Beaches are now open for fishing
The last of the fishing closures which followed the January flood and fish kill has been lifted.
And fishers have been warned to be aware that some fish could be carrying Red Spot ulcers.
ECOfishers chief executive Ken Thurlow said yesterday that the last of the fishing closures, the area from Flat Rock south to Keith Hall Lane, had been rescinded.
“It is great news for commercial and recreational fishers who will now be able to harvest fresh, local seafood on the eve of Easter,” Mr Thurlow said.
“Further monitoring will continue next week to assess fish stocks and water quality.
“The disastrous January fish kill at Ballina Quays alone resulted in a kill equivalent to the total annual harvest by commercial fishers.”
Mr Thurlow said Red Spot ulders were caused by acid water running off acid sulphate soils on the floodplain.
It is recommended that fish with ulcers be disposed of humanely and not returned to the river.
Meanwhile, a task force elected by more than 50 representatives of community groups has been established to tackle problems on the Richmond River floodplain which are having an adverse effect when the river floods.
“The sad sequence of fish kills of the past 20 years or more are simply symptoms of an ailing estuarine ecosystem,” said ECOfishers NSW chief executive Ken Thurlow.
“This has consequences for the entire community.”
Mr Thurlow said ECOfishers convened and facilitated the meeting of relevant stakeholders and government departments.
He said all major political parties attended the meeting.
The task force is made up of representatives from agriculture, fisheries, farmers, forestry, local government, small business and floodplain users.
“The challenges facing this task force are substantial and significant,” Mr Thurlow said.
“They have divided the catchment into three sub-catchment areas and will be setting short- and long-term objectives.
“The task force has been charged with representing scientific and community views on sedimentation, restoration of riparian vegetation, native pasture improvement, flood and agricultural drain management and wetland restoration.”
Mr Thurlow said the State Government had budgeted about $300 million for equine influenza management and another Sydney Iron Cove bridge, ‘so the Northern Rivers community is realistically expecting’ financial assistance to save the river.
