Electronic Bulletin
Number 6, October 2004

IN THIS EDITION:

Items from September
1: Ningaloo Marine Park
2: Recfishwest AGM
3: State & Federal Elections - Election Policy
4: Integrated Fisheries Management
5: Natural Resource Management
6: Other Issues
Updates
7: 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 for the Park recently we are discouraged to find that all previous submissions have been overlooked in favour of tighter restrictions to recreational fishers. Rest assured that Recfishwest are 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 http://www.recfishwest.org.au. We urge all recreational fishers to please make an effort to submit your views to CALM.

A big thank you Jeni Lerch for all the hours she put into the Ningaloo Stand at this years Royal Show. The stand was a great success with 400 draft submission documents handed out. It was amazing to talk to so many people who wanted to know what was happening at Ningaloo and how they could have their say. We would also like to thank all the people that helped Jeni out over the eight days. Well done.

2: Recfishwest AGM
The 2004 Recfishwest AGM is on at 7.30pm on the 12 November. This year we are again holding the night in the bridge room at Fremantle Sailing Club. All paid members are welcome and have the opportunity to nominate themselves or others for a position on the Recfishwest Board by 30 October. Remember if you are not financial you cannot vote so make sure you have paid your membership. If you are not a member and would like to vote you can join before 5 November to have your say. Membership details can be found at our website www.recfishwest.org.au.

3: State & Federal Elections - Election Policy
With the recent federal election and the upcoming state election Recfishwest has been working closely with both Government and the Opposition to represent recreational fishing interests. Recfishwest have worked extremely hard to produce an election policy for all Parties and Ministers involved. The policy has been widely distributed and we are waiting for recipients to provide a response. 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. With 640,000 Western Australians enjoying fishing this 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.

4: Integrated Fisheries Management
The Minister for Fisheries has recently announced the membership of the Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee (IFAAC). It comprises Mr Murray Jorgenson as Chair, with Professor George Kailis and Mr Norman Halse as members. We would like to congratulate Norman on his appointment to such an important committee.
In preparing its recommendations and advice, IFAAC will abide by the Government policy on IFM and is committed to protecting and sharing fish resources in WA.

5: Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Planning and the delivery of NHT and NAPSWQ
The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAPSWQ) are two Australian Government natural resource management programs that are a partnership with the community and governments, providing funding for environmental activities at a national, state, regional and community level.

The major delivery focus of both programs is at the regional level. At this level of delivery both programs require regional NRM group/councils to develop regional NRM strategies and investment plan. Funding will be delivered through accredited strategies and investment plans. Regional NRM groups/councils are recognised by both the State and Australian government as the peak NRM bodies within each region for the delivery of both programs.

Both programs are delivered at the state level by a bilateral agreement between the State/Territory and Commonwealth Governments across Australia. Australia has been divided into 64 bioregions. In Western Australia there are 6 regions:

1. Rangelands (includes 4 subregions - Gascoyne, Pilbara, Kimberley and Esperance/Goldfields)
2. Northern Agricultural
3. Avon (no marine/coastal component)
4. South West
5. South Coast
6. Swan

The natural resources of each region are being identified and funding delivered to four theme areass:

1. Biodiversity conservation - Bushcare
2. Water resources - Rivercare
3. Sustainable resource use - Landcare
4. Marine and Coastal ecosystems - Coastcare

Recfishwest is concerned about the exclusion of marine/ fisheries expertise on regional NRM groups/councils that addresses management and sustainable resource use of activities that occur in the marine environment. Several draft strategies have already been released for public comment, Recfishwest has commented on but been excluded from any active involvement in the development of those documents released to date. Recfishwest is extremely uncomfortable about the disproportionate impact on recreational fishing interests without adequate engagement of the sector or an objective assessment of supposed impacts.

It is unfortunate that two of the three strategies already released for comment have excluded vital information on existing management initiatives of fish resources or integrated fisheries management proposals. Such omissions detract from the credibility of the strategies and under value the considerable efforts of both the recreational fishers and the Department of Fisheries towards implementing a sustainable approach to aquatic natural resource management.

Each regional NRM group/council is in the process of or has already developed investment strategies that will be used to guide funding allocations for projects that address priority actions. The structure of each regional group varies, so opportunities for engagement in the process is regionally driven, they are also operating on different timeframes ie Northern Agricultural investment plan is now closed, yet the Rangelands NRM Strategy is due for public comment in early 2005.

Recfishwest has recently met with the state facilitators of NRM and will be interacting with them on a regular basis to improve our representation to the regional bodies. If you have any queries please contact Mark Pagano, Policy Officer, Recfishwest on 9246 3366 or email mark@recfishwest.org.au

6: Other Issues

Recfishwest is continuing to be involved with the Wetfish Review.

Recfishwest has attended a meeting on the Denham Sound Trawl Fishery.

Recfishwest has attended a meeting with the Cockburn Sound Crab Fishery

Recfishwest has attended a meeting with Geographe Bay residents to address concerns with commercial fishing.

Recfishwest has met with the Premier's office to discuss the process followed by CALM in the establishment of Marine Parks.

Recfishwest has attended additional meetings on the 'Capes to Capes Marine

Recfishwest has written to the Minister for the Environment to ask about the promised establishment of recreation zones in the Jurien Bay Marine Park.

Recfishwest has submitted its response to the Shark Management discussion papers.

7: Tagging Update
A Fish Dubbed YoYo - Pink Snapper Tag - 17525
Below are the recapture details of a pink snapper that has been recaptured 5 times since being tagged in March 2003. This fish has been recaptured in the same location each time, with depth recordings of between 80 and 86 metres. It's great to see that this fish has been released twice since attaining minimum legal length. These recaptures illustrate how pink snapper are more resilient to barotrauma (depth and pressure related injuries) than many other reef species such as dhufish and breaksea cod.




Below are the details of a pink snapper that was at large for 2549 days (over 7 years), a record time out for a westagged fish. It was originally tagged on Duffield Ridge south of Rottnest Island. It was recaptured in Cockburn Sound as part of an annual aggregation. This is a great result for westag and may help reveal the origin of the large pink snapper that aggregate in Cockburn Sound to spawn.

Tag details ..............................................................Recapture details
Tag ..........8249
Species ....Pink Snapper (Pagrus auratus)
Date ........20/07/97 ...................................................28/08/04
Length .....350 mm .....................................................850 mm
Location....Duffield Ridge, Rottnest Is. ..........................Cockburn Sound
Fisher .......Rob Mews ..................................................Rob Smith
Depth .......42 m .........................................................10 m
Days Out ..2549
Growth......500 mm
Movement .Approx 30 km
Released ...No

Reminder to taggers

Please send in any outstanding datasheets.

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 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 October 2004.