AAT Minutes General Meeting August 2024
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING
10.00 am August 2024
Great Lake Community Centre, Miena
Present
Gary France Chair, Howard Jones Vice Chair, Tim Munro Executive Officer, Terry Byard Exec Committee, Peter Coventry, Devonport Anglers, John Butler Devonport Anglers, Jonathan Wadwell Exec Committee, Chris Hilton Executive Committee, Malcolm Crosse, Ryan Wilkinson, Acting Director Inland Fisheries, Philip Charlesworth, Warwick Gee, Peter Wisniewski, Joel Gent North West Fishing Association.
David Ikedife Hydro Tasmania, Andy Taylor Hydro Tasmania
The meeting opened at 11:00
1. Apologies
Gary France opened the meeting, welcomed attendees. Apologies were received from:
Nick May (TGALT), Fiona Dewar, Adrian Hope, Keith Symmons
2. Minutes of the previous meeting
Minutes of the previous meeting, 2 June 2024 were accepted as a true and correct record of that meeting.
3. Funding Deed
The Funding deed for the election commitment funding had been discussed by the Executive and a final version negotiated between AAT and IFS was presented to the meeting. Gary France informed the meeting that this is expected to be signed in the near future.
Moved Terry Byard seconded Phillip Charlesworth
4. Financial Report
The meeting received the Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss statement and resolved to accept the report.
5. Budget 2024 – 2025
The Budget was noted with some discussion about what might be included in the $20500 allocation for research and projects.
Tim Munro suggested that alongside Lake Crescent infrastructure and Shallow Waters research/ implementation, the allocation for projects could include additional Value of the Fishery studies or similar.
The meeting agreed that the AAT executive should refine the budget and monitor expenditure against budget.
6. IFS Report – Ryan Wilkinson
• Since the last AAT meeting rain in the highlands improved the lake levels and spawning run (particularly at Liawenee) enabling IFS to replenish stocks of fish in managed waters: around 8,000 adult brown and 15,000 rainbows and brook trout have been stocked recently.
• IFS staff spoke with anglers across the state on the opening weekend of the season. They noted mixed catch rates with rivers such as the Tyenna and Derwent River proving to be quite difficult but some good fish were caught in lakes, for example Four Springs Lagoon saw 92 Anglers catch 123 Brown and 94 Rainbow trout. Good fishing was reported at Blackmans Lagoon and Big Waterhouse Lake and some good fish were taken at Penstock Lagoon and
• IFS is now meeting quarterly with Hydro Tas and the relationship between the two bodies is strong.
• Tagged trout promotion will run again from October 24 with trout worth $5,000 each released in 9 locations.
• Survey work on the distribution of redfin is being undertaken.
• IFS is connecting with FRDC (Fisheries Research and Development Corporation) to explore funding options for addition research on our fishery.
• Brian Hall has been appointed to the role of Commercial Fisheries Compliance Officer.
• Neil Morrow will retire soon and Chris Bassano has taken a role at the Parks and Wildlife Service.
• Trout supply for junior angling is high on the IFS agenda.
• Work is ongoing to improve access and facilities at Lake Sorell. Terry Byard noted that progress on the water management plan for Lakes Sorell and Crescent has stalled, and the future of these waters is greatly impacted by this. Howard Jones and others reinforced this point.
It was agreed that AAT would welcome involvement together with IFS, Hydro and others in research projects studying on the impacts of water and land management decisions (amongst others) on the fishery. Impacts may include broad environmental and economic outcomes as well as more specific impacts directly related to fisheries habitat.
7. Hydro Tasmania – Dave Ikedife and Andy Taylor
Dave Ikedife commented that communications with IFS were improving leading to a stronger relationship.
Andy and Dave gave a slide presentation on the algal bloom in Woods Lake and led discussion on Hydro’s efforts to understand and manage/eradicate the algal bloom.
In summary the bloom is crashing now (over winter) but is expected to survive and come back. Hydro would like to get data from anglers about catch rate of fish location and fish condition and fish distribution in the lake to assist in their studies of the impact of the bloom. Water level manipulation is one of the tools Hydro has at its disposal to help manage the impact.
Andy noted that it is extremely unlikely that anglers could transfer the algae to other waters on waders or boats.
Hydro continues to study the bloom to try to understand how best to manage it with a view to eradicating it entirely.
8. IFAC Report
Howard Jones and Ryan Wilkinson gave the meeting an update on the latest IFAC meeting. Key matters at that meeting were Woods Lake and the distribution of Redfin. IFAC noted the funding of AAT would return result in free public access to the web camera network.
It is anticipated that Minister Abetz will attend a future IFAC meeting.
9. Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania
This item was deferred to a future meeting
10. Correspondence
a. IN
Social Media Report - noted
11. Feedback from Angling Clubs
The issue of Cormorant impact on the fishery has received a lot of attention in club meetings around the state. The meeting noted that fishing in almost all of the major rivers has declined substantially and that anglers are looking for a process to engage with governments to help.
Sponsorship for junior angling and ‘gone fishing’ days was suggested as it has been in place previously. Whilst there has been some success in obtaining modest club-level sponsorship, it seems that larger organisations are harder to attract as major sponsors.
12. General Business
a. Shallow waters project update
Howard Jones spoke to the paper, included in the agenda, seeking approval from MAST, IFS and Hydro Tasmania for the implementation of a better delineated boating corridor on Penstock Lagoon and related communications.
There was general agreement from the meeting that upgrading the Penstock boating corridor could improve angler compliance and better communications, including signage, would help boat operators understand the requirement to keep boat speed to no more than 5 Knots and the recommendation to use alternative propulsion outside the boating corridor.
It was also agreed that better education on boating impacts – particularly speed and motor skeg depth – at Penstock would help reduce boating impacts on the lagoon.
The meeting touched briefly on the Little Pine Lagoon corridor agreeing that it would manage Penstock Lagoon first and then consider Little Pine and perhaps Four Springs at some future point.
b. AAT Strategic Planning Process
Gary France noted that AAT strategic plan would be updated at a future point and would be discussed at a future meeting.
13. Other Business Insurance
The matter of the AAT public liability insurance was raised. A number of Tasmanian Angling Clubs are covered by the policy and there has been quite some discussion about the terms of the policy around the clubs.
The meeting agreed that Tim Munro would seek legal advice on the policy from a senior insurance legal practitioner to help interpret the policy. AAT will make that advice available to all the clubs involved to help understand their obligations and the cover provided under the policy.
Taswater Community Panel
Howard Jones has nominated to join the Taswater Community Panel and suggested that AAT try to nominate a person. Tim Munro will explore further.
The meeting closed at 2:30pm – next meeting planned for 17 November 2024 at the Great Lake Community Centre but details to be confirmed.
