Sunfish Queensland supports the review into the management protocols of Fisheries Queensland. We do however believe that our fisheries stocks are generally in good health when compared in an international context. To maintain the healthy stocks and improve those in lesser abundance management of our fisheries needs to move forward and not cling to processes of the past.

We support the vision, goals and areas of reform proposed but the greatest challenges will be resourcing, data, community acceptance and keeping the reform external to the election process.

Our commercial fisheries need to be overhauled so that they have less operators and they are redesigned to better operate in a consumer environment that has a strong focus on socially and environmentally sustainably caught seafood. This will help to ensure greater profitability within commercial fisheries for the operators and make the career of “commercial fisherman” a viable career choice.

To read the full 6 page response, please download the PDF

This program we saw 1287 children attend an event with 876 parents or carers assisting and 311 coaches and instructors. Events were held from one end of the state to the other. Some of these locations were Moreton Island, Bribie Island, Hayes Inlet, Raby Bay, Wivenhoe Dam, Cabbage Tree Creek, Caloundra, Burketown, Cloncurry, Mt. Isa, Dawson River, Paradise Dam, Kearney Springs, Broadwater, Quart Pot Creek, Mareeba, Townsville and Roma Street Parklands. It was a great year with respect to favourable weather and attendance. It was also encouraging to see new organizations running events.

Feedback from attendees, parents, carers, coaches and instructors was unanimously supportive and constructive. In that vein I need to forward on the thanks to Fisheries Queensland and the Minister that were directed through us on the value of this program to their communities.

Download the Program Report 2016 for further details on each event (with photos).