PRESS RELEASE: Independent Report Finds South East Fish Stocks in Great Shape
4 October 2016. For immediate release. Each year the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) release a report on the stock status of all fish stocks managed by the Australian Government. The 2016 report was released on 30 September and shows sustained excellence in fisheries management by the Commonwealth Government. For […]
Recommendations for Marine Park zoning released
Independent reports from the Expert Scientific Panel and Bioregional Advisory Panels for zoning within the Commonwealth marine protected area network have been released by the Minister for the Environment and Energy, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP. According to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences the zoning as proclaimed in 2012 would have […]
Fin Fingers?
Contemporary understanding was that an ancient group of fishes called jawless fishes (which still exist today) evolved into five different groups of fishes these being; placoderms (now extinct), spiny sharks (also extinct), fin-ray fishes (modern fishes), cartilaginous fishes (sharks and rays) and lobe-fin fishes. One group, the lobe-ray fishes evolved into tetrapods that became the land animals like […]
Productivity Commission Release Draft Report
The Productivity Commission (PC) is the Australian Government’s review and advisory body on policy, regulation, social and environmental issues. Its role is to recommend policies in the long-term interest of the community. The PC has recently released its draft report on marine fisheries and aquaculture. Appointed by the Federal Treasurer, the enquiry aimed to find economic efficiencies, […]
Postie Bike Caught by Trawler
Jack Parkhill from the Miranda Bay couldn’t believe his eyes when they hauled their seine net and instead of flathead found a Postie Bike. The bike was caught in 100m of water 50 miles east of Lakes Entrance. We think the bike is a Honda CT90 Trail 90 which was manufactured between 1966 and 1979 […]
Eating fish . . .it’s not a guilty pleasure
Preliminary estimates in the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2016 report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) show that people are eating more than twice as much fish as they did in the 1960s. The average world per capita apparent fish consumption was 9.9 kg in the 1960s and preliminary estimates indicate it will […]
Fish of the day: The Moonfish
The Moonfish (Lampris guttatus) sometimes called an Opah, is a large discoid (disk like) and deeply keeled fish with an attractive form and a conspicuous coloration. They can reach a maximum length of 2 m and weight of 270 kg. The one pictured left was picked up this winter […]
Fish of the Day: Cookie Cutter Shark
Today’s fish of the day is Isistius brasiliensis, the Cookie-cutter shark. Found throughout the world’s deep oceans and growing to only 50 cm long, this tiny shark packs a surprisingly nasty set of teeth. It can open its jaws almost 90 degrees forming its mouth into a suction-cup. Though no-one has […]
Fishermen call for use of new technology to reduce effects on seabirds
The South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association and the Great Australian Bight Fishing Industry Association (GABIA) have developed world leading technology that reduces interactions between trawlers and seabirds by up to 96%. Plans are in place to roll this technology out across the trawl fleet. Trawl fishermen from both Commonwealth managed trawl fisheries in South Australia are committed to […]
NSW and the NT Committed to Seafood Country of Origin Labelling
NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant (pictured left) has unveiled a new labelling scheme which will see seafood in NSW restaurants labelled according to its country of origin. The Australian fishing industry welcomes the announcement. The industry has been campaigning for truth in labelling either by mandating the now voluntary Australian Fish Naming Standard and/or by removing the […]