Electrocuted carp catch

The Director of Inland Fisheries, John Diggle has ordered the closure of Lake Sorell for fishing this coming season due to the outbreak of juvenile carp last summer. This special closure is enabled under the Inland Fisheries (Delay or Prevention of Spread of Controlled Fish) Order 2003.

The restriction covers public access to Lake Sorell and on land surrounding the lake down to its high water mark as wells the outlets of both Lakes Sorell and Crescent, and on land around these outlets below their high water marks. It applies to all activities that might result in contact with the water, including hunting, angling, boating, wading and swimming.

The closure is required to support the IFS in its work to control carp in the Lake during the coming season, when a major operation is planned to eliminate juvenile fish and prevent further spawning during spring and summer.

Distribution of transmitter fish in Lake Sorell between January and March 2010

The latest update on the Carp Management Program from Inland Fisheries Service reports:

Despite the Carp Management Team’s intensive efforts to prevent the remaining adult carp in Lake Sorell from spawning in late 2009, it became apparent just prior to Christmas that some carp had been successful.

Juvenile Carp were first found at the northern end of Silver Plains the week prior to Christmas. Further Sampling discovered more juveniles in the main Silver Plains drain, Robertsons, Kermodes, Duck Bay and Kemps marshes.

An intensive treatment operation was put in place to remove as many juvenile carp as possible while still inhabiting shallow vegetation areas before dispersing into deeper water.

Rotenone, a derris based fish poison, was used to kill over 14,000 fish during a 6 week period. Intensive fishing effort has since been undertaken to remove schools of juvenile fish and to gain knowledge and an understanding of this new population.

Early indications suggest that we may have already removed up to two thirds of this cohort. Lake Sorell was tracked a total of 21 times between January and March. Due to the majority of time spent catching juvenile carp tracking effort was subsequently reduced over this period.

Download the full report here [PDF 466Kb].

After several years of low water levels and poor spawning stimulus, this season will provide the long waited opportunity to confirm if carp have been successfully eradicated from Lake Crescent.

According to the Inland Fisheries Service, a rise of slightly less than 1 metre in Lake Sorell during the past quarter has inundated all marsh areas and considerable time was spent during August/September repairing and repositioning barrier nets to block carp access to the wetlands.

The IFS Carp Eradication update shows:

Preferred spawning sites including Duck Bay, Kermodes and Kemps marshes are now underwater, albeit blocked with barrier nets. It is anticipated that the remaining carp in this lake will be primed by the rising water and inundated wetlands.

Warm weather is this final cue required to aggregate the carp. CMP staff are monitoring the lakes daily so as to detect and target any opportunity that might arise. Passage through the Blowfly on the plane is now once again possible and the island isthmus is passable by boat.

Unlike past Winter periods there was little opportunity to target carp as no tight deep water aggregations were observed.

No carp were captured from Lake Crescent during July to September 2009. The last female carp was caught in December 2007 from this lake.

Four new transmitter fish were released into the lake in early August in preparation for the Spring/Summer period.

No carp were captured from Lake Sorell during July to September 2009. Seven new transmitter fish were released in August in preparation for finding Spring aggregations.

Lake Sorell was tracked 11 times during July to September 2009. With the increase of lake levels during August and September, trackers began on congregate around the openings of wetland marshes.

The barrier nets preventing access to wetlands were repaired and adjusted to ensure carp could not enter the marshes. During September, Kermodes, Robertsons and Kemps marshes regularly attracted trackers although no aggregations were detected.

The marsh traps in drains at Kermodes and Kemps were repaired and opened in late September in response to increasing tracker interest.

Just when it could be thought that the ecology of these lakes could be given the opportunity to recover, following good winter rains and the breaking of the years of drought, AAT believes that this opportunity could be in serious danger.

We urge all Clubs and individuals to write or email Minister Llewellyn on this matter based on the information below:

• AAT accepted the need to allow water from Sorell into Crescent for the endangered Galaxia. This danger is no longer and Crescent contains ample water for their spawning and survival. We also endorsed the removal of trout to enhance this process.
• Given the Crescent levels there is no need for further water from Sorell. This water should remain to give this Lake and its wet lands its best chance to recover.
• It would seem obvious that presently there is no need to raise Crescent further unless Government has water for irrigation in mind.
• There is no longer an emergency situation for the Clyde irrigation scheme so the ground breaking water management plans (set aside by Government) should again apply and emergency needs removed.
• Irrigators have been given other supplies from the Shannon River at taxpayer’s expense and these supplies are still in place.
• Further this Shannon scheme has been announced as the Government’s preferred model so as to relieve the past and ongoing pressure placed on these Lakes.
• The farmer’s vast irrigation dams are now full and there are spring rains yet to come. There is no reason to threaten the recovery of Sorell by building the levels of Crescent so that irrigators can demand an allocation of water from these artificially raised levels.
• Through the Minister’s working party committee AAT is reasonably negotiating angler’s views on the Government’s proposed irrigation schemes and we have achieved much. It would be a matter of great concern should the past imbalances of water management at Sorell and Crescent interferes with this process.

