Kiwi ships 'plundering' Australian fish stocks

Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand fishermen have been accused of "rape, pillage and plunder" of recreational fishing reefs off the coast of Australia.

Queensland fishermen have claimed large commercial boats have been over-fishing in waters less than 1km off the Gold Coast under the cover of darkness.

The New Zealand long-liners are said to fish for bait on inshore reefs, near Palm Beach and Burleigh Heads, before going back out to sea to fish for tuna.

The Brisbane newspaper the Courier Mail reported fishermen believed long-liners from New Zealand were threatening the sustainability of the reefs that their livelihoods depended on.

"They don't give a rat's ... they're raping, pillaging and plundering," said Queensland fisherman Mark Spooner.

"We have our five-fish bag limit and they have about a dozen guys pulling them in by the boatload."

Fishing authorities yesterday denied the allegations. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley said there was no suggestion New Zealand fishing boats have operated illegally in Queensland waters.

"Anyone caught fishing illegally would be subject to Australian fishing regulations," said Mr Heatley.

Speaking from the Gold Coast where the allegations have arisen, the chairman of the recreational fishing group Sunfish, Barry Pollock, said there was no factual evidence of New Zealand long-liners overfishing in Queensland waters.

"I have had a chat with people from fishing organisations on the Gold Coast and none of them seem to know anything about it," said Mr Pollock.

Sanford managing director Eric Barratt said his fishing vessels were in no way involved in over-fishing Queensland waters.

"We have no vessels anywhere near the Gold Coast at all," said Mr Barratt.

Australian Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin told the Courier Mail there had been complaints about long-line vessels but said they operated under federal permits.

"Under Commonwealth management arrangements operators in this fishery can take bait fish using seine nets off the Queensland coastline," he said. "There is no indication that the take of these fish is adversely affecting fish stocks in Queensland."