The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics on behalf of the Department of Primary Industry and Resources (DPIR) have investigated the opportunity to upgrade the road access to the boat ramp at Stuart’s Tree Fishing Camp at Point Stuart, Northern Territory.

Point Stuart Road commences from the Arnhem Highway, approximately 100km from the Stuart Highway turnoff. The subject section is currently a narrow access track commencing at the boundary of the Mary River National Park, approximately 11.40 km north of the Shady Camp turnoff.

This project arose from a letter submitted by Terry Holtz of Stuart’s Tree Fishing Camp on 25 January 2017. In this letter, Mr Halse proposed a substantial improvement be made for public access to the waters of Chambers Bay and Finke Bay by upgrading the road access, boat launch facilities and related landside facilities at Point Stuart.

The outcome of this project is to open up access to the waters of Finke Bay and Chambers Bay, providing an alternative access point to areas such as Wildman River, Love Creek, Carmor Creek and reefs in the area, which in turn alleviates demand on the boat ramp at Shady Camp. Access to the Stuart’s Memorial Cairn (a site of substantial historical significance and the place where John McDouall Stuart reached the north coast of Australia after crossing the continent) shall also be improved.

In line with the NT Government’s $50 Million election commitment to invest in recreational fishing infrastructure, this project will encompass the upgrade of approximately 29 km of Point Stuart Road access track to public road standards which will improve road trafficability and safety of road users.

NT Fisheries have been monitoring the Greater Darwin Region reef fish protection areas for the last four years – collecting over 400 hours of video using baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS). Processing this video, frame by frame to identify fish species, is time and labour intensive.

In collaboration with Microsoft, NT Fisheries has researched the application of computer vision and machine learning to automate the process of fish identification. A successful prototype was built to locate fish within a video frame with greater than 90% accuracy and identify key species with greater than 75% accuracy.
This is a demonstration of remarkable technology given some of these fish images appear for only a fleeting period and often in highly turbid water.

Broader applications of the technology are also being investigated for monitoring bycatch on commercial vessels and for biosecurity monitoring purposes.

In 2015, five temporary Reef Fish Protection Areas were introduced across the Northern Territory to protect significant fish aggregation sites and to aid in the recovery of key species in heavily fished areas.
The two protection areas closest to Darwin at Charles Point Wide and Lorna Shoal had been severely depleted over time and were designed to allow fish populations to recover for the long-term benefit of all recreational fishers.

While the majority of fishers are doing the right thing and assisting in the rebuilding of stocks, there is evidence that some people are undermining recovery efforts by illegally fishing in the Reef Fish Protection Areas.

Last week three separate recreational fishing vessels were apprehended by Water Police while fishing inside the Charles Point Reef Protection Area. Notices to appear before Magistrates Court have been issued and Fisheries and Water Police will continue to adopt a zero tolerance in relation to these types of fisheries offences.

If you have evidence of illegal fishing activity occurring within the closures, please assist with rebuilding our fish stocks by reporting the incident via the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 891 136.

The locations of the Reef Fish Protection Areas are show below. For more information on the recreational fishing rules, visit the Fisheries website Know Your Limits Booklet

There are several artificial reefs located in the Northern Territory at Fenton Patches, Darwin Harbour, Dundee, Adelaide River Mouth, North Gutter and Lee Point.
Artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices (FADs) create new fish habitat and provide new fishing areas that can help reduce pressure on existing natural reefs and fish stocks.
Engineered artificial reefsFour specifically engineered reef complexes were installed in 2019.
The reef complexes are large concrete structures that are five metres tall and four metres square at the base, weighing about 24 tonnes.
The reefs are expected to last up to 100 years and will attract a variety of species to suit a range of fishing techniques and abilities.

There are several artificial reefs located in the Northern Territory at Fenton Patches, Darwin Harbour, Dundee, Adelaide River Mouth, North Gutter and Lee Point.
Artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices (FADs) create new fish habitat and provide new fishing areas that can help reduce pressure on existing natural reefs and fish stocks.
Below are the details and location of the artificial features placed there over the years
Marchart 3Type: 32m steel oil rig tender.
Approximate position: 12° 10.275'S 130° 40.635'E.
Approximate depth: 25m.
Common species: jewfish, saddle-tail snapper, golden snapper, trevally, estuary cod, tuna and mackerel.
Bus Stop ReefType: 6 x steel shipping pontoons, 45 x truck tyres, 3 x concrete bus shelters, 1 x 10m steel boat cut in two sections. Approximate total 200 tonnes of materials.
Approximate position: 12° 11.163'S 130° 41.165'E.
Approximate depth: 25m.
Common species: jewfish, saddle-tail snapper, golden snapper, trevally, estuary cod, tuna and mackerel.
Pipeline ReefType: 200 tonnes of large concrete pipes.
Approximate position: 12° 11.669'S 130° 40.390'E.
Approximate depth: 25m.
Common species: jewfish, saddle-tail snapper, golden snapper, trevally, estuary cod, tuna and mackerel.
Galah and HeronType: 2 x 20m vessels.
Approximate position: 12° 9.701'S 130° 40.750'E.
Approximate depth: 25m.
Common species: jewfish, saddle-tail snapper, golden snapper, trevally, estuary cod, tuna and mackerel.
Cockatoo and MudlarkType: 2 x 20m vessels.
Approximate position: 12° 10.097'S 130° 39.732'E.
Approximate depth: 25m.
Common species: jewfish, saddle-tail snapper, golden snapper, trevally, estuary cod, tuna and mackerel.
Amanda LeeType: 1 x 20m steel vessel.
Approximate position: 12° 09.691'S 130° 40.721'E.
Approximate depth: 25m.
Common species: jewfish, saddle-tail snapper, golden snapper, trevally, estuary cod and mackerel.
Antares and Steel BargeType: 1 x 20m steel vessel and a 10m x 10m steel barge
Approximate position: 12° 09.937'S 130° 41.363'E
Approximate depth: 25m
Common species: jewfish, saddle-tail snapper, golden snapper, trevally, estuary cod and mackerel.
Amelia C and Merindah PearlType: 2 x 25m steel vessels.
Approximate position: 12° 09.810'S 130° 41.409'E.
Approximate depth: 25m.
Common species: jewfish, saddle-tail snapper, golden snapper, trevally, estuary cod and mackerel.