Present conditions offer the best chance in 10 years to manage an environmental recovery of the Interlaken Lakes.

Last year, despite the ongoing drought and the irrigator’s protestations, it would seem that they experienced some record crops despite their claims of the worst conditions in contemporary times.

AAT believes that it is entirely reasonable for the lakes’ environment to take precedence over irrigation in this time of plenty and we seek the support of all anglers.

Click here to email the Minister or write to:
The Hon. David Llewellyn
Minster for Primary Industry and Water
Parliament House
Hobart 7000

According to the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, the concerns of Tasmania’s licensed anglers have been heard and understood in the planning of the Midlands Water Scheme.

“Angling and irrigated agriculture share a long history in Tasmania and both will make a growing contribution to our economy and our unique rural and regional communities,” Mr Llewellyn said.

“I understand that following the Government’s announcement of the preferred option for the Midlands Water Scheme in September last year, significant concern arose among anglers regarding the potential impact of the scheme on Arthurs Lake.

“The Government appreciates this feedback.

“I share and admire the passion of anglers for our beautiful lakes, and can assure them that the only water from Arthurs Lake going to the Midlands Water Scheme will be water which Hydro Tasmania would have otherwise used to generate power.

“There will be no additional withdrawal of water from Arthurs Lake. Instead, we will be making an alternative use of the water.

“This is only possible because farmers will be paying, in full, to replace the energy foregone at Poatina and Trevallyn from other sources.”

Mr Llewellyn said that he wrote to anglers in January of this year, to provide more information about the Government’s plans to support new irrigation in Tasmania.

The letter advised that the Chairman of the Inland Fisheries Advisory Council (IFAC), Mr John Cleary, had accepted Mr Llewellyn’s invitation to chair a special working group to ensure that anglers can have their say about the irrigation projects and input into the operational rules at Arthurs Lake.

The working group includes a representative from Anglers Alliance Tasmania.

[From the press release issued Monday March 30 2008]

On Sunday, March 29, the Premier announced that he and Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn have approved the Irrigation Development Board’s request to proceed with design and development approval for a major new $78 million irrigation system.

Here is the full text of the press release:

Visiting Oatlands, Mr Bartlett told a gathering of around 100 local farmers the State Government was determined to work with the Federal Government to jointly invest in long-term water solutions for the region.

“Farmers in the Midlands have been doing it very tough and I am committed to providing the leadership that will meet their irrigation needs into the future,” Mr Bartlett said.

“Today’s announcement is another big step forward.

“The Commonwealth and State Government have a combined $220 million on the table to drive new water projects in Tasmania and we are working closely with Minister Wong in Canberra to lever the very best result we can deliver with these funds.

“This is a massive project but we are confident it can be delivered and will keep doing everything we possibly can to support the irrigation needs of farming communities across the Midlands.

“Through investments like this, we can create in Tasmania a continuum of food excellence that runs from the seedling in the paddock right through to the restaurant menu.”

The Midlands Water Scheme has been through a preliminary assessment and no major issues of environmental, economic, social or cultural impact have been revealed to this stage.

“Provided that both Tasmanian planning approvals are granted and the project meets Commonwealth due diligence requirements, the final decision to proceed will be subject to appropriate farm water uptake from the farming communities, environmental approvals and the submission of approved farm plans,” Mr Bartlett said.

“It is vital the farmers interested in irrigation rights register as soon as possible because this is central to the viability of the project.

“The project will not proceed unless the demand threshold level for the sale of irrigation rights is reached.”

The total cost of the project is estimated at $78.3 million, comprising $64.9 million for a 32km pipeline from Arthurs Lake and $13.4 million for a 20km South Esk River pipeline.

Government will need to commit public funds in the range of $29.7 to $42.8 million, with the sale of irrigation rights making up the balance.

It is envisaged that approvals for the South Esk pipeline will be obtained by December this year and for the Arthurs Lake pipeline by December, 2010.

