Commercial and recreational fishers appear to have benefited from Huon Aquaculture's misfortune after 20,000 yellow tail kingfish escaped the farm in rough seas.
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About two tonnes of the restaurant-quality fish made its way through the Commercial Fisherman's Co-operative in the past week before authorities closed down the area for safety reasons.
"It was a couple of tonnes at most and some of that was probably wild [yellowtail kingfish]," the co-op's general manager Robert Gauta said.
"They've caught a few but nowhere near [eight tonnes] people were talking about."
Mr Gauta said it was unclear if the fish had been caught within the marine aquaculture research lease, or the greater Providence Bay area.
"It's the responsibility of [comercial] fishers to to declare their catch with NSW Fisheries," he said.
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NSW Fisheries issued a section 8 temporary closure of the MARL ahead of the Australia Day long weekend, posted online and in bait shops.
“The closure will allow Huon Aquaculture to complete sea pen infrastructure and mooring repairs as well as the recapture of Yellowtail Kingfish following storm damage to the research lease,” a spokesperson from the NSW Department of Primary Industries said.
“It will be in place until and including Thursday, February 7, 2018.”
A spokeswoman for Huon said the closure was for safety reasons.
“We were consulted by the NSW DPI before implementing the temporary fishing closure, and the safety of our workers, as they attempt repairs to pen infrastructure and moorings is our first priority,” she said. “The closure is only temporary in nature and fishers will be able to return to the lease once works are completed.”
Word of the bounty spread quickly prior to the long weekend, via social media, pricking the ears of recreational fishers who were eager to “hook-up”.
Ross Duffy, a recreational angler from Duff's Salamander Bait and Tackle, said he enjoyed a session at the MARL on January 21, respecting the legal bag limit of five.
"We kept a few but threw the rest back, we didn't even take that many home," he said. "The interest in it has been huge. The ones we caught were 70 to 75 centimetres, so they were legal."
The escape has been the talk of recreational fishers through the Port.
Mr Duffy said unlike 10 years ago - when snapper escaped a previous commercial trial - the kingfish put up a good fight.
"They're a good fighting fish even though they have been farmed and I can tell you they're a good feed, I can recommend them," he said.
Back at the co-op Mr Gauta said the supply had slowed considerably since the ban.
“We haven’t seen any in the past few days,” he said.
Mr Gauta used to fish out of Port Stephens and expressed concern for the farm’s ability to withstand big seas.
“It won’t be the worst weather it will see, the east coast lows will test it that’s for sure,” he said.
“But they’ve done their research so I’m sure they’re prepared.”
The Huon spokeswoman declined to comment on the pen’s failure – which occurred after a severe weather event – before the release of a review into the incident.
“Early indications suggest that equipment design is not the lead cause of equipment failure,” she said. “Whilst we are disappointed with the recent fish escape following a weather incident, it is an important learning experience and we remain committed to ensuring that there isn’t a repeat of the incident. We will continue to be upfront with the community and we will supply the report to stakeholders once completed.”