Nature Coast Marine Group | Community organisation

Nature Coast Marine Group

Phone: +61 487 512 714

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23.01.2022 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article This is more scientific evidence (published Jan 2019) that the abundance of snapper in ocean sanctuary zones (like po...ssibly the sanctuaries near Montague Island) are strongly influenced by recreational fishers. Not micro-plastics, not climate change or other general things that rec fishing lobbyists would like to say are the biggest issues because they require no change on their part. On ocean reefs and headlands recreational fishers remove resident snapper. All other factors being equal, recreational fishers deplete the stock of rare large fish. Most anglers know this in their heart. Science agrees. This study shows what illegal recreational fishing does. Imagine what ignoring this activity by amnesty (or opening sanctuary zones) allowing all fishers to fish in a previously protected area does to the resident snapper. The photos I have included show the sort of pressure recreational fishers could bring on an area when word spreads of a run of large fish. In the paper the effect of illegal recreational fishing in a marine sanctuary zone is documented. A surveillance camera was deployed to observe the number of recreational fishers illegally fishing in a no take zone (108 vessels over 12 months). Baited underwater video camera surveys (BRUVs) were used before and after to monitor the abundance and size of snapper in the illegally fished zones and nearby sanctuary zones. Illegal fishers caught a lot of snapper. Three apprehended vessels (with 3, 2 and 2 anglers) caught 51 snapper between 30cm and 75cm. It was estimated illegal recreational fishing reduced the abundance of snapper by 55% compared to nearby sanctuary zones which were not illegally fished and experienced no statistical change. At some point lobbyists for opening sanctuary zones will have to say they don't actually care about the resident snapper. That the science does support the fact that recreational fishers deplete resident snapper but some ideology of 'freedom to fish' or 'we shouldn't be locked out' and 'we do no damage' is just more important to them. Well I am a keen recreational fisher and like many, many others I care about the future of snapper. I care about our large, rare resident fish. A lot. They are extremely important to a struggling stock. Please, let's build and respect our sanctuaries as important havens for large fish. Places where everyone can snorkel and dive and swim with large resident fish. Don't open these places and destroy the investment. It is probably too late for the snapper in the Montague Sanctuaries. They were opened months ago. But lets stop the amnesty, start rebuilding and take further amnesties and rezoning of havens for snapper off the table. But there is an upside. We have sanctuaries in NSW that have been growing snapper. We are not starting from scratch. Let's not wreck them. The intention of the photos is only to show that there are a lot of anglers and boats. The photos show scenes from Montague Island when the kingfish are on, and Batemans Bay boat ramp on an average weekend. The pictures help show how many anglers sometimes fish on our South Coast. It is not a criticism of fishing, only that protected areas are necessary to protect resident large fish. If there was a run of very large snapper in a newly opened sanctuary there could be extreme fishing pressure applied and the fish removed very quickly. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article #savebatemanssanctuaries Undersearov

18.01.2022 Local fishing identity Steve Starling (Starlo) talks about how anglers and others can help save the endangered shorebirds of our local area, the Far South Coast.

18.01.2022 Some Pics from todays fantastic Paddle Out Event. Thankyou to everyone who came along and made this day special. Thanks Deb Flynn for the great pics!

18.01.2022 Intelligent engagement and empathy can take us out of restricted familiar routines and help us understand our place in the wider natural world. Is this better than sticking with the same old? I think broad is usually better than narrow, deep is better than shallow, and connection is better than separation, even though there may be some who do not agree. There are traps, for example lapsing into sentimentality, but life is complex and people are diverse. There is no certainty, just a conviction that some things are valuable and worth protecting.

16.01.2022 A fantastic speech by Justin Field summing up perfectly our local issue and advocating support of our Paddle Out. Please share & see you there!

14.01.2022 Kelp forests are the basis for the Great Southern Reef, the network of rocky reef habitat that stretches around the southern half of Australia. This research is from Tasmania but their decline is a problem everywhere. Kelp forests support marine life, tourism, fisheries and our South Coast way of life. They face multiple threats. Let’s do what we can to protect them and to rehabilitate degraded areas.

13.01.2022 Awesome info graphic by Catfish Creative! https://www.catfishcreative.com.au/

12.01.2022 Supporters prepare for the Paddle out and showcase our new NCMG website too in this great little vid! See you there if you care!! Narooma, Bar Beach Nov 21 11am Join us for a celebration of our fantastic marine life!

06.01.2022 Adding to our Eurobodalla #allkindsofnatural persona is the abundance and diversity of local produce available. Celebrating the pioneering, and then continued development the local seaweed industry adds to our eurobodalla food trail enjoy this article from The RiotACT.....

01.01.2022 Shorebirds are a valuable part of the marine environment. Some are threatened and are in particular danger over summer when they are nesting. They need our help. Here's a sweet little video made by the coming generation of conservationists. Please share this to promote awareness.