Canal Fishing Ban Call

Newcastle Herald

Saturday November 26, 2005

By DAMON CRONSHAW Lake Macquarie Reporter

LAKE Macquarie Turtle Watch wants the NSW Department of Primary Industries to ban fishing in the Eraring Power Station canal to protect threatened green sea turtles.

Several of the turtles have been seen this week swimming in the canal inlet at Dora Creek.

They are also often seen in the Myuna Bay outlet.

The canal is a popular place for anglers.

Turtle Watch member Peter Morris is concerned that turtles will swallow, or become jagged on, discarded fishing hooks or tangle themselves in fishing lines in the canal.

"The department should show some responsibility and ban fishing in the canal," Mr Morris said.

A spokeswoman said the department was concerned about protecting the turtles.

It had banned fishing in the canal outlet from May to September each year from 6pm to 6am.

The department was "not aware of any reports of turtle mortality caused by line fishing".

Mr Morris said a turtle died in 2001 at Coal Point after swallowing four hooks.

Eraring Energy allows fishing in designated areas of the canal.

It had trained staff to capture, tag and release turtles in the area, but rescued only those "considered to be under physical distress".

Bill Allen, who fishes at the canal, said he uses small hooks that are unlikely to hurt turtles.

"There's nothing wrong with conservation, but barring fishing in the canal is going too far," Mr Allen said.

He said he would report any injured turtle.

The call from Turtle Watch came after two dead green turtles were found inside illegal fish traps on the Lake Macquarie shore two weeks ago.

"The responsibility for the deaths of turtles in fish traps rests with the department, which is required to prevent illegal fishing," Mr Morris said.

The spokeswoman said the department had banned the use of all traps in Lake Macquarie waters, other than those used to collect bait.

Fisheries officers regularly patrolled Lake Macquarie to "detect and deter the illegal use of traps and any other illegal fishing activity", she said.

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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