RecFish SA wants more from the MDBA Native Fish Recovery Strategy
Recreational fishers have reacted with frustration to a draft plan to restore native species populations in the Murray, demanding more be done — and faster.
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Frustrated anglers are disappointed with the draft national strategy for native fish recovery in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The state’s peak body for recreational fishing has criticised the draft Native Fish Recovery Strategy 2020-30, released for public consultation on March 10.
In his public submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, RecFish SA chairman Mick Wilson says his members want to see a comprehensive and fully-funded program of restocking the river with fish.
“What recreational fishers want to see is fish fry going into the water … so that within three to five years they can expect to catch the fish,” he said.
“Recreational fisher and community involvement in stocking, monitoring activities and fish habitat needs to start within 12 months, by end March 2021.
“After all, this is a 10 year plan, and many of the keen volunteers are of a certain age that they do not have that many years of active fishing time left.”
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The Federal Government, working with Basin state governments, has committed $5 million to developing and implementing the strategy to recover native fish, for both current and future generations.
While the draft strategy acknowledges that: “In some instances, we may need to use hatcheries, targeted restocking or translocation to help save or recover depleted populations, particularly of threatened species or in areas that have become disconnected due to barriers to movement or drought,” there is no detail on what will actually happen where and by when.
RecFish SA also supports “Action 9: Advocate for greater effort on the installation of fish screens on water infrastructure to reduce fish deaths and injuries” because research has shown millions of fish are injured, killed or removed from main river channels this way. But again, it’s not clear how advocacy from the Authority will translate into “action” to save the fish from death and destruction.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists one-page submission calls on Basin states to commit to support and implement the strategy, including funding for an initial set of actions and a long-term monitoring program.
A MDBA spokeswoman said the authority was “co-ordinating the Native Fish Recovery Strategy on behalf of governments in the Murray-Darling Basin”.
“It will be released pending their sign-off in the coming weeks,” she said.
“The draft strategy received 62 submissions in total.”
The SA Department for Environment and Water says Rec Fish SA’s submission is currently being considered, along with all other submissions.
“The MDBA is developing the Strategy in consultation with all other Murray Darling Basin States,” a spokeswoman said.
“The Strategy will provide a high-level framework to guide investment and foundation actions to assist in protecting and recovering native fish populations.”
The final strategy is expected to be released in June.