As someone who has fished the Fitzroy River and its tributaries since childhood and was an original member of Native Fish Australia Fitzroy River Branch, Anglers’ Fish Stocking Association of Queensland Fitzroy River Branch, The Fitzroy River Fish Stocking Committee, all of which finally became The Fitzroy River Fish Management Committee, I would defy anyone who might try to paint me as an anti-recreational fisherman.
However, I believe in scientific evidence and also actually taking the time to study a subject before commenting. As such I have never used this column to express my views regarding the proposed, and what would appear to be a done deal, banning of the professional and legal netting of a portion of the Fitzroy River and the whole of its delta. I am so moved by the unfairness of the decision to lock out the majority from our local fishery resources that I cannot help but be compelled to offer my view.
Despite assurances by our Premier, the local Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Byrne, the minister charged with looking after the fishery on our behalf has refused to consult with those whose lives will change as a result of his edict to ban the majority from accessing a food source which they own; they being the majority of consumers who cannot catch their own local fish. Recently a recreational fisher confirmed this by stating that after the netting stops, “there will be more for us”; us in this case means those who have boats and/or the wherewithal to catch fish will be the only ones to eat this publicly owned resource and to hell with everyone else.
Mr Byrne has failed to explain the fact that he is singlehandedly banning the majority from doing what generations of Rockhampton and central Queensland citizens have always done; enjoy a local and affordable source of protein and “good” fats from a resource that they own. Furthermore he is yet to explain why he says that fresh, local fish will still be available when in fact most of the local working class staples like King and Blue Salmon will all but disappear from the fish shops.
The Labor Party used to claim that it was for the worker. In reality this decision means that fish prices will escalate beyond the working class family budget and their only chance of eating fish will be to rely upon the imported and inferior, sewer grown Asian product that appears in supermarkets.
One would understand if there was a sustainability issue but again Mr Byrne has not cited evidence of this. His claim that a tourist industry will be spawned from this is without evidence either economic or study based. The idea that wealthy tourists will flock to Rocky to go sports fishing is fanciful and pie in the sky and not based on anything but hearsay. There have been attempts in the past by a few gents to establish a viable fishing guide industry. Those blokes failed miserably. In any case were not the arguments about LOCAL fisherman benefitting. Some change of tune. So no science, no economic study, no thought for the consumers who will face rising cost through supply dropping and demand for fresh local product rising. Not quite what one would expect from a local member. And another sad fact about this debacle which seems to have eluded Mr Byrne is the fact that HIS party and Labor government before Can Do together with The Hon Robert Schwarten MLA Retired and former Member for Rockhampton worked tirelessly to achieve what has been an extremely viable fishery for both amateur and professional alike. I am flabbergasted as to where his thinking has come from.
Then there are the local families who earn a living from this sustainable resource. Never mind the families who work hard to supply the market and yes, spend their earnings locally like every other worker. What of the ice dealer who will sell tonnes less ice without the patronage of the local net fishermen. And of course we have boatyards and tackle stores supplying gear which needs replacing regularly. Please do not tell me that this spending will be replaced by a sudden surge in recreational fishermen buying ice, fuel, boats, outboards, rods, reels and so on. That simply won’t happen.
I regard myself as a reasonable, intelligent person who cares for others and for the life of me I cannot understand why Mr Byrne has taken such an attitude to the people who voted him in. This is a one-sided decision that discriminates against the majority. His claim that it has popular support flies in the face of the secrecy with which this decision was made. To suggest that the majority voted for Mr Byrne over this issue is preposterous as he kept the issue quiet for three years and then dropped it two days out from the election when most people were focussed on ousting the former unpopular Premier. When the average citizen understands that there is no environmental reason for this and that they will be the ones who are effectively going to subsidize the lifestyles of the well- off minority and be denied access to their own fish stocks, I believe there will be a different story.
Arrogance and ignorance are a dangerous combination and I suggest that our local member portrays just how dangerous that can be,
Kerod C Lindley, native of the Fitzroy River Basin, The Range, Rockhampton
