TAILOR DECISION DEFIES LOGIC

The announcement today by the Minister to continue to allow the current catch of tailor by commercial fishers is extremely disappointing in view of the amount of information available on the importance of the tailor fishery to the average Queensland family angler said Mr Doohan, Chairman of SUNFISH QLD.

SUNFISH QLD has advocated no tailor netting on our beaches now for the past 2 years but our representations on behalf of QUEENSLAND fishermen has fallen of deaf Fisheries ears. The problem is that the Queensland Fisheries Service do not have the expertise to analyse the socio economic implications or the community benefits & make responsible well informed decisions he said.

135,000 anglers chase tailor along our beaches each year & spend a conservative $10 million dollars doing so in the hope of catching a tailor. In the process they create many jobs & support the local economies of coastal towns such as Hervey Bay & Rainbow Beach he said.

The commercial fishery is worth around $400,000 with the equivalent of about 4 full time fishermen catching tailor - the logic of the decision defies explanation when the fish could be better used & value added as a recreational species Mr Doohan said. Once the nets go round a school they are cleaned out totally leaving nothing for the family fisherman.

Last year the NSW Government declared tailor as a species not to be netted in a progressive move to encourage recreational fishing in that state along with buying out many commercial fishers he said. Queensland is now lagging well behind all other States in looking after its recreational fisheries & there is no doubt that many Queensland anglers will now spend their tailor dollar on net free NSW beaches.

Mr Doohan said that anglers must take the time to have their say when the Regulatory Impact Statement is released or suffer a further decline in catches. I would encourage you to contact your local Politician or write to the Premier direct to have the NSW legislation adopted in Queensland.

Contact point Mr John Doohan, Chairman SUNFISH Qld. ph 33593086
Mr David Bateman, EO, SUNFISH Qld ph 38804261

SUNFISH QLD INC - Tailor Information Sheet