Casting Around the Internet with Recfishwest
Issue 62, 10 July 2009

Here is a version formatted for printing on a single page:- CastingAroundIssue62.pdf (33 kilobyte PDF file)

Notes about using the links on this page.

Minister announces changes to fishing rules and licensing

Fishing from boats anywhere in the State will require a licence from mid October, and people targeting demersal scalefish from a boat in the West Coast bioregion will also need a specific demersal licence. A two month ban on recreational fishing on the West Coast for species on the demersal scalefish list will apply from 15 Oct to 15 Dec each year. The mixed bag limit for lower risk category 3 fish in the West Coast will reduce from 40 per angler to 30 and for medium risk category 2 fish will reduce from 16 to 12 per day. Revenue raised would be quarantined in a recreational fishing trust and spent only on recreational fishing. Scientific review of the demersal fishery and the review of management arrangements have been released.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx?ItemId=132159 (link opens in a new window) and
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/RecFishArrange/index.php (link opens in a new window)

Recfishwest expects strong reactions to West Coast recreational fishing changes

Recfishwest does not support the proposed fee structure. The preferred licensing model would be for a much lower fee shared amongst all recreational fishers. RFW supports a State wide boat fishing licence, but as a step towards a general angling licence. This would spread the financial cost, allow for the needs of all fishers to be met and provide data across all recreational fisheries. RFW supports a 2 month closure compared to the 4 month closure previously proposed, the wider suite of species being included in the demersal finfish category, the changes to the tailor slot limit and bag limit reductions for category 2 and 3 inshore species.

http://www.recfishwest.org.au/MediaReleaseWestCoastRuleChanges2009.htm

New fish licences and management media conference

Minister Norman Moore outlines the new licence system to apply to WA's recreational fishing sector and explains the State Government's reasons for introducing a new management regime to protect the long-term sustainability of fish stocks under increased pressure. Dept of Fisheries scientist provides details of the research into Western Australia's recreational fisheries.

http://www.premier.wa.gov.au/Ministers/Norman-Moore/Pages/Video.aspx (link opens in a new window)

Government's response on general recreational fishing licences

Premier Colin Barnett says the Government has deferred any decision on a general recreational fishing licence, but it is not totally off the agenda. Species such as tailor and herring are also under threat, but not to the extent of the species from the deeper water. People should be able to drop a line off a jetty or cast out from a beach and try and catch a fish. Fishing from a jetty is not going to drive a species to extinction.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx?ItemId=132180 (link opens in a new window)

Minister expects action on Auditor General's report on compliance in WA's fisheries

Report finds the Dept of Fisheries is unable to demonstrate that it has an effective compliance program for WA's commercial and recreational fisheries, enforcement activity covers less than 5% of total fishing activity, and information systems do not support effective monitoring or reporting of compliance activities and results. Minister requires the Dept to implement recommendations and deal with valid concerns raised.

http://www.audit.wa.gov.au/reports/report2009_07.html (link opens in a new window) and
http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=132111 (link opens in a new window)

$660,000 research into herring, tailor and whiting

Changes to rules for demersal species may result in an increased fishing effort for near shore species. Researchers will work with Recfishwest and universities to collect data and set up sampling programs studying indicator species like herring, tailor and whiting stock levels. It is important that any shift in fishing effort resulting from the reduced take of offshore species does not increase the decline in near shore species.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=132160 (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 10 July 2009.