Jervis Bay Fish Kill highlights the real problem

[pink nipper]

Massive fish kills in the Jervis Bay Marine Park confirm that the main threats to our marine environment are pollution, inappropriate development and exotic species – not recreational fishing.

“Jervis Bay and surrounds are strewn with thousands of dead flathead, bream, mullet and other popular table species and the Marine Park Authority can’t tell us why,” commented Robert Brown MLC.

Mr Brown of the Shooters and Fishers Party initiated and chaired the NSW Legislative Council Select Committee Inquiry on Recreational Fishing whose findings were tabled in December last year. The Inquiry identified pollution as the big issue and outlines steps to combat it.

“Fishing is the only activity banned in our marine parks while the Marine Park Authority has done nothing to address the real problem of pollution,” commented Robert Brown.

“These Jervis Bay fish kills confirm the Inquiry’s findings: pollution and habitat loss are the real threat to fish stocks. But the NSW Labor Government would rather keep declaring parks for political rather than ecological gain,” said Mr Brown.

Recommendation 3 of the report requests:

That the Recreational Fishing Trust Funds provide a greater allocation of available funds to rehabilitation and restoration of aquatic habitat and establish formal Memoranda of Understanding and funding arrangements with relevant Catchment Management Authorities to undertake inland river, estuary and coastal pollution reduction programs.

“The Government needs to start using our fishing license fees to protect fish stocks from pollution rather than locking us out,” said Mr Brown.

The Report recommends identifying land based licensed and unlicensed discharges and pollution into marine protected areas and prioritising them for remedial action.

“They’ve got their work cut out for them protecting existing marine parks from pollution without declaring more they can’t look after. For fishers the 26th of March can't come fast enough,” Mr Brown concluded.

[Groper]

Important topic, pity he jumped the gun, the Jervis Bay fish kill has been shown to be a natural event, the message kinds of loses its credibility.

Toxic algae confirmed as cause of fish kill
14 Feb 2011
A toxic microalgae has been confirmed as the cause of a large fish kill on the NSW South Coast, at Jervis Bay, with thousands of dead fish washing up on beaches last month.

Test results have revealed that Karlodinium micrum, a toxic microalgae, was present in sufficient excess quantities in water samples taken in and near the Carama Creek area.

Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) Manager (Fisheries Ecosystems) Sarah Fairfull said the results confirmed earlier tests which showed a natural biological cause was most likely.

"I&I NSW has worked in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water and Marine Parks Authority to ascertain the cause of this fish kill," Ms Fairfull said.

"Harmful algae species do occur naturally in estuarine and marine environments.

"It is important to note that there is no link between the algae reported in the water samples and the macro green algae Microdictyon that has been reported in the bay previously. "

K. micrum is a dinoflagellate (microalgae) that occurs naturally in estuarine and brackish waters worldwide. It is known to be toxic to fish and shellfish and has been linked to large fish kills in Australia and overseas, including Sydney Harbour (1991), Lake Illawarra (2000) and the Swan River in Perth (2003-2006 and 2010). Kills have also been reported in Chesapeake Bay in the United States of America and in the north west Mediterranean.

Densities of the microalgae can increase from mid summer to autumn and high densities can colour the water reddish-brown (referred to as a mahogany tide) and can leave an oily sheen on the surface in calm conditions.

When the algae dies and its cells break down it releases toxins into the water. If densities of the algae are sufficiently high, the conditions may result in a fish kill event. The bloom may not be evident in the water at the time of the fish deaths.

Past analysis of fish affected by this microalgae have shown evidence of gill damage which may then affect their ability to absorb oxygen. Fish are often observed as being sluggish and may be seen gulping at the water’s surface.

The exact cause of the bloom in the Bay is unclear, but is thought to have been due to nutrient rich ocean currents and warm, clear shallow water in Jervis Bay which provide ideal conditions for algae to grow. K. micrum is quite tolerant of salinity changes and prefers temperatures of the range 17-20oC. Rapid changes in environmental conditions, such as higher water temperatures, or even a strong wind could trigger the death of the algae and a toxin release.

Strains of K. micrum vary in their toxicity with some strains having been shown to increase toxin production under low nutrient conditions.

