Half a Million Dollars in New Fisheries Boats to Patrol Queensland Waters
Fri, 07/05/2010 - 10:42am
Two new vessels worth $250,000 each are patrolling Brisbane and Townsville waters as part of the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) efforts to protect Queensland's valuable fisheries resources.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries, Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the new boats were a valuable upgrade that would boost the existing patrol fleet.
"The new vessels named ‘Tempest' and ‘Paluma' - represents a $500,000 commitment to educating anglers and enforcing fishing and boating regulations," Mr Mulherin said.
"They are fitted with modern navigation equipment, internet access and other electrical and technical capabilities to allow more efficient and effective patrolling.
"The new vessels are state-of-the-art, rigid hull inflatable boats, known as RHIBs.
"The two 5.9 metre RHIBs will operate in all waters, including offshore, ensuring compliance of both commercial and recreational fishers for the future sustainability of Queensland's fisheries resources," he said.
Mr Mulherin said the two new vessels demonstrate Fisheries Queensland's continued efforts in encouraging fisheries compliance for commercial and recreational fishers.
"There are currently 102 Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers working from offices throughout the state," Mr Mulherin said.
"In 2009, officers carried out 43,687 fisheries inspections which resulted in a total of 1094 fines being issued or prosecuted for illegal fishing.
"A further 670 people were cautioned. These figures reflect the fact that Queensland has a very high compliance rate within the fishing sector at nearly 97%.
"In 2009, a total of 25,789 hours of patrols were conducted which equates to 54,266 man hours of work.
"These hours reflect the hard work fisheries patrol officers perform to ensure Queensland fishers are complying with regulations and maintaining sustainable fishing stocks."
The two new vessels have been patrolling Townsville and Brisbane waters for the past few weeks as part of standard QBFP patrols.
For more information on the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol visit www.deedi.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries, Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the new boats were a valuable upgrade that would boost the existing patrol fleet.
"The new vessels named ‘Tempest' and ‘Paluma' - represents a $500,000 commitment to educating anglers and enforcing fishing and boating regulations," Mr Mulherin said.
"They are fitted with modern navigation equipment, internet access and other electrical and technical capabilities to allow more efficient and effective patrolling.
"The new vessels are state-of-the-art, rigid hull inflatable boats, known as RHIBs.
"The two 5.9 metre RHIBs will operate in all waters, including offshore, ensuring compliance of both commercial and recreational fishers for the future sustainability of Queensland's fisheries resources," he said.
Mr Mulherin said the two new vessels demonstrate Fisheries Queensland's continued efforts in encouraging fisheries compliance for commercial and recreational fishers.
"There are currently 102 Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers working from offices throughout the state," Mr Mulherin said.
"In 2009, officers carried out 43,687 fisheries inspections which resulted in a total of 1094 fines being issued or prosecuted for illegal fishing.
"A further 670 people were cautioned. These figures reflect the fact that Queensland has a very high compliance rate within the fishing sector at nearly 97%.
"In 2009, a total of 25,789 hours of patrols were conducted which equates to 54,266 man hours of work.
"These hours reflect the hard work fisheries patrol officers perform to ensure Queensland fishers are complying with regulations and maintaining sustainable fishing stocks."
The two new vessels have been patrolling Townsville and Brisbane waters for the past few weeks as part of standard QBFP patrols.
For more information on the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol visit www.deedi.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.
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