Dear Editor,
Years ago the Amateur Fishing Association NT pushed the commercial net fishers further away from Darwin and this was very successful for both stakeholders.
Now with the banning of commercial fishing in some major Aboriginal waters, the commercial barramundi fishery has been devastated.
Sharing the resource with them has passed.
Once this is over, AFANT, must draw up plans to manage all NT fisheries with the new Aboriginal stakeholders.
AFANT must be very careful and ensure that Aboriginal people can be worked with, and on joint terms, and that needs to be cemented now.
We really need an Aboriginal and recreational fishing action plan for all fishing areas embedded for the next 50 to 100 years. This is must do.
I have noticed AFANT are getting very close to some conservation groups in their concerns with commercial fishing.
I don’t want to see AFANT getting too close to major conservation groups, as that has danger written all over it. It must be remembered that AFANT and RecFish Australia fought hard against conservation groups in the late 90s as they wanted no barbs on hooks, no light line fishing, and many more so-called conservation measures in a campaign under the title of Fish Feel Pain.
Also AFANT must be very careful about who gets on the AFANT board for the same reason.
Another danger will be a spike in Aboriginal applications for Aboriginal commercial barra netting licences for waters adjacent to Aboriginal lands.
When I was executive officer of AFANT, our biggest issue was access, access access. And nothing has changed.
I believe this issue is the most important issue AFANT has ever faced.
I fish, and I vote, has never been more important to tell federal and NT governments.
Trevor Simmonds, Port Lincoln.
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Constant political manipulation between government land councils and TO’s has created more problems than answers. People who don’t go fishing will still want to eat wild caught barramundi and other species without having to buy imported fish. The way forward will be a fine balancing act. We need to keep opportunists and activists from derailing the process.
Trevor is a very passionate fisherman and agree with what is saying but the government has votes it needs and will do anything to keep them happy while ignoring what is good for everyone.