Electronic Bulletin 8
August 2005

IN THIS EDITION:

Items
1: Fishing Clinic Trailer
2: Fishing Clinic Northern Tour
3: New Recfishwest Staff
4: Recfishwest Relocation
5: Australian Government Recreational Fishing Funding
6: New Board Members Needed
7: Wanted! Western Foxfish
8: Other Issues
Updates
9: Regular Tagging Update

1: Fishing Clinic Trailer
Recfishwest had the good fortune of receiving a grant from the Minister for Fisheries earlier this year. The grant was to be used to spread the "Fish for the Future" message to regional areas through fishing workshops and presentations. To aid in the delivery of the Recfishwest SunSmart FishSmart fishing clinics some of this funding was used to purchase a dedicated fishing clinic trailer and new equipment. With the aid of Wandering Star trailers in Carlisle a custom designed trailer was developed. With storage for all the equipment needed and slide out racks that hold 36 rigged rods and reels, running fishing clinics throughout the state will much easier in the future.

On the 4 July the Minister for Fisheries, Hon Jon Ford, attended a launch of the trailer at the new Fisheries building in Hillarys. The launch was also attended by Fisheries Staff, Volunteer Fisheries Liaison Officers (VFLO's) and Recfishwest board members and staff. You can see some pictures of the new trailer and the launch at our website www.recfishwest.org.au.

2: Fishing Clinic Northern Tour
With the new trailer in tow Recfishwest Fishing Clinic Coordinator, Melanie Tozer and fishing clinic instructors Colin Tozer and Kim Burton embarked on the inaugural SunSmart FishSmart Fishing Clinic Northern Tour in July. Visiting towns such as Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Karratha, Dampier, Port Hedland, Broome and Derby, the group held 22 fishing clinics over the two week trip.

There were over 700 participants that received information and guidance on good fishing ethics as well as enjoying hands on fishing and many prizes and giveaways. The Northern Tour was such a great success that a Southern Tour is already being planned for early in 2006. There will be photos from the northern tour on our website www.recfishwest.org.au

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The Minister for Fisheries, Jon Ford will be announcing the South Coast Regional Recreational Fisheries Review at a special Recfishwest fishing clinic to be held in Albany on September 5.

A total of four clinics will be run in Albany over two days and the Minister's attendance and announcement will be most welcome. State Cabinet will be having a meeting at the same time so other Ministers may attend to see the Recfishwest clinics in action!

3: New Recfishwest Staff
The increasing workload in the Recfishwest office has lead to some new faces in the Recfishwest office.
The fishing clinic tours and bookings for local clinics now have a dedicated coordinator in Melanie Tozer. Melanie was an inaugural VFLO in Karratha before moving to Perth six years ago. She continues to volunteer with the VFLO's in Perth and is a keen instructor at many of their fishing clinics and works closely with the Fishers with Disabilities Association to help out disabled fishers. Melanie will work on a contract basis and all fishing clinic enquiries can be made through her on 0428 112 398 or at melanie@recfishwest.org.au.

To assist our overworked Administrative Officer, Con Costa, we have employed an Administrative Assistant to help out with meeting minutes and general administration. In April we engaged the services of Janet Paterson. Janet is proving to be a great asset to Recfishwest and has helped spread the office workload.

Also to assist Mark Pagano in the growing amount of submissions and policies that must be written, we have employed Kane Moyle to fill the role of Policy Officer. Mark has moved up to a new position of Senior Policy Officer. Kane comes with a background in marine science working previously with rock lobster research with the Department of Fisheries (DoF). He recently completed his First Class Honours at Murdoch University and will prove a great asset to Recfishwest. Kane started his full time position on 11 August.

4: Recfishwest Relocation
With extra staff and the need for larger premises Recfishwest has moved after nearly eight years at the Sports Lotteries House, Claremont. The move is still underway but we should be settled in shortly. Please feel free to stop in for a coffee to meet the new staff and have a look around. Our new address and contact details are:

Watermans Bay Marine Centre .......................Phone: 08 9246 3366
West Coast Drive (opposite Elvire Street) .......Fax: 08 9246 5955
WATERMAN WA 6020

PO Box 34
NORTH BEACH WA 6920

5: Australian Government Recreational Fishing Funding
The Australian government recently announced funding of $15 million over three years to benefit recreational fisheries. A whole host of projects can qualify for grants of up to $100,000, including fishing platforms, stocking, artificial reefs, fishing clinics etc.

The scheme will be administered by a national committee to assess applications and provide funding. Recfish Australia President Frank Prokop has welcomed the move and assured fishing groups that the best projects from right around Australia will be funded. Three Recfish Australia nominees are on this allocation committee including National Vice President Bruce Schumacher from NSW, Ms Jan Young, former Chair of the Northern Territory peak body AFANT and Dr Ross Winstanley from Victoria.

Each state will have a committee to help applicants finalise their proposals and to prioritise projects in each state. Mr Martin Heller who works for the Australian Government will chair this committee. Frank Prokop will represent recreational fishers and the Department of Fisheries will supply one member who is yet to be chosen.
Applications for the first round close on 14 October. Additional information and application forms can be obtained at http://www.daffa.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/recfishinggrants. Further information can be obtained from Frank Prokop or Mark Pagano at Recfishwest.

