Electronic Bulletin, Number 1, January 2004

IN THIS EDITION:

1: Welcome
2: Tagging Facilitator
3: West Coast and Gascoyne Reviews
4: Marine Park Planning
5: Compulsory Boating Safety Training
6: Other issues

1: Welcome

Welcome to the inaugural Recfishwest electronic bulletin. It is our intention to use a regular newsletter to keep members and the general fishing public informed of important developments at Recfishwest. The newsletter will be posted to all financial members and emailed to as many corresponding members and interested parties as possible. It will also be available in electronic format on the Recfishwest website, www.recfishwest.org.au.

Recfishwest is a representative body of dedicated and concerned anglers, which is independent of government and which represents all Western Australian fishers at the local, state and federal level. Our fisheries continue to be under threat from pollution and deteriorating water quality. Increasing fishing pressures continue to reduce fish stock numbers and some non-selective, and at times destructive, commercial fishing practices add still further pressure. To try and cope with this pressure fisheries management is changing and Recfishwest is actively participating in these management processes whenever the interests of the recreational fishing community require presentation. Currently Recfishwest is one of the advocates placing submissions before the committee inquiring into Integrated Management of Fisheries.
Decisions are being made now which will affect future fishing opportunities for your children and grandchildren. One of Recfishwest's functions is to represent the needs of these future generations of recreational fishers and to maintain their access to their fair share of the states fish stocks, which are a community resource. Specifically Recfishwest is your public voice whenever decisions which affect our fisheries, or access to them, are being made.

We hope that through this newsletter you will be able to gain a better understanding of the good work being done on behalf of all recreational fishers by the organisation. The newsletter will not cover all topics discussed at Board meetings, but rather seeks to give an overview and summary of important issues. Future editions will also have updates from previous newsletters.

2: Tagging Facilitator
Andrew Rowland joined Recfishwest as the new recreational finfish Tagging Facilitator. Funding for the two year project was sourced from the Fisheries Research and Development Commission and will run for a two year period. An important aim of the project was to increase the tagging level of WA dhufish, breaksea cod, pink snapper and baldchin groper. Andrew will be coordinating and distributing tagging equipment and liaising with ANSA and the Department of Fisheries to aid in determining mortality rates of caught and released fish and establish best release methods. If you would like to help with this program, give Andrew a ring on 9246 3366 or e-mail andrew@recfishwest.org.au.


3: West Coast and Gascoyne Reviews
After a great deal of negotiation between Recfishwest, AAA, the Minister for Fisheries, his staff, and the Department of Fisheries, the Minister has agreed to 14 changes to the new regulations introduced in October 2003. These changes are expected to take effect from February 2004. When available these changes will be available on the Recfishwest website, www.recfishwest.org.au. For more information go to the AAA website at www.aaawa.iinet.net.au

4: Marine Park Planning
With MPRA and CALM pursuing several new Marine Parks including Walpole/Nornalup, Capes to Capes, Dampier and extensions to the Ningaloo Marine Park, Recfishwest are working hard to obtain the best outcomes for recreational fishers. A response to all of these proposals is being drafted and they will be available at the Recfishwest website, www.recfishwest.org.au when completed. Recfishwest board members and staff are continually attending meetings in regard to marine park management and planning to unsure that all recreational fishing interests are represented fairly.

5: Compulsory Boating Safety Training
The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Alannah McTiernan, has recently announced that she intends to introduce compulsory competency based training (CCBT) for recreational boat drivers, the introduction of which would need to be supported by some form of licensing or certification. She has asked the State Boating Council (the peak body for recreational boating; supported by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure - DPI) on which Recfishwest is represented to provide her with advice on how CCBT would best be introduced. Recfishwest has yet to form a position on the Minister's intention but is currently working with the Council in its deliberations.

6: Other Issues

• Recfishwest has written to the Minister for Fisheries regarding delays in the progress of Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM).


• Recfishwest has prepared a detailed submission on Riverplan, the proposals for managing the Swan and Canning Rivers.


• Recfishwest has written to the DoF opposing the changes to the recreational bag limit for pink snapper in the Gascoyne area.


• Recfishwest has requested the need for further information about pink snapper breeding in Cockburn Sound, to enable a submission to be prepared on the appropriate time for fishing closures to protect spawning aggregations


• Recfishwest has written to the Minister for Fisheries to seek further information on commercial mackerel management.


• Recfishwest has written to the Minister for Fisheries expressing concern about the reduction in the blue groper size limit from 60cm to 50cm.


• Recfishwest has written to the Shire of Carnarvon about a proposal to demolish the prawning jetty, and to the Shire of Exmouth about the preservation and restoration of the Learmonth jetty.


• Recfishwest is updating its policy on Marine Reserves and no take zones and is seeking direct representation on all Marine Park planning committees.


• Recfishwest is in the process of preparing a submission on the 'Access to Pastoral Land' report.


• The Recfishwest website is being expanded and updated to include regular electronic bulletins.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Recfishwest please contact the office on (08) 9246 3366, email to recfish@recfishwest.org.au or apply at the Recfishwest website, www.recfishwest.org.au



This page last updated on 29 December 2003.