Electronic Bulletin
Number 4, June 2004

IN THIS EDITION:
Items from May
1: Membership
2: Dhufish Workshop
3: Fishing Workshops
4: Release Weight
5: Reward & Recognition Program
6: Bulletin Distribution
7: Other issues
Updates
8: Regular Tagging Update


1: Membership
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.
With so many important issues facing recreational fishing in Western Australia we have lots of requests of how to help out. The only way recreational fishers are going to listened to is by having a united voice.
Why not support the valuable work done on your behalf by becoming a Recfishwest member.
Members pay a small annual fee of $22 and are sent regular bulletins, mail outs and questionnaires on important topics. Your 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 please contact Con at recfish@recfishwest.org.au or phone on (08) 9246 3366.

2: Dhufish Workshop
On Saturday 12 June, Recfishwest hosted the WA Dhufish Workshop at Murdoch University. The workshop was well received by an audience that included recreational anglers, commercial fishers, academic researchers, fisheries scientists and managers, the WA Fishing Industry Council representatives and Recfishwest members and staff.

The overriding theme to emerge from the workshop was the multilateral concern for the future of dhufish in Western Australia. The presentations did much to enlighten all who attended, providing an increased awareness of the issues that underpin current management and the challenges facing future management under Integrated Fishery Management (IFM). Proceedings of the workshop, including summaries of presentations and issues raised during discussion sessions will be published and provided to all who attended.

3: Fishing Workshops
Recfishwest is committed to its "FishSmart SunSmart" program, which serves to promote the SunSmart message and educate young recreational fishers to "Fish Today for Tomorrow". Numerous enquiries were received following our call for expressions of interest in the previous bulletin and the additional volunteers recruited will help coordinate these popular fishing workshops. A very successful and well received workshop was held with a local youth group in Denmark over the weekend 19/20th June. Now that winter is upon us we do not have any more clinics booked until November but would like to increase our bookings for the future. If you know of a school or community group that would like Recfishwest to run a hands-on fishing workshop please contact Con at recfish@recfishwest.org.au or phone on 9246 3366.

4: Release Weights
A brochure explaining why release weights should be used and how to use them has now been produced and circulated to tackle shops. Recfishwest believes that release weights should be standard issue for anyone considering deepwater fishing. This device can aid the release of a wide range of reef species that may have difficulty returning to the bottom when captured from depth. The current tagging project is showing encouraging survival results for fish released by this method. For further information on the release weight please contact Andrew at andrew@recfishwest.org.au or phone on (08) 9246 3366.

5: Reward & Recognition Program
This commitment to ensuring 'Fish for the Future' within our State is recognized by the Western Australian Fisheries Reward and Recognition Program, which encourages, supports and rewards people who have achieved outstanding results in this field. The awards under the Reward and Recognition Program offer opportunities for such people to develop their understanding of how to further safeguard our fisheries and assist in promoting Western Australian fisheries products and services.

If you know of someone who has had a positive impact on our fisheries why not nominate them for an award. A copy of the nomination form can be obtained from your local Fisheries Office or at their website www.fish.wa.gov.au

6: Bulletin Distribution
The Recfishwest Electronic Bulletin is proving to be a valuable tool to inform our members and the general public of the wonderful work Recfishwest is undertaking on your behalf. We often receive feedback that many people do not know what Recfishwest is about and how we work for recreational fishers. If all of you that receive this bulletin can forward it on to others we can increase awareness of Recfishwest and how they tackle some important issues.

The more fishers aware of this, the easier it is for us to work together and to improve our fishing future. The next time a friend complains about how fishers are hard done by hand him/her a copy of this document and ask him/her to join in. If any of you have specific concerns about recreational fishing in Western Australia, please contact Mark by e-mail mark@recfishwest.org.au or phone on (08) 9246 3366 and voice your opinion. Feedback will be provided on some of these concerns in future editions of the bulletin.

7: Other Issues
" Recfishwest is continuing to be involved with the Wetfish Review.
" Recfishwest has an election policy for the upcoming election. This will be posted on the website www.recfishwest.org.au
" Recfishwest is continuing to work towards a 'Recreation Zone" in the Jurien Bay Marine Park.
" Recfishwest is continuing its involvement with meetings on the 'Capes to Capes Marine Park'.
" Recfishwest has attended a meeting with the State Government on Bioregional Planning.

Updates

8: Tagging Update
The recent Dhufish Workshop reiterated the importance of the Westag program towards the research of this icon species. Although tagging is producing significant results for researchers, there is still a need for more fish to be tagged. Notable recaptures continue to be reported, including:
- Dhufish tag-12576 was recaptured in 12 m after almost 3 years in the same location near Ocean Reef.
- Pink Snapper tag-23886 was recaptured for the third time since September 2003 by the same angler in the same location, 90m deep.

Recfishwest
Recfishwest believes 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 representation. Currently Recfishwest is one of the advocates placing submissions before the committee inquiring into Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM).

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. 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



This page last updated on June 2004.