30 June 2011

Reef Guardian Fishers from across Queensland will gather in Townsville on Thursday for the inaugural Reef Line Pilot Working Group meeting. They will discuss what it means to be a Reef Guardian Fisher in the Reef Line fishery.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Reef Line pilot program, launched in Gladstone earlier this year, showcases fishers who use sustainable fishing practices as part of their business operations. 

Fishers involved in the scheme are recognised for their efforts in implementing business and fishing practices that go beyond legislative requirements and assist with building a better future for the Reef.

GBRMPA Chairman Dr Russell Reichelt said participants would have the opportunity to participate in a number of initiatives to help build a more sustainable fishery and a healthier Reef.

"The participants will focus on the core values of the program: fishing sustainably, reducing pressures on the Reef and working towards a sustainable economic and environmental future," he said.

"The meeting will discuss measures such as carbon emissions calculators, electronic data collection devices and the coral trout tagging program.  Each of the projects is being trialled by these Reef Guardian Fishers." 

As part of the trial GBRMPA will assist fishers to use an online carbon emissions calculator which has been developed by the Queensland Seafood Industry Association. It enables fishers to improve their environmental performance and identify potential business efficiencies.

Reef Guardian Fishers are also involved in a trial of electronic data collection devices, which record more detailed information on catch, effort and fishing locations.

The data captured from these devices will assist with fisheries management and may even provide the opportunity to move towards electronic logbooks, which provide data on a more timely and potentially cost effective basis.     

The Coral Trout Tagging Program will see the Reef Line Reef Guardian Fishers working in partnership with GBRMPA and Infofish Australia to understand the impacts of extreme weather on the fishery.

It will involve tagging coral trout to source baseline information about the growth, survival and movement of the fish, which can be checked against following future cyclones. 

Commercial operator Dan Learoyd believes collaborating with other fishers and the GBRMPA is the key to promoting Reef sustainability. 

"This is the first chance the Reef Guardian Fishers have had to get together and discuss sustainable fishing practices and the pilot program," he said.

"We can report back what has and has not worked and maybe pick up a few ideas from other operators to improve our operations and reef sustainability.

"Most importantly we are working with other operators and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to develop a sustainable fishing culture."   

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