SA government bans commercial fishing after fish deaths caused by toxic algal bloom
Commercial fishing has been temporarily banned in some South Australian waters in a bid to replenish fish stocks decimated by toxic algal blooms that have plagued the coastline since the beginning of this year.
The state government will temporarily restrict commercial fishing around The Gulf St Vincent and Kangaroo Island from next month to help fish stocks recover following an algal bloom that has killed thousands of marine creatures.
Commercial shellfish and blue crab fishing will be suspended until June 30 and recreational bag limits for all species in the Gulf will be halved, Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas told reporters.
A 50 percent bag limit will apply to recreational squid, garfish, blue crab and King George whiting in Spencer Gulf, but commercial fishing can continue in the area.
The Prime Minister said that fish stocks are an issue that needs to be closely monitored and that 7 million dollars will be invested in programs to increase the number of fish.
“It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that we help protect and restore these species and those whose livelihoods depend on them,” he said.
“We don’t want a set of situations where Spencer Bay is overfished because the effort is just moving from St Vincent Gulf to Spencer Gulf.
“The southern region and the west coast are unaffected and people will be able to continue fishing at their leisure.
“In SA, we have one of the best regulated fisheries anywhere in the world; there are catch limits, there are bag and boat limits, there are quotas available, all of which are informed by research and science, which is our core mission to make sure we have a sustainable fishery, not just for now but for future generations.”
Seafood Industry Australia vice president Kyri Toumazos said it was the toughest journey the industry had ever faced in the state’s commercial fishing history.
“The decision to maintain fish stocks in the coming period to rebuild them is the right decision,” he said.
“We are fully behind them”
