SPECIAL REPORT 17 Nov 11

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Fisheries Minister, The Honourable Craig Wallace issued a Ministerial Media Statement on Friday November 11, 2011.
No more pectoral fin removal for recreational fishers Recreational fishers will no longer be required to remove the pectoral fin from coral reef fin fish and Spanish mackerel from today following changes
to Queensland fishing rules. Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said the requirement for recreational fishers to remove the pectoral fin was no longer considered necessary. “We had the rule in place to help prevent illegal marketing of coral reef fin fish and Spanish mackerel,” Mr Wallace said. “By requiring recreational fishers to remove the pectoral fin, we were seeking to identify people who were selling the whole fish without a commercial licence. “Illegal or black marketing is a significant threat to the economic viability of the commercial fishing industry, and it is imperative we continue to target such activity. “However, we found that the rule to remove the pectoral fin did not help prevent illegal marketing and by removing it we are reducing the regulatory burden on recreational fishers. “The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol have a number of ways for targeting illegal marketing including onsite inspections of seafood wholesalers. “The public can also help by reporting suspected illegal fishing activities to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116.” For further information on fishing rules, visit http://www.fisheries.qld.gov.au