Fishing ban for Moreton Bay until flood debris clears | Courier Mail

Fishing ban for Moreton Bay until flood debris clears | Courier Mail: "FISHING is set to be banned in parts of Moreton Bay until government scientists can be sure the plume of mud and debris washed out of the Brisbane River by the flood is not polluting fish or seafood.

A fishing industry source told The Sunday Mail last night the ban, which could be announced as early as Sunday, was the idea of commercial fishermen who want to allay any public fears about food safety.

Recreational fishos entering inshore areas either side of the mouth of the Brisbane River were likely to be escorted away by Fisheries Queensland patrol boats, the source said.

Commercial fishermen have voluntarily agreed not to fish in the plume until they get the all-clear from the Government.

Fishermen met government officials on Friday to discuss worries about water quality in the aftermath of the floods.

State Government scientists carried out water tests in Moreton Bay on Wednesday and Thursday but the results will not be known for at least a week.

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The area covered by the ban, which is expected to have immediate effect, runs from St Helena Island south of the mouth of the Brisbane River to Shorncliffe in the north.

Solution to a problem

Some say this may be the solution to getting to and from the mainland.

Ferry prices increase

Southern Moreton Bay Islands ferry users will be hit with two waves of fare rises in the next four months.

The first will come in nine days time when a one way fare will go from $7.70 to $8.40--a rise of nine percent

All other fares are affected with the Adult 40 trip multi-ticket at $258.80, a rise of 8.28%

But the real shock is with the inter-island ferry prices that have risen by over a half with the new single costing $2.40 and the Return 10 $19.60. Since September 2008 the inter-island charge has risen by 85% and may well rise again in April.

Exactly how much all fares will rise again on April 17 is not known.

The first that islanders knew of this was on Friday when a sign appeared at the ferry terminals saying that the increases had been approved by Queensland Transport and Main Roads.

While the increases for January were displayed on the ferries no further information was available on the Transit Systems Australia website as promised.

The last wave of BITs fare increases were in 15 September 2008 and in 2 March 2009. Then the price for the adult one way rose from $6.60 to $7.20(9%) and then to $7.70(6.94%)

At the time the operating company said that the company felt that it could no longer absorb the increases in running costs. The increases are in line with those granted to other ferry operators in Queensland.

This time around the Brisbane Terminal Gate Price for Diesel has fallen from $1.58 a litre at the last price hike to $1.08 on New Year's eve--a drop of 31.5%.