Electronic Bulletin
Number 7, December 2004

IN THIS EDITION:

Items from November

1: Marine Park Issues
2: Recfishwest AGM
3: State & Federal Elections - Election Policy
4: Cockburn Sound Snapper Management
5: SunSmart Fishing Clinics
6: Board Member Profile
7: SunSmart
8: Natural Resource Management in the Gascoyne-Murchison Region
9: Regular Tagging Update
10: Vandalism of Commercial Fishing Gear

1: Marine Park Issues

Recfishwest is very angry at the latest moves by the State Government to lock recreational fishers out of some of the states best fishing spots. It all began with Ningaloo, and an astounding 335% increase in sanctuary zones, and has ended with increased sanctuary zones in the Rowley Shoals, Montebello and Barrow Islands. Recfishwest agree that Sanctuary Zones have a place in marine management but do not believe they should be relied upon as the only management tool. To date there has been little scientific research completed to show any benefit from having sanctuary zones at all.

The Premier has put the preferences of the Greens in front of any true wish to protect biodiversity in our marine environment. If there was any concerns with fish stocks the Department of Fisheries would already be addressing the issues with the full support and blessing of recreational fishers, the true conservationists in this debate. The fact that Recfishwest and other recreational fishing leaders had put forward a compromise that would protect biodiversity, reduce take and still allow the experience of catching a fish or two has been totally ignored in this purely political process. Keep an eye on the media as this issue is not over with.

2: Recfishwest AGM

The 2004 Recfishwest AGM was held on the 12 November. After the election of board members there was an update of current issues by our Chairman, Des Wood, and Executive Director, Frank Prokop, and then a chance for members to ask questions about our goals for the coming year. All those that attended enjoyed the evening and the chance for a few beers and a chat afterwards.

If you are interested in just who is looking after your recreational fishing interests on the Recfishwest Board you can look at their profiles on the website www.recfishwest.org.au. We will also be providing a new section in this Electronic Bulletin that will provide a profile of a different board member each issue.

3: State & Federal Elections - Election Policy

With the recent decision by Government to announce the new Marine Parks and sanctuary zoning amendments this State election will be one of great importance to all recreational fishers. If you believe that a few sanctuary zones up north a long way from your favourite fishing spot will not affect you, think again. A report released by the MPRA, the body vested with the job of creating these Marine Parks, has nominated 70 such areas for the WA coast. So the little bay you take the family for a holiday and to catch a few herring may well be out of bounds in the future (Capes to Capes isn't far away).

Make your vote count as we will only get one chance to show that fishing has great support in Western Australia. Recfishwest has worked extremely hard to produce an election policy for all Parties and Ministers before the election. 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 have started posting some very interesting responses to this paper on our website so take the time to have a read if you can.

4: Cockburn Sound Snapper Management

The Department of Fisheries has release a discussion paper on the future management of Pink Snapper fishing in Cockburn Sound and surrounding waters. It can be downloaded from the Department of Fisheries website. It addresses the concerns of many that fish for Pink Snapper in the sound and hopes to tackle these concerns in a fair and equitable way for all parties. It is again great to see the Department including recreational fishers in the management process and engaging our input to ensure the sustainability of this fishery.

Recfishwest has drafted a response to this paper that can be viewed on the Recfishwest website at SubCockburnSoundPinkSnapper.htm. If you have any comments please contact Mark Pagano at mark@recfishwest.org.au or Nathan Harrison at the Department of Fisheries on nharrison@fish.wa.gov.au . Recfishwest encourages any feedback on this important issue and always welcomes the views of it members and the fishing community on recreational fishing issues.

5: SunSmart Fishing Clinics

Recfishwest has had a big year holding fishing clinics for many Schools and community centres. From October 2003 to October 2004 a total of 16 metropolitan school-based clinics have been run. A total of 1961 participants plus their supervisors (168) were coached through the fishing clinics program during this period. This included special needs students. At most clinics, parents were in attendance, providing assistance with the clinics and they also received SunSmart education material.

Many teachers are scheduling fishing clinics for their students in successive years and there have been a number of reports, including from a special needs clinic, of student's behaviour and attitude improving following attendance at the SunSmart fishing clinics. A total of 12 Community workshops/clinics have been run. The Geraldton, Wagin and Mandurah shows were for both adults and juniors and the presentations included information for all audience demographics. Recfishwest has increased the number of fishing clinics conducted in rural areas to include a total of 10 regional clinics.

6: Board Member Profile

Des Wood - Public Board Member - Chairman.

