "a large seine net, and several setlines like those observed in Broken Creek". As a result, the fisher received fines of more than $2000 for possessing live noxious aquatic species, using carp as live bait, and possessing commercial fishing equipment without authorisation. "Carp are a noxious aquatic species in Victoria, and one mature carp can lay up to a million eggs each year," a VFA spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia this week. "While we're supportive of recreational fishers who want to target carp to help reduce their numbers, they can't be returned to the water alive or used live as bait. We encourage fishers to dispose of carp responsibly and ring 13FISH if they see or suspect people doing the wrong thing.' According to the VFA, carp populations are at an all-time high in the Murray-Darling Basin, with astonishing estimates suggesting they comprise up to 90 per cent of fish biomass. Dr Tiana Pirtle, conservation officer with the Invasive Species Council, previously explained why carp are such nuisances across Australia. "They are taking over some waterways in Australia," she told Yahoo. "They are the most abundant, large freshwater fish in southeast Australia and are the most common fish now found in the Murray-Darling Basin. They are prolific breeders; a female carp can produce over one million eggs per kilo she weighs and can spawn several times a year." Alarming haul pulled from major Aussie river MP says it's 'time to release the virus' as invasive species takes over Trailer full of fish exposes disturbing reality in Aussie waterways Carp are also extremely hardy and very adaptable. "They can tolerate a wide range of conditions, allowing them to survive and thrive in a wide variety of riverways," Pirtle said. "They can cause significant changes to the river and lake environments that make those environments less suitable for native species and more suitable for them. For example, they can make the water murkier, which native fish, invertebrates and plants are less able to tolerate. This can lead to fewer native species and more carp in rivers and lakes. "They also compete with some native fish for food and spawning sites." As for setlines, they're illegal due to a combination of environmental, regulatory, and animal welfare concerns. The lines, which are left unattended with baited hooks, can cause prolonged suffering to fish and other wildlife that may be caught and left struggling or dying for extended periods. From a conservation perspective, setlines make it difficult to control how many fish are caught, increasing the risk of overfishing and breaching catch limits. They also pose a threat to non-target and protected species, including turtles, platypus and birds, which may become entangled or injured. Because setlines are not actively monitored, they undermine sustainable fishing efforts and enforcement of the rules, including those relating to size limits and humane dispatch. For these reasons, their use has been banned in Victorian inland waters, with significant penalties in place for anyone caught using them. VFA said setlines catch and kill iconic Murray cod of all sizes, above and below the slot limit, including large breeding fish that contribute significantly to future generations. They also entangle native wildlife that inhabit our rivers, such as platypus, rakali and water birds. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
The Guardian
21-03-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Authorities investigate after thousands of leatherjacket fish wash up on NSW and Queensland beaches
Authorities are investigating the death of thousands of leatherjacket fish washed onto beaches in New South Wales and Queensland. The fish, mostly juvenile, have appeared on hundreds of beaches on NSW's south coast and on the Sunshine Coast after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. A spokesperson for the NSW department of primary industries and regional development said the department was investigating reports of dead fish washed ashore along a 140km stretch of the south coast, from Lake Conjola to Narooma, and including the popular fishing spots of Batemans Bay, Ulladulla and Lake Tabourie. 'Current reports are estimating numbers in the thousands of fish, mostly juvenile leatherjacket washed up on several south coast beaches, with the cause currently unknown,' they said. 'Samples have been taken to determine the cause of the mortalities and Fisheries officers are continuing to monitor the areas for any further events.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email There are more than 20 species of leatherjacket found in NSW waters, according to the state government. The fish can be recognised by their small mouth, 'beak-like teeth' and thick, rough skin. A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson confirmed numerous reports of leatherjacket fish washing up on beaches in south-east Queensland in the past fortnight. 'Leatherjackets, which belong to the family Monacanthidae, are commonly found in Australian waters and are known for their tough, leathery skin and distinctive spine,' they said. 'The reasons for these strandings can vary. Environmental factors such as changes in water temperature, pollution or natural events like ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred can contribute to leatherjackets and other fish species washing up on shore.' Leatherjackets were part of a mass fish kill in Victoria's far-east Gippsland in 2017. The Victorian Fisheries Authority said a rapid drop in water temperature killed the fish. Thousands of fish deaths have also been recorded along the Richmond River at Ballina in northern NSW in recent days, with flathead, bream, whiting, prawns and other marine life washed ashore. Waterways protection group OzFish attributed the fatalities to flooding on the northern rivers before and after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which helped create a 'blackwater' event, where organic material was washed into waterways. A spokesperson for Ballina Shire Council confirmed Alfred had affected water quality and low oxygen levels, causing fish kills. 'With widespread impacts, these conditions are likely to continue in the coming weeks,' they said. A similar fish kill happened in 2022, after another severe flooding event in the northern rivers.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fish Declared Extinct in the 1980s Is 'Back from the Brink' with Over 200 Released into the Wild
A fish previously declared extinct has been released back into the wild in Australia. The olive perchlet, a small oval-shaped fish with large eyes, was considered extinct in Victoria, Australia, in the 1980s after being last spotted in nature in 1929, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Now, the species is getting another shot at life and is "back from the brink." Shenandoah Bruce with the North Central Catchment Management Authority told the Australian news outlet that the agency released "200 olive perchlet into Cameron's Creek in the Gunbower National Park." The release occurred in January and reportedly marks the first time the fish has been reintroduced in the area since being labeled extinct. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the olive perchlet plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, particularly in maintaining a healthy food system. The 200 fish were bred in captivity with help from the Victorian Fisheries Authority. Sam Fawke, senior technical officer for the Victorian Fisheries Authority, explained the importance of the fish species: "If we see these species across the board disappear, a lot are them are these small-bodied species, then we're going to see a major effect for the rest of those food webs." The fish frequent wetlands and river systems and are known to eat tiny aquatic pests. They are also a food source for birds. A Feb. 24 social media post from the North Central Catchment Management Authority shared that their recent survey of the olive perchlet released at a different location in Australia in October revealed "incredible results." "From just 100 Olive Perchlet released last October, we discovered a whopping 855 individuals thriving, ranging from 14 mm to 49 mm," wrote the agency. The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries states that the olive perchlet can grow to about 70 to 88 millimeters with an average size of about 2 inches. The fish thrive in rivers, creeks, ponds, and swamps with slow or still waters and are often found on vegetation, logs, and dead branches. The government agency states that the olive perchlet went extinct in the wild due to predation by other fish species, habitat degradation, and fluctuation in water levels. Last month, researchers rediscovered another fish species in India after 85 years. The journal Zootaxa announced that a Chel snakehead, also known as Channa amphibious, was rediscovered after it was presumed to be extinct. The freshwater species was absent for over eight decades, with the last recorded specimens collected between 1918 and 1933 in the Himalayan region of India. But in 2024, three specimens were collected on the banks of the Chel River in the town of Kalimpong in West Bengal. Read the original article on People
