Steve Samuels on page 2 of the Australian 12 Mar 2018. Well done mate. Brings home to a wide audience the potential threat of redfin to the high country trout fishery. Not such a bad photo of you!

For CAA members, check with Bill to read the article if you didn’t buy it.

As advised by CFA:
The DPI Angler Access website is still a draft site but available for viewing at: http://angleraccessdev.dpi.nsw.gov.au . The site provides information on public access points to various NSW waterways and fish in seven groupings:

• Fishing dams in NSW
• Rivers and creeks available for fishing
• Dams to fish for trout
• Streams to fish for trout
• Rivers you can fish all year
• Small dams to fish for yabbies
• Stocking sites

The site contains maps and details of hundreds of sites with the intention of reaching 2500 sites before full release the site.
There are also several menu links along the top of the home page which provide further information. The Survey link allows you to give feedback via a survey. The ‘About>Contact Us’ link allows you to provide other specific comments about using the site or anomalies/errors.
The website development has stalled at the moment but the project is being funded by NSW Fishing Fees and the RFNSW continues to be active in driving the project to completion.
A password is required and this will be disseminated to CAA members by the Burley Line editor on request. Go to our Website for the link to setup the email

Draft ACT Aquatic and Riparian Conservation Strategy and Action Plans have been issued and comments are sought by 11 March.
It is 249 pages long! Many thanks to our cousins over at Canberra Fishing Club (specifically Anthony Heiser) who have produced a short article and 19 page summary on their website at https://www.canberrafishos.com/news-and-articles/347-the-draft-act-aquatic-and-riparian-conservation-strategy-and-action-plans
The Strategy outlines how the ACT Government proposes to conserve and manage ACT’s waterways including action plans for seven threatened aquatic species:
• Two-spined Blackfish
• Macquarie Perch
• Murray River Crayfish
• Silver Perch
• Trout Cod
• Murrumbidgee Bossiaea
• Tuggeranong Lignum

Their draft Freshwater Fisheries Management Plan is now out for public comment!

The plan promotes a statewide approach to building better freshwater fisheries and celebrates record fish stockings, partnerships for improving fish habitat and an actively engaged recreational fishing community.

It brings all fish, water and land management elements together for 14 of our most popular recreational fish species such as trout, redfin, Murray cod, golden perch and bass.

The plan is a collaboration between fishers, Traditional Owners and stakeholders to:
· Improve fish habitat to help boost fish populations naturally
· Use recreational angler catch and effort data to help track the performance of fisheries
· Accelerate the recovery of threatened species, including Macquarie perch
· Expand the breeding and stocking program of native fish
· Create the next generation of responsible anglers
· Promote our best recreational fisheries as tourism destinations.

The plan complements our record $46 million investment into Target One Million, which includes $9 million from fishing licence fees, to get one million Victorians fishing by 2020.

To view the plan and make a submission by 22 March 2018, visit: www.vfa.vic.gov.au/freshwaterplan

Minutes from meeting 7 (11 Dec) have been made available by Steve Samuels. Of particular interest to me is the development of a strategy to sustain the ‘social licence’ for us to conduct our sport – ie society support to the acceptability of the activity in the face of criticisms.

RFNSW outcomes from Meeting 7

From our President:

On 4 December the ACT Government released its review discussion paper of the now outdated Fisheries Act 2000 Act . The paper is formatted with short backgrounds on various angling issues followed by a Have Your Say section which includes a couple of questions for discussion.  As a very active angling organisation, this is our opportunity to have direct input into the management of OUR fishery here in the ACT.

CAA members are encouraged to read the review and e-mail comments before Monday 5 February to epsddcomms@act.gov.au  You can answer the specific questions in the review, raise new issues not originally covered or just make general comments.

One issue not canvassed in the report but was mentioned by the discussion paper’s author at the media launch was whether or not we should have recreational fishing licenses in the ACT.  We currently do not and nor do we have a single dedicated fisheries ranger according to one of the Cotter-based ACT rangers who spoke at the launch of the discussion paper.

While all or part of your comments may be posted on the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate web site or included in the consultation report, your name will not be used without your permission.  Please include the words Canberra Anglers’ Association in any submission you make because that WILL be included in the final report.  (From Blogmaster: I would suggest you might cc the CAA contact email as this will assist the executive formulate the CAA response.)

A web version of the discussion paper is available at https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/index.php?cID=788

We got this message in from Communications at Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development (ACT Government).

We just wanted to let you know we’re installing an automatic access gate at the southern foreshores to Googong dam next week. This will maintain existing access arrangements, but the installation will require a closure of the vehicle gate from 5 to 8 December (weather permitting).

Not sure how I missed this one.  Our mates at Canberra Fisho’s have been running this tournament since I was a callow youth.

More information at http://canberrafishos.com/

Steve Samuels has passed the latest minutes (less trust fund considerations – don’t worry when it stops abruptly on page 10.)

Seems to have spent a balance towards salt water.

RFNSW outcomes from Meeting 6s