Jump to content

Convicts as bait


hoges

Recommended Posts

Yesterday we went up to Newcastle for a bit of a day trip, we were amazed to see a number of fishermen sitting on a wall using convict juvies as bait... They seemed to be together as a group and seemed to have a decent catch from their bait.

Is this legal? I've never seen anything like it before...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I cant see why it would be illegal, after all, we do (us fishermen) catch live slimy makeral and yellowtail ect for live bait. So convicts i guess would be a cheap source of live bait.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was thinking it is terribly irresposible too. angry.gif I doubt the relevant authorities would look kindly upon it. They need thier asses kicked hard for threatening the ecosystem. This is also the kind of crap that gets us a bad name and fish on the noxious list. Hoges, I bet there is something in the act that could bring charges to bear on those rotten mongrels. If you can do something more, maybe you should try angry.gifangry.gifangry.gifangry.gif Personally I'd be reporting those lowlifes. I bet they know exactly what they were doing too!!!

The epitome of laziness IMO. Its takes very little effort to catch the correct live bait.

Cheers,

Jason

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It actually depends entirely on whether they were used dead or alive.

Alive, it is very illegal, dead, I doubt there is anything you can do.

I have seen people arrested for using live goldfish as bait fishing for bass and cod out west.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They were alive, they had them in a bucket of water!

I've got a couple of photos - the idiots let me take a shot inside their bait bucket, I also have a couple of shots that has the culprits in them - taken from a distance... I would love to report them to someone.. would the NSW Fisheries be the go?

The one thing that worries me is where do I stand in terms of taking someone's picture without their permission... don't want this to come back a bite me sad.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd like to see the pic too. If you were in Newcastle itself (the city), then I'm guessing they were fishing in salt water, as there are no fresh water bodies of water in the city (that you could fish in).

Either way, it doesn't sound like the kind of thing a regular fisherman does blink.gif

On the other hand, it's a good endless supply of live bait I suppose.....

The poor old convicts would have a pretty horrible death though getting taken out of a freshwater bucket and tossed into the ocean angry.gif

If they were fishing outside the city in a freshwater river, then NSW fisheries would be very interested in a picture of them I'm sure. It would turn into very expensive bait if they were caught laugh.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think I would be wise to post the pictures on the forum, just in case someone involved accesses these forums.

Though just a query, you know how all our tank additives say not for use on fish for human consumption - how would this stand when your bait had been exposed to those additives and your fish that you were about to eat and eaten the bait?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well the fish you caught wouldn't have digested it so I wouldn't be stressing about that.

The warning is probably just to cover their buM anyway, probably have to get some special govt approval to make "Aquaculture grade" food anyway

Link to comment
Share on other sites

VERY ILLEGAL. angry.gif I would encourage you to report the matter to NSW fisheries. yes.gif

By the way i might move this topic to General discussion as it is important.

An article from yesterday's Courier Mail.

Hell fish blitz begins

Author: Michael Madigan

Publication: Courier Mail (014,Thu 07 Apr 2005)

Edition: 1 - First with the news

Keywords: Fisheries (4)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUEENSLANDERS are helping spread a predatory freshwater fish which destroys native species.

The tilapia has been dubbed ``the fish from hell'' by ecologists shocked by its extraordinary reproductive capacity coupled with an aggressive approach to feeding grounds.

It was revealed earlier this year the tilapia had invaded the extensive Burdekin river system and was also entrenched in the Wild River near Herberton on the Atherton Tableland. The Wild River joins with another watercourse to form the Herbert River.

James Cook University freshwater ecologist Damien Burrows, who has been tracking the tilapia, said it had also been found around the Charters Towers region, west of Townsville.

The State Government is preparing an assault on the imported tilapia and is training 16 environmental officers to use a fish poison.

It also wants people to stop helping the tilapia to spread.

Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said it was clear that in a majority of cases tilapia were being spread to new river systems by anglers.

A Fisheries spokesman said the fish were introduced to other river systems by anglers who used them as bait. He said live bait fish could escape and, even dead, tilapia -- which are mouth-breeders -- could carry eggs in their mouths which could hatch in a new river system.

