I originally posted this in Sept 2020:
I messaged Qld Fisheries re abandoned pots at Vic Point and got the following response:
It is not lawful to interfere with someone else's fishing gear, even if the pots are abandoned. Your best bet would be to report the pots to the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116. Then the local QBFP can remove them. So I will contact them to get them removed. Will advise if successful - Cheers
Update Oct 2020 - Spoke to Fishwatch who were very understanding on our predicament. Said they are about to do a big clean up of old pots in the Redlands and should have them removed in a week or so.
UPDATE 14th Feb 2022 - Logged another complaint to Qld Fisheries a few days ago as I cycled past at low tide and counted 9 pots in the immediate vicinity and today they advised they have removed 5 old cradpots described as rubbish. They said 1 or 2 are valid crabpots with floats attached so have to leave as is, but a few others they could not reach and looked like they are now rubbish, ie. old pots in bad state of repair. They had to walk/wade out at low tide to get the ones they did, but said sorry about the couple remaining. I thanked them and will have a look at low tide next time I cycle past. Also they mentioned we cannot touch crabpots that look like they are in use, ie. good condition with floats attached. Cheers
