Body Found During Search For Fishermen

Police continue to search Moreton Bay for the man's missing companion after the pair failed to return from an Australia Day fishing trip. The body of a man, believed to be in his mid-30s, was located at Amity Point, Stradbroke Island, this morning. The pair, from the suburb of Redland Bay, were reported missing at 10pm (AEST) yesterday after failing to return by their designated time of between 6pm and 7pm.

Police said they had left Victoria Point about 5am yesterday. Water Police are searching the area with approximately 10 boats assisting and two helicopters. Initial water searches were conducted last night but suspended until morning due to bad light. The two men are believed to have been using an aluminum dinghy about 4.8 meters long.

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Australia: Tunarama Festival Swims Against Tide

At Tunarama, you can toss a five-pound fish as far as your strength allows, and win money. You can try your hand at peeling a shrimp in a contest that allows use of only one hand but permits the use of other body parts, if it helps. You can build a boat from scratch in two hours — then take it to sea and hope you don’t sink. And you can raise money for charity by entering a beauty pageant. Even if you’re a bloke.

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France And Australia Join Forces Against IUU Fishing

The Australian Government has taken another important step in the global fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by formalizing an agreement with the French Government on cooperative patrols in the Southern Ocean. The Australia-France Cooperative Enforcement Agreement that has recently entered into force allows joint Australian and French patrols to enforce each other's fishing laws in their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and territorial seas in the Southern Ocean.

Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Martin Ferguson, said Australia and France have neighbouring EEZs in the Southern Ocean and share a common interest in protecting the valuable fisheries resources within it.

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Second Serious Boating Accident In As Many Days

A 29-year-old man has been seriously injured in the second accident involving a boat propeller in Western Australia in as many days. The man was in a small dinghy south of Busselton last night when he fell out and onto its propeller. He has been taken to Busselton Hospital with head, neck and arm injuries. A 21-year-old woman suffered serious leg injuries when she became caught in a boat propeller in Mandurah on Sunday.

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Australia Will Seek Extradition Of Christmas Island People-Smuggling Suspects

Authorities will seek the extradition of any people-smuggling suspects arrested in Indonesia in connection with the Christmas Island tragedy. Besides facing the toughest provision of Australia's new anti-people-smuggling law, those responsible for dispatching the fishing boat will be liable to separate criminal charges, including manslaughter and reckless endangerment of life.

The law, passed earlier this year, created the new offence of "people-smuggling involving exploitation or danger of death or serious harm" and carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence. Based on information gathered from the Flying Fish Cove survivors, Australian investigators have given Indonesian counterparts the names of three suspects and requested the arrest of at least one, an Iranian national.

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Ban slapped on snapper fishing in Queensland

SNAPPER fishing will be banned for six weeks across Queensland in February.

The controversial move could trigger a backlash from pockets of fishing enthusiasts as the net tightens around popular Queensland fisheries in the name of sustainability.

Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin this morning announced the ban while releasing a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for public consultation.

 

The ban will extend from February 15 to March 31.

 

It applies to all recreational, commercial and charter fishing of snapper, teraglin and peal perch.

 

Its aim is to allow fish stocks to regenerate so that a sustainable hobby and commercial industry can survive long term.

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Boating Alert: Cod Classic Fishing Competition On Lake Mulwala

Competitors and spectators in this weekend’s 2010 Cod Classic Fishing Competition should be aware that recent rainfall has led to changes in navigation on Lake Mulwala, NSW Maritime Chief Executive Steve Dunn said. Mr Dunn said NSW Maritime Boating Officers would be on hand to patrol the waterway for the duration of the weekend event.

“Recent sustained rainfall had resulted in rapidly changing conditions, which would make navigation more difficult for less experienced operators, especially those from interstate who are new to the area,” Mr Dunn said. “There will be many operators especially from Victoria who may have never boated in these conditions before. “There is also the possibility of flash flooding which could result in additional debris in the area, increasing the risk of hazards,” Mr Dunn said.

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