There have been no reports indicating that this microalgae is toxic to humans, however if swimming in or near any algal bloom, swimmers are advised to shower after exiting the water as a precaution.

If fish are observed sluggish, gasping or dying, people are advised not to consume these fish as a precaution and to report the location and their observations to I&I NSW’s 24 hour Fishers Watch hotline 1800 043 536 for investigation.

Residents reported the dead and dying fish at a number of locations along Jervis Bay, including Honeymoon Bay, Hare Bay and Callala Bay in early January.

No dead fish have been reported in the area since January 14 indicating that algal bloom conditions have not continued or reoccurred to date.

Fish affected by the kill include a large range of species and size classes including flathead, whiting, mullet, luderick and catfish.

Media contact: Sarah Wright 0427 075 167

[pink nipper]

Groper,

Interesting article, I didn't know there was toxic micro algie about that was naturally occuring. good heads up

I still remain in oposition to the Greens and their plan to make Australia's coastal waters Marine Parks

Nip.

[Groper]

Same here.

The Coalitions Rec-Fishing policy. http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/coa ... on-lead-up


Quote:
Coalition releases rec fishing policy in election lead-up
22 Feb 2011


THE NSW opposition today released its recreational fishing policy titled “Restoring the Balance”.

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Duncan Gay said today at Port Macquarie the NSW Liberals & Nationals Marine Parks policy claims to outline: “Positive, practical plans based on independent, scientific evidence to give local communities a proper say in decisions that affect their livelihood and lifestyle.”

"The NSW Liberals & Nationals policy “Restoring the Balance” finds the right balance between allowing fishermen appropriate access to fishing spots and protecting the marine environment,” said Gay.

The Coalition policy includes:

* Not abolish any of the existing six marine parks and continue our moratorium on the creation of new marine parks and fishing closures, pending the outcome of our independent scientific audit.
* Immediately commission an independent scientific audit of the effectiveness of existing zoning arrangements in meeting domestic and international commitments to the conservation of marine biodiversity.
* A separate audit to examine which lead agency (Fisheries or the Department of Environment and Climate Change) is more appropriate to manage Marine Parks.
* Trial appropriate recreational fishing techniques in marine parks under review.
* Expand the current Habitat Protection Zones within marine parks subject to the results of the scientific independent audit.
* Local Community Social and Economic Impact Statements included in the audit.
* Commit to removing pressure on our fish stocks and marine environment through a $16 million, 4-year commitment for a commercial fisherman buyout policy.
* Audit the current management of NSW Fishing Trust funds and the process by which trust funds are allocated.
* Create a new Joint Recreational and Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee including stakeholders from the fishing industries.
* Improve the awareness of anglers of zoning arrangements so fines are not handed out to unsuspecting people drifting into restricted areas.
* Improve the current system of compliance.

"Fishermen in NSW have long suffered under NSW Labor's failed marine parks policy which was designed to achieve a political outcome rather than an environmental evidence-based outcome," said Gay.

"The NSW Liberals & Nationals do not believe that Labor's approach of locking communities out of their waterways is the answer to protecting our marine environments.

"Marine parks as operated by the Keneally Labor Government concentrate solely on restricting fishing rather than addressing pollution, introduced species and diseases, some agricultural substances and inappropriate coastal development."

Stay tuned to fishingworld.com.au for more related news in the lead-up to the NSW election

[Groper]

* So we are stuck with the current system, an independent scientific audit has already been undertaken.
* No, NSW is not meeting domestic or international commitments to the conservation of marine biodiversity, so what are they going to do increase SZ or put more Marine Parks in place.
* Wouldnt make one difference the MPA would still be in charge with the same staff.
* Pretty sure No marine parks are currently under review.
* Give the pros a hard time.
* Local Community, Social and Economic Impact Statements are already undertaken for each of the Marine Parks.
* Give the pros an even harder time and lose a major source of employment in regional areas.
* The NSW Fishing Trust funds is already audited and is transparent with expenditure and minutes published on the internet.
* More talk, should be a love fest.
* This is already being done, especially with rezoning to make areas easier to define.
* More $.

Just words that demonstrate they dont have any idea of the systems that are in place and that is because they genuinely dont give a toss. Just tell the punters what they assume we want to hear.