OH no. Someone's having fun.... well that's gotta stop.

Indyvidual brought this up some time ago. I wonder if fish stocks have dwindled since then, or the “hordes” of boats and rods have increased or decreased. Are they “literally” overrunning North Queensland. ‘Literally’ means that they actually are, and that's doubtful.

Barbless hooks? That won't necessarily cut down the number of fish taken. I'm advised that it's all about ‘tension’, no great skill needed, and you will catch just as many fish.

Worried about the fish's feelings? Given the lack of feeling ‘authorities’ have for their fellow human beings, that's not a problem.

In his follow-up post, Indyvidual falls back on effects on “mass tourism” and “sun lotion” on the GBR, the usual BS that has been debunked by people with actual facts and evidence.

It's all something to whinge about, making people feel miserable, and trying to do them out of a bit of fun, the pleasure of eating something they caught for themselves, and enjoying the country they are lucky to live in.

Having fun at the expense of other creatures - who in this
case don't have a voice or rights?

I think many would disagree.

Without being fanatical about things - perhaps the word
that we're looking for here is - moderation.

My father used to love trout fishing. He loved being
out in natural habitats. But that was a long time ago.
I'm not sure how he'd feel in today's over-populated
world. Whether he's still be able to find the peace
and solitude that made him so happy.

The area Indy is talking about is his back yard, and he has every right to be concerned about its environment and nature.

Indy,

I can only speak for the Greens NSW, they have over the years fought tooth and nail on environmental issues, as Shooters and Hooters have tried to leverage the state Coalition Government (before Labor was elected) to get exemptions for their members, such as 4WD hooning in national parks, unrestricted gun use for recreational purposes. One of their leading supporters was filmed illegally shooting several wombats on a country property. Let them into North Queensland and see what they will do with the GBR!

I wonder if fish stocks have dwindled since then
ttbn,
Let me put it this way. The places we dive for the past 40 years are now desert like insofar as fish population goes. That is a clear indication that fish stocks are dwindling ! From being surrounded by schools of fish to having to swim after a couple just to look at them pretty much confirms that.
Barbed hooks need no further explanation to what I remarked on earlier.
Just Google Countries which banned barbed fishing hooks. It's time for a re-think ! This has nothing to do with being some raging environmentalist etc, it has to do with a more considerate mentality towards anything that can do without killing the goose that lays the golden egg just for "recreation" By all means go out & relax & catch a couple of fish to take home but wholesale slaughter is what ruins it for all ! "recreational" fishing has become a massive industry & "releasing more than half-dead fish is no longer an acceptable practise ! We see people sneaking into protected zones at night catching commercial quantities & that's just no longer tolerable.