Fish Conservation

Many fish species are under threat all around the world, primarily from over-fishing (especially in the sea from netting and long liners), but also the enchroachment of human habitation, agricultural and mining  run-off poisoning and sedimentation.

Here we look at A. Specific species under threat as well as B. Unique local environments at risk.

Nothing has changed regarding Politicians and conservation of fish stocks. Please read this essential comment on The Baltic Cod by  Lennart Borgstrom, now living in  Williamsburg, VA and who was the CEO that changed the famous Swedish fishing tackle company name from AB Urfabriken to ABU and again later when the company  merged with Garcia to ABU Garcia.  He is still a regular visitor (and avid mariner and amateur fisherman)  to his home country Sweden and feels deeply saddened and angered by the current trawling situation in the Baltic Sea. 

A. Specific species

 Barramundi are Australia's premier fresh/saltwater Sport and table fish.

I have lost count of the number  I have caught on ABU Killers, Hilos and  live bait.

I went to Central Queensland University and some of these researchers were my fishing mates.

Nice work if you can get it!

Saratoga are species I intend to target later this year on a friend's cattle property near Blackwater, Central Queensland as the weather warms up.

My friend Vic McCristal tells all here in an old but gold Angler's Digest publication.

In the saltwater sphere, another species I hope to catch sometime sometime is the Dolphin fish or Mahi Mahi found beyond the reach of my boat.

Bass are highly valued freshwater sportfish mainly found below the Tropics. I do  believe they also venture into brackish water.

B. Unique local Fishing Environments

Our local pride and joy marine environment is part of what is known the world over as The Great Barrier Reef.

Still intact from man's destructive habits, this pristine environment has resource hungry miners waiting to tap it's under seafloor oil and gas.

So far it has been kept off limits . Who can tell when shortages really bite ? Will attitudes change. Will it be deemed safe to drill? In Queensland it seems we now see the benefits of selling our resources and infrastructure for short term gain.

Wal Hardy's Prophetic "Future of Freshwater Fishing"

If anyone has the interest in (perhaps you are travelling there)  and the couple of months spare to read the material from this link, they will be very well rewarded. It is topical, conservation-minded and holds some truly wonderful articles that not only inform, but give one cause for concern for the fisheries of the world. Scope is also beyond Africa, as I have seen Australian and Chilean information.