A total of $465,000 has been allocated to Queensland stocking groups from the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIP) for 2005. This money came solely from permit fees purchased by anglers fishing the 29 impoundments in the scheme.
The funds will be distributed to all the local stocking groups in the scheme, which now don’t have to rely solely on community fund-raising projects to help pay for fingerlings.
There is a local stocking group near you, so consider becoming an active member to help maintain your local fishery. You will be made very welcome by the other members. – Lez Kowitz, FFSAQ
Facts
2005 SIP fund allocation
The allocation formula used was 50% angler preference: 50%surface area (capped at 4000ha)
| Impoundment | Angler preference | Total allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Bjelke Petersen | 8.17 | $30 922 |
| Boondooma | 6.84 | $26 514 |
| Borumba | 4.01 | $12 144 |
| Burdekin | 1.28 | $24 825 |
| Callide | 3.89 | $15 900 |
| Cania | 3.43 | $11 982 |
| Connolly | 1.19 | $1 723 |
| Cooby | 3.13 | $8985 |
| Coolmunda | 4.45 | $19 943 |
| Cressbrook | 4.43 | $13 213 |
| Eungella | 1.36 | $7816 |
| Fred Haigh | 6.45 | $36 973 |
| Glenlyon | 3.44 | $17 897 |
| Gordonbrook | 1.0 | closed due to algal bloom |
| Kinchant | 1.39 | $8279 |
| Lake Clarendon | 0.82 | $3830 |
| Lake Dyer | 0.90 | $2645 |
| Lake Gregory | 1.48 | $4562 |
| Lake MacDonald | 1.73 | $5477 |
| Lenthalls | 2.36 | $7721 |
| Leslie | 4.65 | $17 795 |
| Maroon | 2.92 | $8628 |
| Moogerah | 2.47 | $10 599 |
| Peter Faust | 4.46 | $32 297 |
| Somerset | 7.75 | $40 028 |
| Teemburra | 4.27 | $15 930 |
| Tinaroo | 7.46 | $36 619 |
| Wivenhoe | 2.75 | $28 279 |
| Wuruma | 1.62 | $13 512 |
| When filling out the | ‘Fund Allocation’ section of the SIP form, 9.78% of anglers didn’t indicate a preference and 12.47% ticked the ‘All impoundments’ box. Their fees were distributed evenly between the 29 dams. |
[CAPTION]
1) SIP funding is helping stocking groups do great things for freshwater fishing in Queensland.
The December 2004 edition of the Freshwater Guide to Rules and Regulations, published by the Queensland Fisheries Service, was identified as the ‘SIP Edition’. This raised a few eyebrows in the angling community, with many fishers wondering why the publication had been funded by the Stocked Impoundment Permit scheme.
FFSAQ contacted Fisheries and was advised that the cost of printing the brochures came out of Fisheries’ operational account and not from SIP funds. Fisheries explained that the brochures were printed for distribution only with the purchase of an SIP, hence the name ‘SIP edition’.
If you’re not buying a SIP anytime soon, you can still get the latest regulations by grabbing a copy of the Guide to Recreational Boating & Fishing in Queensland, published by Maritime Safety Queensland and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
FFSAQ has once again been fortunate to promote freshwater fishing at the Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show. The Boating Industry Association of Queensland (BIAQ) generously allocated free floor space for the FFSAQ stand.
As in past years, an array of live fish was the focal point of the display, attracting adults and children alike. This gave us the opportunity to talk about the stocking programme and the wild freshwater fishery. While stocking is our main focus, it’s encouraging that more and more people are interested in the natural fishery and the threat posed by habitat degradation and impediments to natural breeding.
Each year, many visitors to the stand are surprised to learn that most stocked species don’t breed. This is when the conversation really opens up and the education role begins. These people are invariably impressed with the role that stocking groups play in providing such pleasurable activity.
Thanks to product donations from Yamaha, McGinn rods, and Shimano reels, FFSAQ again held a Show raffle and raised around $1000. These funds all contribute to enhancing the freshwater fishery.
Raffle winners were: Yamaha Generator – Shane Jurss of Balmoral
McGinn Rod and Shimano Reel – Ron Evans of Riverview
Yamaha Accessory Package - Grant Flesser of Clagiraba
Yamaha Accessory Package - Dale Smith of Munruben
Many thanks to Yamaha, McGinns and Shimano for the prizes, and to BIAQ for providing floor space.
[CAPTION]
1) The FFSAQ stand at the 2005 Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show. The live fish display is always popular with visitors.
The practice of issuing on-the-spot-fines for marine offences will now be extended to freshwater offences. The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol says this will simplify the administration procedures for minor breaches of fisheries regulations. FFSAQ applauds this initiative as it will free up Patrol officers for more surveillance and education.
Over the past year, a common breach of regulations on impoundments has been anglers not carrying their SIP when fishing. So far the QBFP has been quite forgiving of anglers who have left their permits at home, but once the on-the-spot-fine system is in place the Patrol probably won’t be as lenient. – Lez Kowitz, FFSAQ
