Easter Tasmanian fishing news - Scallop season opening
by DPIPWE Fishing 25 Mar 2021 09:57 UTC
Scallop season opening © DPIPWE Fishing
The recreational scallop season opens this Saturday, 27 March for all waters except the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.
Please check your licence is valid before you go fishing. Measuring gauges are available from Service Tasmania and selected tackle shops.
The season is open until 31 July 2021.
DPIPWE 2020 post-season scallop survey: Thanks to the scallop fishers who responded to our 2020 post-season survey. See the results of the survey here.
Don't target sharks in shark refuge areas
A reminder that fishing for, or taking sharks, skates or rays in shark refuge areas is prohibited. Refuge areas are important habitats set aside for sharks and rays to breed.
- If you accidentally catch a shark, skate or ray in a refuge area, IMMEDIATELY return it to the water.
- Don't use large baited hooks or other gear designed for shark fishing in a refuge area.
Handling a shark or ray, or spending time taking photos is enough to affect its breeding outcomes.
You can be prosecuted for illegal shark fishing and heavy fines may apply.
Recreational rock lobster research trial
DPIPWE has asked the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies to evaluate ways to more effectively estimate the total recreational catch and to monitor an individual season limit (ISL). An ISL and/or catch tags, where fishers are allocated a maximum number of lobsters per season are often suggested as a fairer way to share the recreational catch.
Over the next few weeks IMAS will email a sample of rock lobster fishers asking them to trial a phone app and catch tags to report their catch.
The IMAS project is a research trial only. DPIPWE will further involve recreational fishers if an ISL warrants more development.
More information here
Redmap news
There's been a lot of unusual fish sightings reported to Redmap recently including yellowtail kingfish and tailor spotted further south than ever before, a tiger shark in the north east and even a green turtle at Bicheno.
Redmap is a citizen science project that logs marine species that are very rare or uncommon in general or further south than expected.
With over 100,000 Tasmanians going fishing each year, that's a lot of potential sightings. The Redmap app has just been updated so download it now and start spotting and logging!
Read more at www.redmap.org.au