Des has been a board member of Recfishwest for seven years and is entering his second term as Chairman. A keen fisherman for many years Des has been aware of a gradual but significant decline in fishing stocks and in some cases access restrictions to many prime fishing areas around the state. As a father of two and grandfather of three, Des is keen to ensure that the pleasure he has gained, not only in catching fish but in enjoying the camaraderie that exists among fishers will be something that future generations can also experience.

He has concerns that at times commercial considerations are being put ahead of those of recreational fishers and that the current proliferation of fishing restrictions in Marine Parks are not based on scientific research. He believes that with careful management of the existing resource including quotas and appropriate bag limits, adequate fish stocks can be sustained to allow an equitable sharing of that resource among all users. Des' interest covers more than just angling, but extends to crabbing and other forms of shell fish with particular emphasis on the Peel fishery.

7: SunSmart

Western Australian's are blessed with wonderful weather all year round but with the weather warming up and many of us on holidays we must remember to Slip, Slop, Slap. Recfishwest promote the SunSmart message to all recreational fishers and provide free sunscreen at boat shows and expos and have free sunscreen stations positioned at some of our more popular fishing locations. You can find them at:

Hillarys Boat Harbour
Woodman Point Boat Ramp
Nurses Station on Rottnest Island
Fisheries Beach Boat Ramp (Bremer Bay)
Bundegi Boat Ramp (Exmouth)
Tantabiddi Boat Ramp (Exmouth)
Dampier Boat Ramp (Karratha)
Busselton Jetty

Have you increased your usage of sunscreen since Recfishwest have been promoting the sun safe message i.e. via tee-shirts and sunscreen stations? Please take the time to email mark@recfishwest.org.au with a yes or no to this question. Thank you.

8: Natural Resource Management in the Gascoyne-Murchison Region

The Gascoyne-Murchison Natural Resource Management (NRM) area is a sub-region within the Rangelands NRM Region, it encompasses natural resources pertaining to resource use activities such as fishing, aquaculture, tourism, pastoralism, horticulture, mining, cultural heritage as well as biodiversity conservation. The area includes all the pastoral and non pastoral rangelands, the rangelands coast and adjoining State waters to the three nautical mile limit.

The Gascoyne-Murchison NRM Council will be holding a series of workshops early in the New Year to involve the community and other natural resource user groups in a process to prioritise natural resource management targets and activities to ensure that funds are invested towards these identified priorities.

Recfishwest encourages any recreational anglers with an interest in natural resource management in the Gascoyne-Murchison region to get involvement in this prioritization process. NRM workshops will be held at the following locations and dates:

Exmouth - 24th January 2005 (7.00pm, Exmouth Recreation Centre)
Coral Bay - 25th January 2005 (1.30pm, Ningaloo Reef Resort)
Carnarvon - 27th of January 2005
Denham - 28th January 2005
Murchison Settlement - 7th February 2005
Mount Magnet - 8th February 2005
Meekatharra - 9th February 2005
Gascoyne Junction - 10th February 2005

If you are interested, contact Mark Pagano at Recfishwest on 9246 3366 or mark@recfishwest.org.au to find out more about meeting venues and times.

9: Tagging Update

Numbers of both tagged and recaptured fish for the "Maximising survival of released undersized west coast reef fish" research continue to grow. Updated preliminary findings still show the release weight to be the best method for releasing undersized dhufish. Pink snapper are showing to be a much more resilient fish to release, with good recapture numbers coming across all depth ranges and release methods.

Mulloway released in the deeper areas of the swan river could also benefit from the use of the release weight. Mulloway are known suffers of barotrauma (water pressure related injuries) when captured from waters deeper than 15 metres. Two mulloway recently tagged in the deep water of Mosman Bay were recaptured in the same region after being let go with a release weight.

Some recent Westag recaptures:

10: Vandalism of Commercial Fishing Gear

Recfishwest received a request from the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) to highlight the problem of vandalism of commercial fisher's pots and theft of their catch. WAFIC is asking people to report any interference with fishing gear, both commercial and recreational.

The interference is predominantly occurring in Cockburn Sound with crab and octopus fisheries and the Mandurah crab fishery. Pots and or crabs have been stolen, pots have also been returned open or damaged.

Unfortunately this is not a new issue, but the frequency of interference appears to be increasing. WAFIC is calling on members of the public to report any incidences of this illegal activity so that the thieves can be caught and prosecuted. WAFIC Chief Executive, Graham Short said the bottom line is that interfering with a professional fishermen's gear or stealing his catch is illegal and carries a penalty of $5,000 or a 6 month jail term.

The Department of Fisheries number to call to report an incident is 9335 6800.

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 7 January 2005.