Mayor Strelow backs move to keep commercial fishing

Published on 15 April 2015

Barramundi tourism could be a game changer for Rockhampton's tourism industry according to Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow.

“We are the gateway to the beach and to the Great Barrier Reef, and Barra fishing could be packaged and marketed to extend our tourism offering,” she said.

“At the moment there is a massive haul by commercial fishermen at the start of the season every year and then very little opportunity left for recreational fishermen.”

Mayor Strelow said the long-term tourism benefits of being able to catch barramundi in the city reaches of Rockhampton for a full season are obvious.

“We know the excitement that Barra Bounty generates and there are huge spin off benefits for our accommodation and our image.

“Economists tell us over and over that the best money is totally new money coming into the Region. We're not the beach - we are a true city - let's use that and build on that.

“The opportunity to catch a Barra and still sleep in a quality hotel bed and enjoy the benefits of being in a city are a point of difference that we can offer over other areas in the somewhat 'wild' North where guided fishing trips for barramundi fishing mean big business for tourism.

“Rockhampton has to work with its strengths, and one of the most exciting areas for us to grow is tourism,” she said.