By NOEL MURPHY
CRITICS of commercial netting in Corio Bay have enlisted new political support in their campaign to replenish the city’s whiting, snapper, calamari and flathead stocks.
A meeting of 100 recreation anglers at St Alban’s Football Club this week heard Mayor Darryn Lyons and Liberal candidate for Geelong Paula Kontelj back their call for a ban on netting in the bay.
The backing buoyed Ivan Bereza, president of Friends of Corio Bay Action Group, who said he hoped for more before the state eleciton on 29 November.
Wednesday’s trapping of a yacht in netting on Corio Bay highlighted the scope of problem, he said.
“Corio Bay is the most heavily netted bay in Australia for its size,” Mr Bereza told the Independent.
“There are 42 commercial net fishermen in Port Phillip Bay. Only eight of those are local Geelong people, most are from Melbourne but we’ve counted 19 in one night and it’s normal to find about 20 in any one week.
“That’s why 70 per cent of all fish caught in Port Phillip Bay comes out of Corio Bay and has been for many years.
“Corio Bay is an easy place to net with its shallow waters and secluded areas.”
Mr Bereza said rising the issue of Corio Bay’s excess netting was a matter of exposure and educating the public about commercial fishing practices in the bay.
“Geelong’s not only feeling the brunt of manufacturing and CBD downturns but also seeing its bay total wiped out of fish every year,” he said.
“Geelong needs all the help it can get. Fishing is a big tourism issue and can benefit Geelong socially and economically.”
Mr Bereza said most fish netted in Corio Bay wound up in Melbourne or Sydney.
He was concerned about commercial operators failing to accurately lodged catch figures with authorities and black market activity further complicating problems and prospects for resolution.
Cr Lyons believed it was “important to keep the fish healthy and large in the region”.
He described his support for action group as “enormous”.
