The Premier of Western Australia has provided a response to Recfishwest's 2005 Election Policy questions.

CONTENTS: Resource sustainability, Integrated Fisheries Management, Funding for sustainability and IFM, Recognition of recreational fishing, Compliance and education, Co-ordination of Government Resources, Marine Protected Areas and Planning for Coastal Waters, Coastal Access, Facilities including boat ramps and jetties

Thank you for forwarding the 2004 election policy of your organisation.

In response, I would like to assure you, and the members of Recfishwest, that the Government is fully aware of the magnitude and importance of recreational fishing as a community activity in Western Australia.

You may also be assured that I and my Government are committed to not only ensuring ecological sustainability of fish resources, but also to a process that allows allocations between sectors to be properly and fairly determined and managed.

I am pleased to say that in recent months the Government has announced its high-level policy intentions on many of the matters you have raised. Clearly, the specific operational detail will be subject to some further development and discussion with stakeholder groups. As a principal stakeholder, Recfishwest would have input in defining the process.

Many of the subsidiary points you make appear to be operational in nature and specific to processes and structures within the Fisheries portfolio. Accordingly, I have sought advice from the Hon Kim Chance, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in preparing my response. These should be further discussed with Mr Chance.

1. Resource sustainability
The Government clearly supports fish resource sustainability as a critically important policy outcome for the State. The monitoring and management of the catch from both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors is an integral part of the fisheries management process.

As you are aware, there is a statutory requirement for commercial fishers to supply catch and fishing effort information. The Government will be ensuring that all the catch taken on board commercial fishing boats is recorded; including catch taken for personal use and that the catch taken is within the acceptable limits. Improving the resolution (reporting by smaller blocks) of the data collected is currently being considered for management of the wetline fishery.

2. Integrated Fisheries Management
In May this year the Government announced funding of $4.9m over the next four years for the implementation of Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM) and the development of resource allocation arrangements that will ultimately include all fisheries of major community interest. The integrated review process has commenced and rock lobster, abalone and west coast finfish fisheries, including dhufish, are to be the first fisheries for which IFM will be introduced. The Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee has set an ambitious timetable, and expects to be in a position to provide advice on the allocations for these fisheries within two years. A detailed announcement was made on 1 October in relation to these matters.

With reference to your particular questions:-

2.1 The Government will ensure that the allocation process within the integrated framework affords all sections of the community an opportunity to provide input into the decision making process.

2.2 The Government recognises the need to, and will review the membership structures of management committees, particularly where there is significant recreational fishing take, but does not necessarily believe that representation should be gross domestic product based.

2.3 The Government will be reviewing the Department of Fisheries organisational structure to determine the structure most suited to delivery of its services under an IFM framework.

3. Funding for sustainability and IFM

As stated above, the Government has already announced significant additional funding of $4.9 million over the next four years for the initial stage of the IFM process; some of which may be made available to Recfishwest. Specific details will be provided in the Gallop Government's 2005 Fisheries election commitments,

In response to your specific questions:

3.1 The Government, as indicated above, has made a significant funding commitment to IFM. With experience, there may be a need to review the budgetary arrangements for this initiative.

3.2 The Government is prepared to increase funding to Recfishwest and the specific detail of the commitment will be provided in the 2005 Fisheries Policy when it is released.

3.3 The Government will ensure that funding of recreational fisheries management is maintained at acceptable levels. This will be achieved without resorting to the introduction of a marine water recreational anglers licence.

3.4 The Government supports the objective of maximising the benefit to the State from its contribution to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). The contribution to FRDC will be reviewed annually to ensure that this objective is achieved.

3.5 The Development and Better Interest Fund will be accessible for projects which are in the better interests of the community, but the projects will need to conform with the purposes for which the Fisheries Research and Development Fund can be applied as detailed in s238 (5) of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.

3.6 The Government does not support the introduction of a resource rent for the commercial fishing industry.

4. Recognition of recreational fishing

The Government has a significant commitment to the management of recreational fishing through the $11 million per annum recreational fisheries budget, and will ensure that at least this level of commitment is maintained in future budgets.

The Government is prepared to consider an increase in the level of funding for Recfishwest to ensure that the recreational sector has sufficient resources to adequately represent the recreational sector under the proposed new consultative structure for recreational fisheries, fully participate in the IFM process, and run an educational program on community issues such as fishing safety and catch and release.

In relation to your questions:

4.1 The Government will continue to review and assess the amount contributed to peak bodies according to their needs, other sources of funds available to them, and the requirements of the FRMA within budgetary constraints.

4.2 The recognition of Recfishwest as an affected party in all administrative tribunal matters would require consideration in relation to the recently promulgated State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) legislation. The issue of who is an affected party will be decided by the tribunal within the scope of the SAT legislation.

4.3 The Government acknowledges that recreational fishing is an important leisure activity with significant community and health benefits and, as such, warrants promotion by the Department of Sport and Recreation. The amount the Department of Sport and Recreation contributes to funding the promotion of recreational fishing will be determined through the budgetary process.

4.3 The review of recreational fishing consultative structures will be expedited with a view to maximising the synergies between Recfishwest, RFAC and regional RFACs.

The Government supports the Fisheries Adjustment Scheme process as a means of reducing conflict between resource users. The Government will continue to work with Recfishwest and other stakeholders in determining priorities for Fisheries Adjustment Schemes (FAS). The Government notes your priorities for further FAS schemes and will ensure that they will be considered for the next round of FAS schemes. It is noted a decision has been made recently to allow commercial fishermen to continue to operate in the Blackwood River estuary.

