Electronic Bulletin
Number 3
April 2004

IN THIS EDITION:
Items from March
1: Corresponding Members
2: Dhufish Workshop
3: Marine Park Planning
4: Volunteers Needed
5: Canning River Fishing Platforms
6: Other issues
Updates
7: Learmonth Jetty Update
8: Regular Tagging Update

1: Corresponding Members
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. To give added weight to the views expressed by Recfishwest we list the numbers of members and corresponding members at each board meeting. Many of you receiving this bulletin are not on this list.

Corresponding members do not pay an annual fee but are sent mail outs and questionnaires on important topics. Their views are important to us and are included in our policies and submissions. If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a full paying member or just wishes to have their view counted by becoming a corresponding member please contact Con at recfish@recfishwest.org.au or phone on (08) 9246 3366.

2: Dhufish Workshop
The first Western Australian Dhufish Workshop is scheduled for 12 June 2004. Representatives from Recfishwest, Department of Fisheries, Murdoch University, Challenger TAFE and WAFIC will help make this an educational and informative workshop for all those who attend.
The agenda will be based on the following topics:
" Current knowledge
" The issues
" The future

We will keep you regularly updated through this bulletin on the progress. It is expected that numbers will be limited and a cost in the order of $10 for a full day including tea, coffee and sandwiches and published proceedings. If you are keen to attend you can register your interest by emailing Mark Pagano at the office on mark@recfishwest.org.au or call on (08) 9246 3366.

3: Marine Park Planning
Recfishwest places the highest priority on safeguarding the future of recreational fishing and the resource it depends on in Western Australia. The habitat in which fishing is carried out and access to that habitat is of particular importance. We recognise that a marine park is a resource for the entire community and although there is a need for local community involvement, the importance of a strategic, state-wide viewpoint is essential but sadly lacking in Western Australia.

Recfishwest believes CALM ignores the suite of marine natural resource management processes that are available instead focusing primarily on sanctuary zoning in marine parks. Other management options can lead to more acceptable outcomes than the use of sanctuary zones as the sole management tool. CALM has pushed sanctuary zoning for representative purposes alone with little or inconclusive justification to do so. This was apparent in both the Rowley Shoals and the Proposed Capes Marine Park Plans where no evidence was presented to suggest that recreational fishing is a threat to the representativeness of proposed sanctuary areas.

The Recfishwest submissions to the Rowley Shoals Marine Park Draft Management Plan and the Zoning Plan for the Proposed Capes Marine Park are available on our website www.recfishwest.org.au

4: Volunteers Needed
Recfishwest as part of a sponsorship arrangement with Sunsmart hold regular Fishsmart fishing clinics to educate juniors on the sunsmart message and good fishing ethics. These clinics run for two hours and are often with schools or community groups. Recfishwest are in need of dedicated volunteers to help out with these clinics. If you have some time spare and are interested in helping out please contact Con at recfish@recfishwest.org.au or phone on (08) 9246 3366.

5: Canning River Fishing Platforms
Over the last eighteen months, the City of Canning has consulted with local community and representative groups, Recfishwest, VFLO's, the Swan River Trust, and other government departments, in the preparation of designs for several jetties along the southern foreshore of the Canning River. Due to concerns that damage is being done to valuable river banks and reeds it was decided that providing platforms to get fishers over the reeds to better fishing grounds could be of benefit to fishers whilst protecting the habitat of the fish they were trying to catch. It is hoped that all responsible fishers will use these platforms and refrain from trampling riverside vegetation to get to the waters edge. At present there are two proposed fishing platforms in the Canning River as well as the replacement of the old Bullcreek Jetty in Rossmoyne which had to be removed in 2002 because it had deteriorated to a point where it had become unsafe. This is a great project by the City of Canning and shows how many differing groups can work together for the benefit of all. Recfishwest would like to congratulate the City of Canning on this forward thinking initiative and wish them great success. If you would like more information please telephone Mary Ross, Parks and Streetscape Services, at the City of Canning on (08) 9231 0743.

6: Other Issues
" Recfishwest has continued to be involved with the Wetfish Review.
" Recfishwest has drafted an election policy for the upcoming election this will be distributed in a future bulletin.
" Recfishwest is working towards a 'Recreation Zone" in the Jurien Bay Marine Park.
" Recfishwest has sent a submission on the 'Capes to Capes Marine Park Draft'.
" Recfishwest has sent a submission on the 'Rowley Shoals Marine Park Draft'.
" Recfishwest has attended a meeting with MPRA on Marine Park Planning.
" Recfishwest has a new format for our Fishsmart fishing clinics. If your high school or community group is interested please contact Con at recfish@recfishwest.org.au or phone on (08) 9246 3366.

Updates
7: Learmonth Jetty
The timing could not be better for the lucky fishers heading up to Exmouth to escape the cold with the Shire of Exmouth opening the refurbished Learmonth Jetty by the end of April. This has been a wonderful achievement and Recfishwest applauds the Shire of Exmouth for realising the benefits of this great recreational fishing icon.

8: Tagging Update
A release weight brochure explaining why release weights should be used and how to use them has been prepared and will be printed in the near future. Further tagging kits have been issued with instructions to volunteer taggers. 15 recaptures were reported during the past month, notably;
" A breaksea cod was recaptured in 85metres in the same location it was released (via release weight) 502 days prior.
" A Dhufish released in 41 metres (via venting) with noticeable bulging of eye sockets and stomach in mouth was recaptured in the same location after 695 days.

Recfishwest
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.

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 April 2004.