Electronic Bulletin
Number 5, August 2004

IN THIS EDITION:

Items from July
1: Ningaloo Marine Park
2: Cape to Capes Marine Park
3: Cockburn Sound Snapper Closure
4: South Coast Review
5: Pilbara/Kimberley Review
6: Integrated Fisheries Management
7: Recreational Fishing Program
8: Jetties Policy
9: Election Policy
10: Other Issues
Updates
11: Regular Tagging Update

1:Ningaloo Marine Park
Recfishwest has been working hard at securing an equitable outcome for the proposed changes to the Ningaloo Marine Park. Unfortunately with the release of the Draft Management Plan recently we are discouraged to find that all previous submissions have been overlooked in favour of tighter restrictions on recreational fishers. Rest assured that Recfishwest is working closely with the Exmouth community, local and state government and key stakeholders to rectify this and are meeting with relevant Ministers and the MPRA to discuss matters further.

You can all help to ensure that fishing remains a major focus in Exmouth by submitting your own response to CALM's draft plan. Recfishwest is completing its submission and will post it on the website shortly. Until then you can look at our earlier submission on the website www.recfishwest.org.au. We urge all recreational fisher to please make an effort to submit your views to CALM.

2: Cape to Capes Marine Park
The Cape to Capes process is moving along and all will be glad to hear that the restrictions proposed are not as harsh on recreational fishing as those in Ningaloo. Recfishwest has scheduled a meeting with CALM to represent the interests of recreational fishers before the draft plan goes out for public submissions.

3: Cockburn Sound Snapper Closure
As most of you should be aware from 15 September to 31 October the take, possession and landing of Pink Snapper in Cockburn Sound is prohibited. This closure has been supported by the recreational fishing public and is another example of how fishers are working together to look after our wonderful fisheries. With the changes to the landing regulations last year with the West Coast Review many fishers were angry to hear they could not land pink snapper caught outside the closed area at the boat ramps in the Sound. Recfishwest together with research scientists, compliance officers and managers from the Department of Fisheries are working on changes to the closure to improve equality whilst still protecting the spawning aggregations. The Department cannot see the changes implemented this season due to restrictions in the timing but will have a discussion paper produced shortly for all anglers to comment on.

4: South Coast Review
Fisheries Management Paper 182 A Quality Future for Recreational Fishing in the South Coast: A five year plan for managing the recreational component of the catch has been released for public comment. Stakeholders and the public have until 14 October 2004 to comment on the paper.

Copies of the paper and questionnaire are available from the Department of Fisheries (DoF) or download from www.fish.wa.gov.au. Recfishwest is working together with locals in the South Coast to provide a submission that best represents the interests of recreational fishers in that area.

5: Pilbara/Kimberley Review
Fisheries Management Paper 181 A Quality Future for Recreational Fishing in the Pilbara/Kimberley: A five year plan for managing the recreational component of the catch has been released for public comment. Stakeholders and the public have until 14 October 2004 to comment on the paper.

Copies of the paper and questionnaire are available from DoF or download from www.fish.wa.gov.au. Recfishwest is working together with locals in the South Coast to provide a submission that best represents the interests of recreational fishers in that area.

6: Integrated Fisheries Management
With considerable funding from Government the Department of Fisheries is getting serious about IFM. The process will start with Western Rock Lobster and Abalone next year and move on to West Coast Finfish in 2006. Recfishwest would like to congratulate Greg Paust on being appointed to the position of General Manager for Integrated Fisheries Management and looks forward to building a close working relationship with him over the coming years.

7: Recreational Fishing Program
Andrew Cribb has been appointed as Manager of Community & Corporate Relations Branch of the Department of Fisheries. Ian Curnow has been selected to fill the position of Manager of the Recreational Fishing Program. We have dealt with Ian previously with the Wetfish Review and we are looking forward to the new passion he can bring to this position. Recfishwest would like to congratulate Ian on his appointment and is keen to work close with him on recreational fishing issues.

