YOUR HELP NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND CHANGES TO REEF FISHING

In recent years significant changes have been made to management arrangements in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Major changes resulted from:

• Adoption of the Trawl Fisheries Management Plan in 2001.
  
• Rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in 2004.
• Adoption of the Reef Line Fisheries Management Plan in 2004

In June 2005, the Fitzroy Basin Association funded the establishment of a community based monitoring program called CapReef aimed at collecting information on the effects of these changes on fish and fishes. While being driven by the community, CapReef has wide support from science bodies and government. It has the support of the following:

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
• Fitzroy Basin Association.
• Department of Primary Industries
• Capricorn Local Marine Advisory Committee.
• CRC Reef Research Centre. <
• CRC Coastal Estuaries and Waterways Management
• Central Queensland University
• Capricorn Sunfish and recreational fishing clubs
• Conservation groups

Part of the program is to collect information on changes to catch rates. If you go reef fishing then you can help. We would like to obtain details of catches from reef fishers. After each fishing trip we would like to hear from you. Just give us a call on toll free 1800 077 001, and we will get the necessary details.

Alternatively, you can print and fill in the | accompanying form | manually, and fax to us on 07 4926 3335 or mail to us at PO Box 9793 Frenchville Qld . 4701. An electronic version of the form is also available. Just send us your email address and we will send it out. If you want to know more about CapReef just give us a call on the toll free number above

Those providing regular details of their fishing trips will get a CapReef t-shirt.