AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

FISH PROTECTION REGULATIONS

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 7 of 1956

	These amendments are made in the interest of uniformity with the State of New South Wales and are based on scientific investigations conducted in that State.  These investigations resulted in the following findings:–

(a)	That the bulk of trout spawning is completed by August.

(b)	That some streams (including those of the Australian Capital Territory) have a slow growth rate and the previous minimum length of 12 inches has prevented anglers from thinning out waters over-populated with old stunted fish.

(c)	That in streams affected by high summer temperatures there is a high mortality rate among trout and it is therefore considered that anglers should be afforded a better opportunity of catching mature fish which might perish during summer months.

	On the basis of these findings, the following amendments have been made to the Regulations:–

(a)	The trout fishing season to commence on the 1st September instead of the previous date, the Saturday preceding the first Monday in October.

(b)	The season to close on the 30th April instead of the previous date, the Sunday preceding the first Monday in May.

(c)	The legal limit of trout which may be caught to be reduced from 12 inches to 10 inches.