IN the Archer Fishing Club report in the Register on January 14 it was stated that 48 commercial fishers were currently netting the Shoalhaven River.
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This is an outright misrepresentation to the public.
At present there may be up to 12 fishers working the river at any one time, although 48 may be endorsed to do so, as they are within the other estuaries open to commercial fishing within Region 6.
Observations that more fishers than normal are working is because of excessive rises in management charges imposed by the Department of Primary Industry – in fact, rises to the order of 300 per cent.
The commercial fishing industry is at present having a reform of diabolical proportions pushed down its throat which if successful will push local seafood prices beyond the reach of everyday working Aussies. It will also affect other people who feed off the fishing industry.
Considering 83 per cent of seafood sold in Australia is imported, some of which is from third world countries. Some people would say 1100 commercial fishers in all of NSW are worth having around.
D. Mayer,
St Georges Basin.