5. Compliance and education

My Government has recognised the importance of having effective and efficient management of the marine environment and particularly recreational fisheries management. The Government is a strong supporter of the VFLO program.

In relation to your specific questions:-

5.1 Over the term of the Government there have been effectively an additional 25 Fisheries and Marine officers available to undertake recreational fisheries compliance. Seventeen officers became available through the integration of Department for Planning and Infrastructure's (DPI) Marine and Safety officers into the Department of Fisheries, four additional officers were appointed to undertake mobile patrols, and four officers are being appointed to undertake compliance in the Jurien Bay and Ningaloo marine parks. I expect that as more marine parks are declared there will be more Fisheries and Marine officers appointed. Additionally, a significant amount of the $4.9 million allocated by the Government to IFM has been earmarked for recreational fisheries education and compliance. The need for an additional eight officers will need to be considered against this significant boost to recreational fisheries compliance.

5.2 The Government has introduced two new mobile patrols to operate in peak times and areas of recreational fishing activity. The need for additional mobile patrols will be considered as the need arises.

5.3 As this is an operational matter, the Government will seek advice from the Department of Fisheries on the feasibility of establishing specific targets for contact with recreational fishers for all Fisheries and Marine officers.

5.4 The Government has recently provided additional funds to support the VFLO program to employ a Community and Education Officer and Metropolitan VFLO Co-ordinator.

5.5 The Department of Fisheries manages the VFLO program on a regional basis. Although the Government supports in principle the assessment of performance in delivery of programs such as the VFLO program, it is not operationally appropriate for all officers to be involved in VFLO programs or to make administration of VFLO programs a formal part of the assessment for all regional fisheries officers.

5.6 The Government agrees in principle to establishing a committee with external representation, including Recfishwest, to advise on recreational programs and publications. The committee may be a subcommittee of the Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee.

5.7 The Government agrees in principle to conducting a review of the cost effectiveness of community education programs, including the Western Fisheries Magazine. This review could be undertaken by the committee established to advise on recreational programs and publications.

5.8 The Government will be giving recreational fishing a high priority for tourism and will ensure that the Department of Fisheries discusses the development of a tourism strategy targeted at overseas customers with the Tourism Commission and other relevant government departments.

5.9 The Government has recently provided $100,000 to Recfishwest to run fishing clinics aimed at educating the community on issues such as fishing safety and catch and release fishing, among other things.

5.10 See 5.8

6. Co-ordination of Government Resources

I am aware that the Hon Judy Edwards, Minister for the Environment, has already provided you separately with responses to your specific questions.

I would like to add the following additional information to point 6.2:-

6.2 The Government has undertaken to review and reform the delivery of at sea services. Further reforms will be considered as part of the Government's commitment to investigate establishing a single agency with responsibility for conservation and management of the marine environment. In the meantime, the Government will be using a Memorandum of Understanding to improve the degree of collaboration between CALM and Fisheries over marine planning and management.

7. Marine Protected Areas and Planning for Coastal Waters

I am aware that Dr Edwards has already provided you separately with responses to your specific questions.

I would like to add the following additional information for point 7.3:-

7.3 The Government supports the view that marine planning committees and the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority should take into account the impact on all marine users in making determinations about the location, scale and allowable activities within marine parks.

8. Coastal Access

The Government supports in principle the concept of open public access to coastal areas, provided that the impact of access is also managed in an acceptable manner. This has already been made clear in a number of coastal planning initiatives including the Gascoyne Coast, and in discussion around the renewal of pastoral leases.

However, the land management requirements of these areas are also important and need to be given due consideration when determining the extent and nature of access.

8.1 The Government will be establishing an effective system for pastoral access routes to the sea where pastoral leases lie along the coast.

8.2 The Government will maintain access to all coastal areas in ways that are appropriate to the local environment.

8.3 The Government will be ensuring that no existing public access to coastal areas is removed or denied without consultation of stakeholders.

8.4 The membership of community consultative bodies advising on coastal planning and access will be assessed on the basis of the terms of reference of the particular body. Where it is not deemed necessary for Recfishwest to be a member of the committee, the Government will ensure that the recreational sector is provided with the opportunity to comment on proposals that may affect recreational fishers.

9. Facilities including boat ramps and jetties

The Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme (RBFS) has provided funding for over 100 projects since it commenced in 1998/99. All projects eligible for funding under the scheme have been supported since its inception.

The Hon Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, recently signed off revised guidelines for the scheme that widen the eligibility criteria to allow such items as trailer parking and amenities to be funded. The funding limit for projects has also been raised from $500,000 to $600,000. Recfishwest has helped develop these guideline changes through its attendance at consultative workshops, and via its membership of the RBFS assessment committee.

Consideration is being given to allocating a fixed percentage of the funds collected through boat registrations to the RBFS, resulting in ongoing increases above the original $650,000 allocation as boat licensing revenue increases. Forward estimates allow for $1 million in 2006/07, increasing beyond that in future years.

Government agencies, including DPI, have for some time been eligible to apply for grants under the scheme.

The DPI is continuing to prepare options for new boat launching facilities in the Fremantle area. A report on the various options should be available in March-April of 2005.

I trust this has provided some assistance to your organisation and once again, thank you for your interest in these matters.

Yours sincerely

(signed)
Dr Geoff Gallop MLA
PREMIER

14 January 2005



This page last updated January 2005.