Casting Around the Internet with Recfishwest
Issue 88, 31 March 2010

Here is a version formatted for printing on a single page:- CastingAroundIssue88.pdf (33 kilobyte PDF file)

Notes about using the links on this page.

Last Swan/Canning commercial fishing licence to be cancelled

The Swan River and Canning River are increasing focal points for recreational fishing. Government policy is to phase out commercial fishing in the rivers and to manage the fish resources for the benefit of recreational fishing. A compulsory fisheries adjustment scheme will cancel the one remaining commercial fishing licence.

http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/gazette/GAZETTE.NSF/gazlist/FDE249DCBFE78FA0482576EA0015B9CE/$file/gg040.pdf (link opens in a new window)

Comments sought on "Recreational Fishing in Australia 2010 and Beyond"

The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee's paper intends to prompt discussion on the vision, principles, goals and proposed actions developed for the $2.2 billion recreational fishing industry. To be truly national, the 2010 policy will have to be formally acknowledged and adopted by all major recreational fisher and industry bodies and all State, Territory and the Commonwealth governments. Comments close 30 April 2010.

http://www.maff.gov.au/media/media_releases/2010/march/supporting_australias_recreational_fishing_industry (link opens in a new window) and http://www.daff.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/rfids (link opens in a new window)

Balance and credibility the key in marine planning

Marine sanctuaries can deliver conservation and fisheries benefits, but they will fail to do so unless they are carefully designed with clear and measurable objectives. Sanctuaries can impose significant costs on the community in the economic activities they displace and management costs. They are one only of a range of possible management tools to deliver conservation and fisheries benefits. Sound policy development requires all views to be tested against the evidence. Careful assessment is required of the real and potential impact of current activities and the adoption of the best management tools from the perspective of the whole community.

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

Major milestone rules out complete no take area for Coral Sea

The release of the "Areas for Further Assessment" for the East Marine Region is an important milestone to assess the economic and environmental values of the east coast marine environment, and rules out a large 'no take' marine park for the Coral Sea. As with other marine areas around the country, this process will lead to a balanced mix of both multiple use areas and no-take areas within the marine reserve network in which work with stakeholders aims to secure a good conservation outcome while minimising social and economic impacts.

http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2010/mr20100324a.html (link opens in a new window) and
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/index.html (link opens in a new window)

Pew's hard line fails on Coral Sea

Pew attracted criticism from other green groups for its no-compromise stance demanding no fishing zones for the complete Coral Sea. The moderate and rational viewpoint put forward by RecFish Australia and some other fishing lobby groups attracted more political and public support than the extremist rhetoric espoused by Pew. Lessons include governments don't tend to take "extreme" steps unless they really have to, fishermen aren't the enemy; but share many of the concerns about our marine environment, and could work proactively together.

http://www.fishingworld.com.au/yaf-news/comment-pew-s-coral-sea-blunder (link opens in a new window)

People urged to avoid contact with Perth waterways

Perth rivers had heavy inflows of contaminated stormwater and some sewage overflows due to recent storms. Department of Health has warned people to avoid contact with such water. Activities such as swimming, wading, fishing and canoeing should be avoided until the water is safe. Reports include fish deaths and crabs and marron seen crawling out of the water for oxygen. Agencies have attempted to rescue fish and crustaceans.

http://www.health.wa.gov.au/press/view_press.cfm?id=891 (link opens in a new window) and
http://www.swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au/News%20Library/perth_storm_effect.aspx (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 prepared on 31 March 2010.