Casting Around the Internet with Recfishwest
Issue 35, 8 July 2008

Here is a version formatted for printing on a single page:- CastingAroundIssue35.pdf (33 kilobyte PDF file)

Notes about using the links on this page.

After 15 years, it may be farewell

Communities have a right to be involved in decision making. Good decision making relies on informed, relevant, accessible, up to date information, and better decisions can evolve through cross sector dialogue. The Marine Coastal Community Network facilitates community support for the ecologically sustainable use and conservation of Australia's marine and coastal environments. Funding beyond end June not renewed.

http://www.mccn.org.au/marine_coastal_issues/detail/1746 (link opens in a new window)

Doubled funding offered for Busselton Jetty repairs

State Government has offered to double the funding for the restoration of the iconic Busselton Jetty to $12million, tied to a foreshore redevelopment project which requires increased residential housing density on Churchill Park. Offer is subject to Legislative Council and a signed agreement with the Busselton Shire. 92% of people at an earlier electors' meeting wanted the Busselton council to reject the Government's offer.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/RecentStatements.aspx?ItemId=130412 (link opens in a new window) http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/25/2285485.htm (link opens in a new window)

Pilchard stocks recover from devastating virus

Nine years after a mass mortality and 70% reduction in pilchard (mulie) biomass caused by "pilchard herpesvirus", stocks in Western Australia have recovered strongly. Growth rates of pilchards can be highly variable, possibly because stocks are limited in size by the biological and oceanographic characteristics of the continental shelf waters of southern WA. Pilchards are very important in the marine ecosystem.

http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/frr/frr176/index.php?0401 (link opens in a new window)

Not enough projects for available Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme funds

$748,000 has been allocated to improve boating facilities in 14 regional centres. Minister announced a further mini-round of RBFS funding was being considered in the next six months to use surplus funds from the unspent allocation, with a review of the scheme including limits on project size and percentage funded.

http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/mar_nca_rbfs_grants13.pdf (link opens in a new window) and http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/RecentStatements.aspx?ItemId=130468 (link opens in a new window)

Call for new Fisheries and Marine Officers

WA Department of Fisheries is seeking to appoint a large number of people to a pool from where some will undergo a paid 10 weeks intensive training program and be appointed as fully authorised field officers.

http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/media/index.php?0000&mr=560 (link opens in a new window) and http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/Jobs/vacancy/FSH2008.php (link opens in a new window)

Budget for management and research in fishing

Fisheries Minister has announced the 2008/9 budget contains $1.5 million for an additional 19 full time staff to assist in education and compliance for fisheries in the west coast bioregion, the largest single increase in compliance activities ever for the Department of Fisheries. $1.3 million is for additional research and monitoring of scalefish stocks in the west coast bioregion. $158,000 is for fisheries-related compliance, research and monitoring activities associated with the Walpole-Nornalup Inlets marine park.

http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hans35.nsf/NFS/f9fc931803cdbcd2c825746e00222c14?OpenDocument (link opens in a new window)

Blowfish - necessary or just a nuisance?

The common blowfish or 'blowie' is abundant in estuaries and coastal waters throughout south-west WA. It is often regarded as a nuisance because it gobbles bait, making it hard for fishers to catch other species of fish. While the blowfish will never win a popularity contest, it has an important role in marine ecosystems.

http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/FactSheets/blowfish-download.php?0706 (link opens in a new window)

Note about using the links in "Casting Around"

The links to external websites, shown in this page by the symbol are all checked to be correct, valid and working at the time these documents are prepared.

Rearrangements of external websites at some time in the future may remove or change some of these external links. Such changes are outside the control of Recfishwest, and will not be corrected in this page or the PDF version.


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This page last updated on 8 July 2008.