Eyre Peninsula councils want recreational fishing licence to ensure sustainability of the sector

A meeting of Eyre Peninsula councils has supported recreational fishing licences and but opinion differs on whether Great White sharks should be killed after fatal attacks.

Eyre Peninsula councils will unite to lobby the State Government to introduce recreational fishing licences to cast a line in SA waters and mandate the reporting of catches.

The Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association on Friday voted in favour of better management of recreational fishers by introducing a licence, similar to other states.

Shark Cage Diving. Picture: SA Tourism and Adventure Bay Charters

Port Lincoln Council was behind the push which also requests the government investigate the recreational sector’s impact on the state’s 197 licence holders in marine scale fishery.

The commercial sector has said its under pressure from recreational fishers targeting their catches, including them hauling in 305 tonne of King George whiting 2021/22.

The council proposed any funds raised from a future fishing licence be quarantined for marine infrastructure, management of fish stocks and research.

South Australia has 360,000 recreational anglers.

“It (the licence) is not within EPLGA control, but we will pass the suggestion onto the state government and it’ll be with them to recognise support for a fee. We have some suggestions of how the money could be used, including on our jetties,” EPLGA president Dean Johnson said.

Shark kills are being debated.

SA, Queensland and the NT are the only jurisdictions without licences, while other states charge anywhere from $10 for a three-day licence, or up to $40 per year for a boat.

In 2021, a major survey showed the majority of recreational fishers supported either a fishing licence or compulsory registration, but the then Liberal-government failed to support it.

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven previously said the government was not looking at introducing a licence and no proposal had been received from the recreational sector to do so.

A proposal by Elliston Mayor Andrew McLeod to lobby the government to capture and kill sharks responsible for fatal attacks failed to get support of the 10 other councils.

The motion, which had been updated to include a “capturing device” be used “for up to 48 hours” to find and destroy the responsible shark, was laid on the table.

A Great White shark, the species responsible for three deaths in SA waters in the past 10 months.

Mr Johnson said the decision was made after information from the government’s shark mitigation taskforce and marine ecologist and Flinders University professor Charlie Huveneers.

“The decision didn’t surprise me as it’s a complicated issue and we realise that,” he said.

“The EPLGA is united in supporting the communities that went through these tragic events and we’ll continue to advocate for more resources for communities that suffer these tragedies.

“Ultimately the shark mitigation taskforce are continuing their research and we’re hoping some of their research can focus on the western Eyre Peninsula.”

The motion was prompted after Great White shark attacks claimed three lives in South Australian waters over the past 10 months, including at Elliston.

Mr McLeod had also wanted the councils to condemn the use of berley and teaser baits to attract sharks for “entertainment purposes”, such as cage diving operations.

That motion was also laid on the table, meaning it may or may not be raised in future.

The fishing licence would also be enforced for interstate visitors too.

Originally published as Eyre Peninsula councils want recreational fishing licence to ensure sustainability of the sector