Fighting Committee

[squidgie]

The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW
“Promoting Sustainable Fishing”
To subscribe/unsubscribe to this news bulletin contact the RFA of NSW at RFANSW
www.rfansw.com.au
NEWS BULLETIN 45
12th June 2009
Blue Groper Research Underway to Determine if The Bronte - Coogee
Aquatic Reserve Will Increase in Size.
Representatives from the RFA of NSW, ANSA, Sydney Metropolitan Division of NSWFCA
and South Sydney AFA were invited to attend the recently held community forum to discuss
increasing the size of the aquatic reserve.
The current aquatic reserve has a NSW Fisheries closure for catching of groper from North
Clovelly to the Southern Headland of Gordon’s Bay. Whilst recreational anglers have
supported this, it seems research is being undertaken to see if the gropers need additional
protection. Line fishing is allowed in the reserve. Anglers are just not allowed to fish for
groper within this area. Bluey, our iconic gropers have and continue to provide hours of
enjoyment for SCUBA and snorkeling enthusiast almost daily within this reserve.
Pressure from locals and the Councils has seen the DECC initiate a new project to start
tagging blue groper with acoustic tags from Cape Banks to North Bondi. This will assess the
connectivity between habitats. Both SCUBA and snorkeling groups are pushing for an
increase in the protection of groper from Bondi to Cape Banks. The research project that will
be undertaken was explained at the community forum and the rational was accepted by all
present. It is refreshing to see such detailed research being undertaken before an expansion
is considered.
The Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve covers
42 hectares from the southern end of Bronte
Beach to the northern end of Coogee Beach,
including the foreshore (below Mean High
Water), sea bed and waters out to 100m. The
research project will run from June 2009 until
July 2010 and is designed to:
• Determine the habitat, home range
requirements and residency time of
eastern blue gropers.
• Determine the connectivity and distances
between blue groper habitats both within
and adjacent to the Reserve through
development of a detailed habitat map for
the sea bed areas of interest.
• And to inform and educate the local
community on the values of the aquatic
reserve, and the process associated with
developing management arrangements.
The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW
“Promoting Sustainable Fishing”
To subscribe/unsubscribe to this news bulletin contact the RFA of NSW at RFANSW
www.rfansw.com.au

[squidgie]

The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW
“Promoting Sustainable Fishing”
To subscribe/unsubscribe to this news bulletin contact the RFA of NSW at RFANSW
www.rfansw.com.au
As stated previously part of the research project will involve the tagging of up to 30 eastern
blue groper (both male and female) with internal transmitters. This will provide information on
what areas they frequent, how long they spend in each location and how large each
individual’s home range is. In order that researchers and fishers can identify gropers that
have been internally tagged for this study, these fish will also be tagged with a clearly visible
external “spaghetti” tag.
Transmitter signals will be detected by an array of acoustic receivers deployed in and around
the Reserve. The study area will focus on the existing blue groper fisheries closure within
the Reserve to determine whether the closure is of adequate size to effectively protect the
majority of groper within the Reserve.
At the end of the meeting it was widely accepted by all present, including recreational anglers
that if the science is sound and added protection is needed, then the DECC would start a
review of the reserve. It was also accepted that if the science dictates that additional
protection is not needed, the DECC would embark on an educational strategy focusing on
the existing reserve and its inhabitants.
The RFA will now work closely with the researchers and utilise its extensive contact network
to spread the message. It will also assist the researchers in targeting the non-english
speaking anglers who fish the area. The RFA has a comprehensive non-english speaking
network in place that will be used to disseminate all of the information. An update on the
research is due in 6 months time.
For more information on the research project, please contact Dr Tracey Macdonald at
tracey.macdonald@dpi.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 49163826.
Also check out the following links:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resou ... erbcar.pdf
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resou ... operposter

[pink nipper]

Squidgee,

Good link, have subscribed...

[maxi]

same here ..