The WA Liberal National Coalition has provided a part response covering Recfishwest's 2005 Election Policy questions in the following position statement for the 2005 State Election.

This has been copied in full from the Leader of the Opposition's website

WA LIBERAL NATIONAL COALITION POSITION STATEMENT FOR THE 2005 STATE ELECTION - RECREATIONAL FISHING IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA - FOR DISCUSSION AND COMMENT, December 2004
Contents:- INTRODUCTION, THE COALITION APPROACH , Recreational fishing licences , Recreational fishing infrastructure & amenities , Jetty maintenance & boardwalks, Signage & measuring stations , Inland & estuarine fishing: protecting & stocking , Fisheries officers & patrols , Voluntary fisheries liaison officers , Promoting fishing tourism , Fisheries catch allocations , Equity in marine planning, Representation for recreational fishers , CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION Note:- for 2005, not 2008

Western Australian waters provide for some of the world's most exciting recreational fishing. From crabbing in the Swan River to game fishing off the North West coast, more than one third of our population enjoys the pastime. The sector contributes more than $500 million to the State economy each year.

Fishing is a part of the Western Australian lifestyle. Throughout the State people from all walks of life enjoy the simple pleasure that fishing offers and it is vital that future generations have the opportunity to share this experience.

The Coalition recognises that the recreational sector has been cooperating with successive governments to implement conservation based fishing regulations that are supported by high levels of voluntary compliance.

In recent years the recreational sector has expressed concern that the interests of anglers are being neglected in marine planning processes, resource allocations and policy formulation.

The Coalition recognises that our fish stocks must be protected to ensure the viability of our fisheries in the years to come and will implement sustainable, sound policies that balance the needs of all stakeholders.

THE COALITION APPROACH

The recreational fishing sector provides a valuable contribution to Western Australia, not only as an economic activity, but also in terms of health and social benefits.

The previous Coalition Government established Recfishwest to represent the interests of the recreational sector, expanded the highly successful Volunteer Fisheries Liaison Officers program and initiated formal resource sharing to develop sustainable fisheries management programs.

The historic Fish Resources Management Act was introduced in 1994 to address issues including Commonwealth-State relations, habitat protection and licensing, and new bag and size limits were established in consultation with the recreational sector.

In contrast, Labor moved to ban fishing around Rottnest Island and to introduce new licensing requirements for recreational anglers.

Recreational fishing licences

In 2002 it was revealed that the Labor Government had considered introducing a general recreational fishing licence. After public outcry the Government was forced to rule out a general licence, however, in the 2002-03 Budget the fees on existing recreational licences were dramatically increased to take an additional $540,000 from recreational anglers.

A Liberal National Coalition Government will provide the recreational fishing sector with the funding and recognition it deserves. By adequately supporting the recreational sector, the Coalition will ensure that there is no need to introduce a general recreational fishing licence.

A Liberal National Coalition Government will not introduce a general recreational fishing licence.

The Coalition supports the adequate funding of the recreational fishing sector in Western Australia to negate the need for a general recreational fishing licence.

Recreational fishing infrastructure & amenities

Failure to provide adequate facilities can have major implications for the safety of fishers and the general public, as well as risking serious environmental damage, particularly when launching boats.

The Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme (RBFS) was initiated by the previous Coalition Government to improve boating infrastructure, including launching ramps and moorings. The scheme is funded through boat registration fees, with projects generally developed in conjunction with Local Governments and State Government departments.

With a growing coastal population, ageing boating facilities are coming under increasing pressure and funding allocated for projects under the RBFS is insufficient to meet the needs of the community. It is evident that additional funds must be provided to finance larger projects and to take into account the need for new, modern amenities.

A Liberal National Coalition Government will immediately increase funding to the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme by $250,000 per year to a total of $1 million per year.

Currently there are around 43,000 registered vessels in the Perth metropolitan area. The fact that there are no coastal public boat ramps between Hillarys and Woodmans Point has been blamed for considerable delays in the launching of boats. One of the most pressing examples is at the East Fremantle river ramp, where dangerously heavy congestion has resulted in confrontations between frustrated boat owners.

To ease the congestion at existing facilities and provide a new, safe coastal location to launch small recreational boats, a Liberal National Coalition Government will fund the creation of a boat launching facility at Rous Head.

The new boat launching facility will be partly funded through the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme with the remainder of the necessary funding provided by a Coalition Government.