Authorities recommend that when the fish are caught they are killed and buried or sent to a Fisheries office.

Mr Palaszczuk said infestations in the Burdekin catchment area and the source of the Herbert River showed the fish was still being moved by people.

``The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has an ongoing education and extension campaign aimed at reducing the risk of tilapia being moved from one river system to another,'' Mr Palaszczuk said.

He said significant resources were committed to try and stop the spread of the tilapia, including:

* 16 officers from across Queensland who have been trained in use of the fish poison rotenone;

* The purchase of stocks of rotenone and the necessary application equipment;

* Two field officers in north Queensland who have had a significant percentage of their time allocated to pest fish management;

* Funding for the development and implementation of a communications strategy, and

* Funding for surveys to determine the full extent of the fish in the Burdekin catchment.

Dr Burrows said the Government appeared to be serious about dealing with the fish and had made ``a nice start on what is a significant problem''.

Mr Palaszczuk said the department was a partner in the Invasive Species Co-operative Research centre and had allocated officer time and funding to support research on pest fish control.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think if you ring NSW Fisheries and let them know you can tell them you have photos but explain you concerns about handing them over. I can't see them encouraging you to do the wrong thing, and I think they would be happy to know the time, location, etc, so they can do their own detective work and take the right action.

I definately think you should tell them, because I think it is illeagal, and very environmentally dangerous!

R

Link to comment
Share on other sites

tilapia had invaded the extensive Burdekin river system and was also entrenched in the Wild River near Herberton on the Atherton Tableland. The Wild River joins with another watercourse to form the Herbert River.

This is a disaster. It is now only a matter of time perhaps before they find their way into lake Tinaroo and the Barron river. God knows maybe even the Daintree river too sad.gif

Ignorance is NO excuse for such an act.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi All,

Just to let you know that I have had extensive talks with the NSW Fisheries over the past week. They were very interested to speak with me and not the first report of this event in Newcastle.

I explained to them my concern about providing the photos and they ensured me that they would be used as proof that the event took place more than the people involved.

Now that they have concrete evidence they will be policing the area that this event took place over the next while and see what they can find.

Apparently regardless of the fact that it was salt water it is still an offence and the offenders won't get away lightly.

Anyways I have provided them with all the information I had on dates, location times, number of people, photos etc. It's now in their hands - hopefully something will happen!!!

Thanks for posting that article Willy, thumbup.gif made me feel much better about contacting the Fisheries.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thing is I don't see how they can arrest of give fines to people using them. Warning maybe.

Consider this. In the court of law (you cannot enforce COMMON SENSE) as there are some dumb people out there.

We say its NONO but to those JO BLOW it doesn't strike to them that what they might be doing is immoral (let alone illegal).

Once agian if they recommit the crime then they are in trouble but I doubt fisheries or any governing body can say that they cannot use live bait (technically its live bait).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gianniz, I don't think you quite understand the court system. Ignorance is not a valid defence. This is an illegal practice, they would have to come up with something better than "I didn't know" in their defence.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IGNORANCE is a part of defense in Australia IF the law is not clear.

Indeed there is no specific law about using Convicts in Salt water system. Therefore governing bodies cannot charge them with anything. And if they can relate this issue with some other offense then chances are they will issue out a warning (and education) rather then a hefty fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good on you Hoges! Im really glad you spoke to the authorities.

Courts and the law issues aside - if you had not told them they would not have known it was going on. At least they will be looking into it now and perhaps doing something about it.

a big thumbs up and pat on the back from me

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ducksta Posted Today, 11:22 AM

  The law states that the release of live exotic fishes into waterways is illegal. There isn't any clarity problems with the law...

Yep thats exactly what the Fisheries said.

Willy Wombat Posted Today, 01:37 PM

  Good on you Hoges! Im really glad you spoke to the authorities.

Courts and the law issues aside - if you had not told them they would not have known it was going on. At least they will be looking into it now and perhaps doing something about it.

a big thumbs up and pat on the back from me

Aww thanks Willy, I just hope that something good comes of it!!!

Anyways I don't suppose we will ever know, but at least we tried!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...