Completion of the South Esk project is expected to be by September, 2010 and for Arthurs Lake by September, 2012.

“This is absolute proof that we are delivering action that will secure the livelihoods of farming communities across the Midlands,” Mr Bartlett said.

“Again, I strongly encourage the members of those farming communities set to benefit from this scheme to commit to securing irrigation rights as a matter of urgency.”

Fish & Game New Zealand has urged caution around Federated Farmers’ Water Spokesperson Hugh Ritchie’s claim that water storage is ‘one of the magic bullets’.

“Water storage is not necessarily ‘a winner for the whole community,” said Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive Fish & Game New Zealand. He adds:

The key concern is the adverse environmental effects of changed land use ‘down stream’ of the storage scheme which Federated Farmers don’t address.

Assuming the catchment’s current in-stream ecological and recreational amenity values are retained, fish passage is provided and provision is made for adequate flushing flows, there still remains the crucial issue of the adverse effects of intensified agriculture utilising the stored water.

These adverse downstream effects are well understood, are cumulative and can be significant. Increased irrigation and intensification means increased stocking rates and fertiliser applications, which result in increased effluent, sediment and nutrient run-off into rivers, streams and aquifers that are often already suffering reduced flows.

The cumulative effects of large scale irrigation on the recreational, ecological, community and cultural values of down stream waterways can be major.

The effects on freshwater resources of any altered land uses that occur down stream as a result of the storage scheme (including increased sediment, nutrient and effluent run off) must be less than less than minor for any Fish & Game agreement with the initial water storage scheme.

The reality remains that the freshwater resource and the country’s natural capital is finite.

While water storage can be a winner for both agriculture and the community, it is not a ‘magic bullet’ in the simplistic manner suggested by Federated Framers.

Changed land use can cause serious adverse environmental effects.

Environmentally sustainable agriculture must be a bottom line, and ‘environmentally sustainable’ is much more than stocking storage impoundments with fish.

Dougy Ivanovic with a 16lb Brown. (22 May 2007) Big browns like this are often caught at this time of the year and some have been released from Gaden Trout Hatchery as ex-brood stock.

Australia’s only disease-free trout and salmon hatchery is being threatened with closure.

Andrew McKenzie, president of the NSW Rod Fishers Society writes:

NSW’s Gaden Hatchery has the only disease free trout and salmon stock in Australia.

Think on that, we cannot get such stock from overseas any more.

Those stocks are now largely diseased and probably wouldn’t be let into the country under “noxious” or “feral pest” status anyway.

Gaden is the sole supply of this disease free brood stock in Australia.

Click here to download a full background and history of this historic hatchery.

Download the petition

Anglers Alliance Tasmania is seeking urgent meetings with stakeholders in the Midlands Irrigation Scheme and “Irrigation Tasmania”.

Chairman Richard Dax is waiting for responses to a request for a meeting with a small delegation from AAT. He expects a mass meeting of members to follow.

Download a copy of his letter to the CEO of the Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board, Department of Primary Industry and Water.

Download the list of questions and concerns attached to the letter.

The Government’s 11 irrigation schemes may place the future of Tasmania’s environment in jeopardy and further alter our world class fishery forever.

These plans are available here and we are sure you will agree that there is a gross lack of detail for such wide reaching proposals.

The first of these schemes for the Midlands is now out for public comment and includes plans to take water from Arthurs Lake as far as Mount Seymour and then on to the East Coast.

The public has been given one month to comment for a scheme costing $74 million and there is very little information provided and certainly no research showing that this plan is viable. Comments must be received by October 31!

In addition the Midlands plan has been created without reference to any group of legitimate users other than irrigators.

The fishery is at serious risk and requires your urgent input so that the kids of today can continue to enjoy Tasmania’s traditional angling experience.

We suggest that you object to these plans, as they are presented, on the basis of a lack of information and apparent research, together with a consultation time which is nothing short of ridiculous for a project of this magnitude. We suggest a minimum consultation period of three months.

Given the process it is evident that the Government intends to force through its irrigation plans without consultation with all users.

It is essential that your voice is heard now.

Contact:
The Hon David Bartlett MP, Premier of Tasmania,
Executive Building 15 Murray St Hobart 7000
Email David Bartlett
Phone: 6233 2932

The Hon David Llewellyn Minister for Primary Industries and Water
Franklin Square Offices Franklin Square Hobart 7000
Email David Llewellyn
Phone: 6233 2274

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