Recreational fishers’ group AFANT slams NLC changes to fishing access along NT coastline

THE head of one of the NT’s major fishing bodies has slammed the NLC’s announcement of changes to fishing access over large parts of the NT coastline, saying the move will have a huge impact on ordinary Territorians’ ability to cast a line

The head of AFANT has slammed the Northern Land Council’s announcement of changes to fishing access over large parts of the NT coastline. Picture: Marc McCormack

• Northern Land Council reassures fishos of permit free access to Aboriginal sea country via registration process

THE head of one of the NT’s major fishing bodies has slammed the Northern Land Council’s (NLC) announcement of changes to fishing access over large parts of the NT coastline, saying the move will have a huge impact on ordinary Territorians’ ability to cast a line.

The Northern Land Council (NLC) today launched an online registration process that recreational fishers will have to go through to continue to fish some Aboriginal-owned parts of the NT coast.

The registration process, which can be completed through the NLC website, only applies to recreational fishers, with commercial fishers and fishing charter businesses exempt.

There is no cap on the number of people who can register, it is not limited to NT residents and registrations are valid until December 2022.

The registration process will not apply to all the NT coast, with some areas including Darwin Harbour, Bynoe Harbour, Dundee Beach, Adelaide River and Mary River, remaining registration-free.

However, other areas, including all but 5km of the Finniss River and the whole Mini Mini system, will become off-limits to fishers altogether, as the NLC continues consultations with traditional owners there.

MORE TOP NEWS

Police lay fresh charges against alleged Six Tanks brawlers

Date set for Dan Murphy panel’s first community meeting

‘Seek different’: New tourism campaign entices interstate travellers to the Territory

Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the NT (AFANT) chief executive David Ciaravolo said the move was “disappointing” because it meant recreational fishers had lost access to some of the Territory’s most popular fishing spots almost overnight.

“Effectively, there is really nowhere close to Darwin, or close to where most people fish, that’s covered by these changes … and it’s being presented like, somehow, there’s nothing to worry about here,” he said.

“By and large there’s no access to the areas where people actually fish.”

He also said the new registration system was equivalent to a permit system and added an extra layer of bureaucracy to ordinary Territorians’ ability to fish.

AFANT is calling on the government to intervene.

“The current arrangement does not provide certainty or benefits to fishers or traditional owners, and the government needs to do better,” Mr Ciaravolo said.

However, Ms Uibo said the government supported the registration process, stressing how easy it was to use.

“It’s a very simple process – simple, free, very quick and easy to use, similar to registering for the Million Dollar Fish (competition),” she said.

“It’s a three-step process for traditional owners to know who’s on country and who’s accessing that sea country.”

Opposition spokesman for recreational fishing Gerard Maley said the government had failed recreational fishers.

HOT NEW DEAL: Read everything for 28 days for just $1

“This shock announcement of the lock out of the Finniss River, Mini Mini system and hundreds of kilometres of intertidal zones, plus a permit to access thousands of kilometres of coastline, shows a complete breakdown in negotiations between the NLC and the Gunner government,” he said.

NT Seafood Council chief executive Katherine Winchester said the council supported the changes and welcomed the certainty of access it would provide commercial fishers until the end of 2022.

Follow @AliciaCPerera