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.
got the following from Steve Samuels (Pres MAS and significant angling representative for this region):
Supporters
By now you will probably know that Snowy Hydro has released the Feasibility Report on the Pumped Hydro 2.0 Project which stipulates the project is feasible and will go ahead. A full copy of the Report can be found at: www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-scheme/snowy20/snowy-2-0-feasibility-study/
The essence of the project is that water will be released from Tantangara Dam into Talbingo Dam via generators. Water will then be returned to Tantangara Dam from Talbingo Dam to repeat the cycle.
We know that there are redfin perch in Talbingo and none in Tantangara. From a fishing perspective we remain concerned that there exists a real risk that redfin perch will be transported through the system from Talbingo Dam into Tantangara Dam.
Included below is the relevant section from the Feasibility Report for you to study – it is a short but important read.
In the new year I will be asking you all to participate with the MAS in contacting Snowy Hydro to impress upon them the importance of keeping redfin out of Tantangara, but in the meantime please have a good festive season.
Regards
Steve Samuels
President
Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc
Feasibility Report extract on redfin
5.4.4 Transport of undesirable aquatic species One of the key environmental risks for the operation of the Facilities (once the Project is completed) is the potential transfer of Redfin Perch (Perca fluviatilis) through the proposed tunnel from Talbingo Reservoir to Tantangara Reservoir. Redfin are a NSW-listed Class 1 noxious species under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW). Outputs from the NSW Department of Primary Industries ((DPI)) freshwater fisheries database confirm that a large resident Redfin perch population is present in Talbingo Reservoir. The same output has not detected any Redfin in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment upstream of the ACT border, which includes Tantangara Reservoir. Redfin are voracious predators known to prey predominantly on juvenile and adult forms of various fish species. Redfin are also known carriers of the Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis (EHN) Virus. This virus is lethal to Redfin but also to trout and native fish species.The introduction of Redfin to Tantangara could have significant consequences for the Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Brown trout (Salmo trutta) fishery of Tantangara. Members of the fishing community have confirmed this distribution of Redfin and fishing advocacy groups have expressed concerns about the potential for transfer of Redfin as a result of the proposed development and consequent impact on the trout fishery and the impact on the local and regional economy that would arise from that. There are potential options for preventing the entrainment of Redfin into the proposed pipeline. Those with the most promise include physical screens, barrier nets and electrical barriers. The feasibility of © Snowy Hydro Limited 2017 Page 16 of 18 Snowy 2.0 Study Report – Chapter Seventeen – Environment, permits and approvals Commercial-in-Confidence these options will need to be considered in relation to their capability of preventing or minimising the movement of all life stages of Redfin during the EIS stage. Further investigations are planned to confirm the likelihood of Redfin survival through the proposed Project development including experimental studies to test the survival of all age classes of Redfin to the rates of pressure and shear stress that are likely to be generated during operation of the power/pump station. These will commence once the design of the Project has been finalised and the detailed hydraulic modelling of the Project has been completed.
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
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.
Apologies, I’ve just been reminded that our Events page (and our membership card) is showing the incorrect date for Lyle Knowles. Subsequent to the printing a decision was taken to shift from the one day event on Saturday and instead the event will be held Sun 22 Oct.
There was also some discussion about the determination of the winner given that in the past it was ‘best bag’. Committee has confirmed that the winner will be the longest (nose to tail) individual fish.
We had earlier posted much of this information but now here is the official report.
Gaden Trout Hatchery Report June-oct 2017
For those unaware, Gaden Hatchery is generally the single source for DPI and MAS stocking of trout in this region. The situation last year was pretty parlous with few fishing running up from Lake Jindabyne. Gaden used to provide monthly reports, but to reduce administrative workload, they are now less frequent. The latest report passed to us by Steve Samuels is very positive. Not only were the runs, especially the browns, larger (Gaden was able to remove the fish trap much earlier allowing fish to run up the river and spawn naturally), but the number of stocked fish detected was very low meaning the ‘naturally bred’ fish were very much in the preponderance. The inclusion of Eucumbene fish into the Gaden stock sounds like a good idea for genetic diversity. Keep your eye out for the tagged ex-brood stock fish in Jindabyne.
All unwanted 2+ 3+ rainbow trout broodstock (230 individuals) have been released into Lake Jindabyne with an elastomer implant (pink) inserted near the left eye.
Waterwatch and the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre are trying to enlist the public to locate carp breeding grounds now that spring has warmed up the water. You can then log your sightings at the Feral Fish Scan website
More info in the Canberra Times article here.
The AGM in August discussed the anomaly that fish caught on an official CAA event held outside the defined trophy regions (NSW CFA Regions 3 and 4) could not be considered for trophies under the extant rules. This was further discussed at the Bondi Forest executive ‘retreat’ and revised rules were developed. These were endorsed at the September CAA meeting. Also endorsed was an expansion of the number of trophies to include trophies for cod, golden perch (named the Charlie Diedo trophy), bass and English Perch (redfin).
The revised rules (including, in due course, a ‘worked example’ of the slightly complicated trout trophies) are now on the web.