NOTICE OF THE DATES OF THE CLOSURE FOR PART OF THE SCALEFISH FISHERY AND NOTICE OF SCALEFISH FISHERY CLOSURE TO SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
I, DEIDRE WILSON, being and as the Deputy Secretary (Position Number 702786) in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, acting pursuant to a delegation from the (then) Minister for Primary Industries and Water made on 13 July 2022 and acting pursuant to section 20(1) of the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 (the Act), hereby determine under rule 11(1)(c) of the Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2015 (the Rules):
A. that the dates of the closed part of the Scalefish Fishery specified in schedule 1 are from 12:01 am 1 November 2022 to 11:59 pm 31 October 2023; and
B. that the parts of the non-commercial Scalefish Fishery specified in Schedule 1 are closed to, or in respect of, the activities specified in schedule 2.
SCHEDULE 1
The non-commercial Scalefish fishery in State waters within Macquarie Harbour.
SCHEDULE
1. Set or leave a non-commercial gillnet
2. The take of any species of skates, rays or stingrays (Class Chondrichthyes, Family Rajidae), including Maugean Skate (Zearaja maugeana).
Dated at HOBART this 26th day of October 2022
Deidre Wilson
Deputy Secretary
Information
(This information does not form part of the notice)
This notice implements interim and urgent management actions relating to the non-commercial Scalefish Fishery to reduce fishing associated risks to the endangered Maugean Skate while a Conservation Action Plan is progressed. Fishers should note that although this notice closes Macquarie Harbour to gillnetting, an exemption instrument has been issued allowing non-commercial fishers (recreational and Aboriginal) to undertake gillnetting activities considered to be an acceptable risk to Maugean Skates. This includes gillnetting in defined areas between sun rise to two hours after sun set on the condition that gillnets are set less than two hours—i.e., net is retrieved and catch sorted.
See more details at fishing.tas.gov.au (under area restrictions), the 2022-23 Recreational Sea Fishing Guide (page 69) and in the interactive map of the Tas Fish Guide (October 2022 update)
For further information, please contact the Recreational Fisheries Enquiry line on 1300 720 647 or email fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au.
