Meeting Communique 31 May
Meeting Communique
Anglers Alliance Tasmania – General Meeting
Date: 31 May 2026
Venue: Great Lake Community Centre, Miena
Chair Howard Jones welcomed members and guests, including Dr Scott Hardie from the Inland
Fisheries Service (IFS) and Luke Hickman from Hydro Tasmania.
The previous meeting’s minutes were confirmed - matters arising included discussion on the
importance of the stalled Sorell Crescent water level management plan and ongoing blue-green
algae management group run by the Derwent Catchment Project.
Financial Report:
Members endorsed the finance report.
Fisheries Updates:
Dr Scott Hardie, IFS Manager of Pest Fish, Native Fish and Ecology, shared insights from his
Churchill Fellowship in New Zealand, the US, and Canada on managing and restoring inland
waterways. Members were interested in the presentation and discussed new challenges and
opportunities for Tasmania’s inland fisheries.
TheIFS also provided updates on the 2025–26 trout season, noting some improvements in fish
size and health in some waters over the previous season. We discussed the recent angler survey
and the importance of including all relevant waters in future surveys.
Other IFS updates included:
- Spawning at Liawenee is going well
- The ongoing PhD project on shallow water fisheries - candidates have been interviewed
- Management of the commercial eel fishery
- Pest fish control activities
- Licence sales were a a couple of % below 2025 levels but international licence sales were
significantly higher
IFS is confident that redfin perch have been eliminated from a farm dam in the Huon River
catchment.
The meeting also received positive news about additional State Government funding for IFS,
included in the recent State Budget. This funding will enable IFS to purchase a new, electrofishing
boat to replace the ageing one still in service and create a new position improving fishery
management over the next few years.
Hydro Tasmania Update
Luke Hickman provided an overview of water storage, management, and upcoming infrastructure
developments. Key points include:
- Water storage is low across the state.
- Hydro still investigating charophyte plants in the Central Highlands.
- Poatina Power Station will undergo a 9 month (July 202026 – April 2027) shutdown for
maintenance and upgrade. AAT is eager to discuss the implications for Brumbies Creek with
Hydro Tasmania TGALT and IFS to improve future angling during this period.
No signs of algae in Woods Lake, was being flushed from water from Arthurs Lake.
General Business
Members discussed and broadly supported constitutional reform ideas allowing individual anglers
to join AAT. We’ll continue working on the changes which will go to the AGM in August
AAT Updates include:
- AAT website is getting a makeover to allow more content.
- Inland Fisheries Advisory Council meetings were discussed
- Pioneer Lake restoration work is underway.
- Opportunities for AAT to assist with club projects maintaining angler access points.
Eel stocking impacts
The Quamby Anglers raised concerns about the dun hatch at Four Springs Lake and the possible
impact of the eel fishery on the hatches. Scott Hardie agreed to take that back to IFS for further
discussion.
Other agenda items included:
- Exploring AAT’s role in egg box trout recruitment trials, IFS keen to have AAT co-ordinate.
Next egg boxes will be biodegradable.
Egg box trial participants will be giving a 1 hour talk to interested parties on the trial.
- Promoting junior angling through fly-tying and the potential of creating junior angling spots in
Lynch and Duncan Lagoons
- exploring improving boat launching facilities on Shannon Lagoon
- Evidence of gem/gold fossicking adversely impacting streams
A public lecture on insect life decline will be held on 10 June at the Stanley Burbury Theatre
UTAS. An online link is available:
Understanding the Insect Apocalypse - Events | University of Tasmania
https://www.utas.edu.au/events/2026/june/understanding-the-insect-apocalypse
The meeting concluded at 2:15 pm.
The next meeting and AGM will be held on Sunday, 23 August 2026.