Jetty maintenance & boardwalks

Jetties and boardwalks are important structures for recreational fishers, providing access for young children, the disabled and the elderly. In addition, small boat owners rely upon jetties for mooring and boarding.

Unfortunately many of the State's jetties have fallen into a state of disrepair due to a lack of maintenance funds. A number of these jetties are important historical structures that have been used by Western Australians for recreational fishing and boating activities for decades.

In situations where recreational activities threaten fragile vegetation along shorelines, a number of Local Governments have chosen to develop boardwalks instead of jetties to protect the environment and maintain public access. Where jetties are impractical or threaten to damage the environment, boardwalks provide a practical solution that preserves public access to aquatic areas for activities such as fishing.

In conjunction with Local Governments and communities, a Liberal National Coalition Government will initiate a state-wide program to assess the status of existing jetties and boardwalks and identify opportunities for new structures.

Following the assessment process a Coalition Government will allocate additional funding for jetty maintenance and for the development of new boardwalks that allow access for recreational fishers.

Signage & measuring stations

Adequate signage is vitally important to continually educate fishers about hazards in the area, as well as to provide information on bag and size limits and specific advice for the particular region. This will help to reinforce the high level of voluntary compliance that currently exists within the recreational fishing community.

A Coalition Government will upgrade signage at popular fishing locations around the State to provide information on topics such as bag and size limits, fishing safety and environmental issues.

The increasingly complex nature of fishing regulations has meant that many recreational fishers are not able to confidently assess the legality of their catch. Measuring stations in key locations can help to protect undersize and endangered species by allowing fishers to measure their catch against fish rulers for prevalent species.

To aid in fish stock preservation and help anglers more accurately identify the species and legality of their catch, a Coalition Government will work to improve public education regarding regulation changes and will fund the installation of new measuring stations at popular fishing locations around Western Australia.

Inland & estuarine fishing: protecting & stocking

Fish stocks in Western Australia's inland water bodies, including our rivers, estuaries and dams, have come under increasing pressure from commercial and recreational fishing, as well as fluctuations in the aquatic environment.

As an icon of our State, the Swan and Canning Rivers have provided generations of Western Australians with the opportunity to participate in recreational fishing.

Unfortunately, in its State of the Fisheries Report 2002-03 the Department of Fisheries has identified that catch levels in the Swan/Canning River System are continuing to decline. Although the number of commercial operators in the Swan/Canning System has been reduced substantially since a peak of 32 in 1979, the commercial catch still accounts for approximately half of the total number of fish removed from the river system.

The Coalition believes that the time has come to return the Swan and Canning Rivers to the people to ensure that the river system will continue to provide a quality recreational fishing experience for all Western Australians.

To protect the Swan and Canning Rivers as iconic recreational fishing locations, a Coalition Government will phase out commercial fishing in the Swan/Canning River System and compensate the remaining commercial licence holders.

Crabbing is the most popular recreational fishing activity in Western Australia, with around 80,000 participants each year. It is estimated that two million crabs are caught annually, with half of the total catch coming from the Peel-Harvey estuary. The increasing popularity of this activity is, however, placing considerable pressure on this valuable resource, prompting calls from the recreational sector for an immediate review of stock numbers.

A Coalition Government will initiate a detailed research program to examine the status of Blue Swimmer crab stocks in popular crabbing locations, including the Peel-Harvey system, Cockburn Sound and Geographe Bay and recommend measures to protect the long-term viability of crab stocks.

As well as protecting natural fish stocks, opportunities exist around the State for the stocking of water bodies that are currently underutilised or have been affected by events such as algal blooms.

The Water Corporation is in the process of refurbishing a number of dams in the South West, which may provide new opportunities to expand inland recreational fishing.

The environmentally sensitive development of quality recreational fishing opportunities in inland water bodies will not only reduce pressure on natural fish stocks, but also provide a great boost to local businesses through increased visitation to inland regions.

A number of issues must be considered before any stocking programs commence, including the risk of disease, the survival rate of hatchery stock, the impact on the genetic make-up of any wild stock and the ecosystem as a whole. In situations where water from dams is to be used for drinking, fishing would need to be restricted to fly and lure fishing, with boats limited to small electric or manually powered vessels.

In Government, the Coalition will identify opportunities for the stocking of inland water bodies and examine any necessary environmental safeguards and infrastructure requirements at these locations.

