DPI/FISHERIES IS OVERSEEING THE DEPLETION OF FISH STOCKS IN THE MACLEAY RIVER AND IS TELLING US IT IS NOT HAPPENING!

Have you ever wondered why so few Whiting, Bream, Luderick and Mulloway were caught by recreational fishers in the Macleay River over the last year? The short answer is that they have already been caught. Advanced fish spotting and capture technologies have left the remaining populations with nowhere to hide. The practice of taking fish commercially from spawning aggregations is short sighted. In the end, this will benefit no one.
The Director of NSW Fisheries assures us that seasonal fluctuations can account for the poor numbers and that his department is not concerned. It is common knowledge that the general trend is downwards and has been for years.
Are you sick of seeing dead fish lying on the beaches after hauls of spawning schools have been netted, often by interstate crews who simply disappear back north of the border when it is no longer viable to continue?
Do you wonder why the Bellinger/Kalang rivers to the north and the Hastings to the south have been declared as Recreational Fishing Havens, while recreational fishers on the Macleay have no such protection? The DPI will not answer this question.
Why are we paying for Recreational Fishing Licenses when the DPI is ensuring that there are no fish left to catch?
If you are unsatisfied with the way the DPI is managing the Macleay fishery, please add your signature to this petition which will be circulated to the appropriate government departments and our local member of parliament.
Remember, bad things happen when good people say nothing!

We are the South West Rocks Anglers Association based at the SWR Country Club. We are aiming to preserve our fish stocks with sustainable fishing practices and invite all who are interested to contact us/sign our petition.