The Narooma Port Committee has backed the granting of a permit to allow restricted Indigenous fishing in two estuaries, however a staunch opponent fears damage will be done and says the wider fishing community was not consulted.
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The Narooma Port committee commended the DPI's decision to revive Indigenous practices through a cultural netting program.
The committee supported the twelve-month permit to the Indigenous community to harvest four fish boxes weekly of fin fish from Wagonga Inlet and Mummuga Lake.
Port Committee chair Dr Philip Creagh said the permit was an opportunity to improve health among the Indigenous community.
"This permit is innovative and hopefully will lead to an improvement in traditional dietary requirements," Mr Creagh said.
"Fresh local fish is an excellent way to get high quality protein with known health improvements in the long term.
"Wally Stewart is to be commended for his initiative in this regard.
"The Narooma Port Committee supports any initiatives which will benefit the local Aboriginal community where it can be demonstrated they are sustainable and complement the values of the Batemans Marine Park."
However, the Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club did not welcome the news.
President Les Waldock said the club was concerned about the permit and the "unknown future for our local pristine waters".
"Netting is a word that implants the thought of substantial fish takes, on a regular basis," Mr Waldock said.
He said nets were a "very effective" and "deadly" fishing method.
"Nets don't discriminate between mature or immature species, size or undersize. They capture protected species, birds, turtles, seals, rays and dolphins," he said.
Mr Waldock was disappointed there was no consultation process.
"We would have welcomed the opportunity to be involved with the decision process leading up to this permit being granted," Mr Waldock said.
"We, as a club, have witnessed many changes to the NSW Fishery over the years with some very successful 'buy outs' of commercial licences, re-invigorating those fisheries.
"Further success with Marine Parks has seen all fisheries improve dramatically."
Mr Waldock said the recent rezoning of Marine Parks and authority of netting in Wagonga Inlet and Lake Mummuga, "raised doubts doubts as to what strategy DPI are employing".
"Mummuga Lake is one of thirty Recreational Fishing Havens in NSW, created with licence monies from the recreational fishing sector," Mr Waldock said.
"These havens were to provide better angling opportunities for recreational fishers."
Mr Waldock believed there was no research into the estuaries before giving authority to net.
"No research was conducted by DPI on the fish biomass, the health of the waterways in both Wagonga Inlet and Mummuga Lake and the possible and probable effects allowing netting in these waterways," he said.
"Narooma/Dalmeny townships have a huge reliance on tourism for survival. A large part of the attraction is fishing both the rich offshore waters and the many local estuaries surrounding our homes."