8: Jetties Policy
Recfishwest has produced a Jetties Policy to outline the importance of these structures. With fishers continually losing fishing access, jetties provide a wonderful platform for children and the disabled to go fishing. Recfishwest have provided continual support to local government on the need to provide and maintain jetties for the public. You can view the jetties policy on the Recfishwest website www.recfishwest.org.au. We urge all of you to write to your local government and let them know how much you value the jetties in your area.

9: Election Policy
You can tell by the way the politicians are smiling that there is an election in the air. Recfishwest has worked extremely hard to produce an election policy for all Parties and Ministers involved in the upcoming state election. The policy has been widely distributed and we have asked that all recipients provide a detailed response to important issues we have outlined for recreational fishing. You can view the election policy on the website www.recfishwest.org.au. We will be posting the responses to this paper as they come to hand. More than 640,000 Western Australians enjoy fishing, which amounts to a lot of votes. Let's hope that all Political Parties acknowledge our needs as recreational fishers and give us the support we require.

10: Other Issues
" Recfishwest is continuing to be involved with the Wetfish Review.
" Recfishwest has written to DPI outlining our concerns over the East St Jetty in Maylands.
" Recfishwest is working with the Coral Bay Progress Association on trying to move the proposed Moncks Head Boating Facility to North Bill's Bay.
" Recfishwest has written to the Premier about the lack of process followed by CALM in the Ningaloo Marine Park Submissions.
" Recfishwest has additional meetings on the 'Capes to Capes Marine Park' and the 'Walpole-Nornalup Marine Park'.
" Recfishwest has attended a meeting with the State Government on Bioregional Planning.
" Recfishwest is working on a submission to the Shark Management discussion papers.

Updates
11: Tagging Update
Below are the details of two recent dhufish recaptures. The recapture of dhufish tag - 26340 is unusual as this particular fish moved approximately 10 kms from the north-west side of Rottnest to the southern side for the Island. The majority of Westag recaptures of this species show very little movement (i.e. recaptured at the same location where they were originally tagged), such as dhufish tag - 26455 (details below). A large amount of anecdotal evidence suggests dhufish move into shallow water (possibly following annual crayfish movements) at certain times of the year, similar evidence also suggests this species move to aggregations during the spawning period. It's likely that dhufish spend most of their life within the same area of reef and, although they sometimes venture further a field, most are found on the same patch when recaptured.



Tag details.................................................Recapture details
Tag 26340
Species West Australian Dhufish
(Glaucosoma hebracium)
Date 09/08/03..............................................18/07/04
Length 495 mm............................................540 mm
Location 8 km NW Rottnest Is........................Duffield Ridge, Rottnest Is.
Fisher Yantina Charters.................................Mark Brunton
Depth 43 m..................................................20-25 m
Days Out 346
Growth 45 mm
Movement Approx 10 km to the south side of Rottnest Island
Released No


Tag 26455
Species West Australian Dhufish
(Glaucosoma hebracium)
Date 07/01/03 ...............................................8/08/04
Length 450 mm .............................................540 mm
Location S of West End Rottnest Is. .................S of West End Rottnest Is.
Fisher Northstar 2 ..........................................Ashley Martinovich
Depth 40 m....................................................45 m
Days Out 580
Growth 90 mm
Movement Nil
Released No


Release Weight
The release weight brochure has proved to be very popular through out the state. A second run of brochure has now been printed. As this research is part of a national strategy on released fish survival there is great interest from all over Australia and the world (Japan, South Africa and the United States). Release weight information posters have been printed and distributed to tackle shops. Through the efforts of Wally Parkin and Garry Lilley, laminated posters have been placed at all metropolitan boat ramps.

Reminder to taggers
To aid in keeping the Westag database up to date with all recently tagged fish, tag datasheets should be sent in every 2-3 months, alternatively they can be faxed to Recfishwest on 9387 7643. Quality data return (i.e. accurate, legible, and timely) is critical to ensure tagging efforts produce useful information and statistics for the ongoing research programs. Prompt data return will allow us to get information to the correct person should your fish be recaptured. Recaptures will be acknowledged with certificates as soon as possible.

Recfishwest
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 representation. 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 August 2004.