Amateur Fishermen’s Association NT slam government’s barramundi effort limits

It’s not just the environment that will be affected by the government’s new “effort limits” on barramundi, says the recreational fishing community. Why there are concerns for the $270 million sector.

AFANT chief executive David Ciaravolo said he is concerned by the government’s decision to introduce effort limits. Picture: Justin Kennedy

The Territory is falling behind Queensland in the barra business, claims a recreational fishing leader.

The claim follows the government’s decision to introduce effort limits for commercial barramundi boats in the Roper River, Moyle River and Anson Bay.

Amateur Fishermen’s Association Northern Territory chief executive David Ciaravolo said there was a misconception that commercial fishing was more valuable that recreational fishing.

“When it comes to barramundi, the big business is in recreational fishing – the jobs are in recreational fishing, the value is in recreational fishing and recreational fishing for barramundi is big business for the Territory,” he said.

“And when (the government) are talking about a $40 billion economy and we have a $270 million recreational fishery, what I would like to hear is a target toward a $500 million recreational and tourism fisheries into the future and not policies that compromises that growth, but targets it.”

In 2020, Michael Wilson found a monster 124cm barra on his Roper River trip. Photo: Supplied.

Mr Ciaravolo said the Territory’s barramundi neighbours could pull ahead in light of the decision.

“We’re in a situation now where Queensland – who is our competitor for the tourist market and even the market of people who want to live where the fishing is great – are phasing out gillnetting on the east coast,” he said.

“And what (the AFANT) want to see is the Territory government send a similarly strong message and say ‘No, the Territory is the best place to fish barramundi in the country and we will remain so because we have policies in place to protect it into the future’.”

Mr Ciaravolo maintained effort limits coupled with gillnetting could affect barramundi stocks.

“Gillnet fishing can be intensive and under the current controls it’s the equivalent of allowing a kilometre of net to be deployed at the Roper River every day for an eight month season,” he said.

“We don’t think having that level of netting is conducive or supportive of the optimal outcomes for the Northern Territory.

“We also know that traditional owners have raised serious concerns in other areas about the impact of gillnetting.”

Mr Ciaravolo said curbing the commercial footprint was beneficial in the long term.

“This is one of the unique opportunities for policymakers, we have a chance here to do something that is better for the Territory, better for the environment and highly popular,” he said.

Barramundi caught in a gillnet. Picture: Supplied.

“There are not a lot of industries that I can think of that can grow economically, could become better for the environment and will be embraced tens of thousands of Territorians.”

Agribusiness and Fisheries Minister Mark Monaghan said the decision would benefit “all parties”.

Agribusiness and Fisheries Minister Mark Monaghan said there is “plenty of fish” and that “all parties” will benefit from the decision. Picture: Sierra Haigh

“(Barramundi fishing) is a huge part of our Territory culture and in good news there is plenty of fish to go around, and the interim measures introduced for the 2024 season only will ensure the sustainability of the industry for all parties,” he said.

Mr Monaghan said stakeholders had been consulted for a solution.

Originally published as Amateur Fishermen’s Association NT slam government’s barramundi effort limits