6: New Board Members Needed
The 2005 Recfishwest AGM will be held in October. There will be three positions open for nomination. If you feel that you can contribute and are passionate about what Recfishwest strives for, please apply. If you would like more information on just what being on the board entails please contact Frank Prokop on 08 9246 3366 or at frank@recfishwest.org.au.

All paid members are welcome and have the opportunity to nominate themselves or others for a position on the Recfishwest Board. 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 October to have your say. Membership details can be found at our website www.recfishwest.org.au

7: Wanted! Western Foxfish
Steve Cossington from Murdoch University's Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research is undertaking a biological study of western foxfish (Bodianus frenchii) to determine important characteristics that will help with long term sustainable management of this species.

Steve requires frames (carcasses) of western foxfish, and he would be appreciative of any help. Just put the frame(s) of any western foxfish you catch in a bag with details of date, depth and location of capture and freeze. Please leave the guts intact if you wish to fillet the fish. Steve can then be contacted on either (08) 9360 2256 or 0407 694 461 to arrange pick up.

8: Other Issues
" We are waiting on the release of the Wetfish Review.
" Recfishwest has met with the Minister of Fisheries to discuss relevant issues.
" We welcome the release of the new Cockburn Sound Pink Snapper rules.
" Recfishwest has met with the Minister of the Environment to discuss relevant issues.
" Recfishwest has recommended that Blue Swimmer Crab IFM be undertaken ASAP.
" Recfishwest has applied for a position on the Marine Parks & Reserves Authority.
" Recfishwest has applied for a position on the Swan Catchment Council
" Recfishwest welcomes the release of the Pilbara/Kimberley regional recreational fishing rules.

Updates

9: Tagging Update
The use of the release weight continues to impress with some very notable recent recaptures including two deepwater recaptures of a Breaksea Cod and Dhufish detailed below.

Tag Details..............................................................Recapture Details
Tag .............26340
Species .......Breaksea Cod (Epinephelides armatus)
Length ........290 mm ...............................................315 mm
Location ......8 km W Rottnest Is. ..............................8 km W Rottnest Is.
Depth .........102 m ..................................................102 m
Days Out......159
Growth ........25 mm
Movement ....Nil
Released ......Yes, with release weight.


Tag details................................................................. Recapture details
Tag .............17460
Species .......West Australian Dhufish (Glaucosoma hebracium)
Length ........310 mm ....................................................540 mm
Location ......12 km SW Rottnest Is. ...............................8 km W Rottnest Is.
Depth .........87 m .........................................................95 m
Days Out ....1008
Growth .......230 mm
Movement ...Approx. 4 km
Released .....No
This dhufish displayed signs of severe barotrauma (pressure injuries), in the form of a badly damaged eye, when originally tagged and released in 87 m. However it survived capture and release from this depth and was at liberty for almost 3 years when it was recaptured in good condition a small distance north-east of the original location.

Samson Science 2
The Department of Fisheries and Murdoch University have recently been granted extra funding by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (a Commonwealth funding body) to continue tagging Samson Fish this summer as an extension of the successful Samson Science tagging effort of January 2005.

The Samson Science project is one component of a larger research project investigating fish spawning aggregations on the west coast. The Samson Fish project is focused on the local catch and release sportfishery with major emphasis on determining fishing mortality, catch care and fish handling protocols to maximise the survival of released fish. This research will lead to the establishment of protocols for capture, handling and release of Samson Fish within this world class sportfishery based on a good understanding of species biology, ecology and effects of the catch and release.

Details of this research and other current fish research projects underway in W.A. will be given at the up coming Fish Aggregation Workshop (details below). This workshop is open to anyone keen to learn more and includes several research topics that should be of interest. Please email or call Mike Mackie or Paul Lewis at the Department of Fisheries if you are interested in attending.

Mike Mackie (mmackie@fish.wa.gov.au) 9203 0209
Paul Lewis (plewis@fish.wa.gov.au) 9203 0203

Fish Aggregation Workshop
Where: WA Marine Research Laboratories, Northside Drive, Hillarys.
When: Sunday 11th September 2005. From 1:30 to 4:00 pm.

Programme:
1:30 - 1:50 .....Introduction by Mike Mackie (Department of Fisheries) - What's been happening in our research and what will be happening today.

1:50 - 2:20 .....Samson Science 2 by Andrew Rowland (Murdoch University). A run through of results to date and details of the next episode of this well known project.

2:20 - 2:40 .....Acoustic surveys of fish aggregations by Miles Parsons (Curtin University). See and hear fish like never before - 3-D images of Samson fish aggregations and the grunting of mulloway. Not quite R-rated.

2:40 - 3:00 .....Light refreshments - tea/coffee/biscuits - or if you want real food the café downstairs will be open.

3:00 - 3:10 .....Regional variation in dhufish biology by Jill St John (DoF). Nothing stays the same.

3:10 - 3:30 .....Dhufish movement patterns by Jason How (Edith Cowan University) or Mike Mackie. Do they or don't they - and if they do, how do they do it?

3:30 - 4:00 .....Recreational fisher log books and a crash course in fish reproductive biology by Mike Mackie (DoF). Take a more pro-active approach to your fishing experience.

4:00 - 4: 05 .....Wind-up. The Breakwater Tavern is not far away

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 August 2005.