Queensland Net-Free Can Of Worms Gets Worse. If ever the Queensland Pluckaduck government thought they could simply declare their three "net-free" zones and simply bask in the expected praise from the rec lobby until the next election they should be thoroughly disabused of that notion by now. From the Cairns Post, Saturday, June 17, 2017; "Charter fishing operators have written to Queensland politicians calling for a new net free zone to extend from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation. The letter to Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne, Opposition Fisheries spokesman Dale Last and Cook MP Billy Gordon says gillnetting is devastating local stocks and putting livelihoods at risk. "It is an absolute travesty that netters can come in from anywhere in Queensland, and set nets in or around these small inshore waterways, and right under our noses, wipe out the resource upon which our livelihood depends", the letter says. "This is a resource which we could otherwise fish sustainably and profitably gaining many times the value for ourselves and others in the local tourism sector, than the low prices the netters recieve for their catches" One of four operators behind the joint letter, Strike Zone Sportfishing operator Mick Dowling, told the Cairns Post the clock was ticking for the government to take action before it was too late. "We just want sustainable fishing-not just for us, for everyone" he said."" A few thoughts spring to mind here; #1. If "gillnetting is devastating local stocks" and "putting livelihoods at risk" why did these people open charter fishing businesses there in the first place? Do they like wasting money? Or are they lying for personal benefit? #2. Why don't they move operations to one of the three net-free zones to take advantage of the supposed better fishing? Put their money where their mouth is? They think its acceptable for professional fishermen to be forced to move out of an area for their benefit why shouldn't they have to move for the benefit of the majority seafood purchasing public? In reality all that declaration of net free areas does is encourage the recreational lobby to scream for more net free zones, especially the charter boat operating sector who see a net free zone in their local waters as their ticket to wealth at the expense of sustainable commercial fishermens livelihoods and the majority publics access to sustainable, affordable seafood. And thats the other thing, the charter boat operators allegation that "This is a resource which we could otherwise fish sustainably and profitably gaining many times the value for ourselves and others in the local tourism sector, than the low prices the netters recieve for their catches" How terrible of commercial netters to provide affordable, safe, sustainable and fresh local seafood to the majority public, why don't the rec fishermen attack other primary industries like sugar cane or dairy for "achieving low prices" on land which "is worth more for fish habitat"? Ominously the Pluckaduck government has recently been releasing thinly veiled political advertising via Fisheries Queensland touting the supposed success of the net free zones based on rec satisfaction surveys in the net free zones. Lets hope they make the recs use the net free zones and protect the majority publics right to sustainable, safe, Australian seafood by rejecting the calls of the selfish charter boat operators for more net free zones.