Based upon this assessment, a Coalition Government will also allocate an additional $250,000 each year for programs to stock and restock Western Australian rivers and water bodies for conservation and recreation purposes, including icon river systems such as the Swan, Canning and Murray rivers.

Fisheries officers & patrols

Maintaining a visible and proactive presence where people fish is an integral part of enforcing fisheries regulations and educating the public about key fisheries issues.

By far the majority of recreational fishers abide by rules governing subjects such as bag and size limits, however, many responsible anglers frequently request a stronger compliance presence in key areas to protect the long-term interests of the community. It is vitally important that there are enough fisheries officers to not only police fishing locations, but to also provide the public with advice and up-to-date information.

A positive relationship between recreational anglers and fisheries officers should be developed, as this will further encourage the community to work together in managing our fish stocks for the future. To achieve this, additional resources must be provided to the Department of Fisheries.

A Liberal National Coalition Government will fund the deployment of additional fisheries officers to focus on recreational compliance and education and promote a positive relationship with the recreational fishing sector.

Providing additional officers will help the Department of Fisheries manage our valuable fisheries, but the large distances between popular fishing locations can also present considerable challenges.

A Liberal National Coalition Government will establish six new mobile fishing patrols for peak fishing periods and popular locations.

The new mobile patrols will be equipped to access both coastal and inland fishing locations across Western Australia and will focus on educating recreational fishers by providing practical advice.

Voluntary fisheries liaison officers

The previous Coalition Government recognised the value of the Voluntary Fisheries Liaison Officers (VFLO) program by expanding it state-wide.

VFLOs provide an important link to the community by delivering education programs and encouraging voluntary compliance throughout the State. VFLOs also undertake surveys, assist people with disabilities to go fishing and attend schools, workshops and major boat shows as part of their activities.

In Government, the Coalition will provide an additional $125,000 annually to expand the Voluntary Fisheries Liaison Officers program and enhance administrative support.

Promoting fishing tourism

Nature-based tourism continues to grow in popularity around the world and Western Australia's pristine waters and unique fishing opportunities have the potential to attract a significant number of overseas and interstate visitors.

Fishing tourism can have considerable flow on effects for businesses, particularly in regional areas, by encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more.

Western Australia's 'clean' image provides a major competitive advantage over other states and countries in terms of fishing tourism, but the industry is significantly underdeveloped due to a lack of government support.

The Liberal National Coalition recognises the benefits that fishing tourism could provide to Western Australia, particularly in regional areas, and in Government will allocate additional funds for the development and promotion of the fishing tourism industry.

Fisheries catch allocations

The previous Coalition Government implemented formal resource sharing between the recreational and commercial sectors. As part of this process more than 248 commercial licences were removed through Fisheries Adjustment Schemes.

Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM) has been identified as the next step in ensuring the protection of our fish stocks for future generations.

Sustainability is the guiding principal of IFM and user groups are explicitly allocated target catch levels based upon the total mortality of fish resources resulting from the activities of each group. Economic, social, cultural and environmental factors are taken into account in the allocation process.

Despite the completion of the 'Toohey' report into Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM) in 2002, funding to initiate the IMF process was only allocated in 2004-05.

The Coalition is firmly committed to providing an equitable allocation of fisheries resources between all stakeholders, but before allocations can be made it is essential that accurate fish stock and catch information is obtained for each fishery.

To assist in the resource allocation process and guide decisions regarding fisheries sustainability, a Coalition Government will provide an additional $500,000 per year for the measurement and monitoring of stock and catch levels, with a focus on the recreational sector.

Using accurate stock and catch data, the Coalition will continue the process of resource allocations within Western Australia's fisheries with an emphasis on equity between sectors.

A Liberal National Coalition Government will ensure that all stakeholders are able to provide an appropriate level of input to the Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee regarding resource allocations.

To provide certainty in the allocation process, adequate funding must be allocated to enable the status of Western Australia's fisheries to be accurately gauged and changes implemented in line with new management requirements.

In its first term, a Coalition Government will provide a minimum of $6 million over four years to the Department of Fisheries to progress the Integrated Fisheries Management process.

Equity in marine planning

The issue of Marine Park planning has created considerable controversy over recent years.

The Labor Government was forced to scrap plans for a no-fishing zone around Rottnest Island, while similar plans for Rowley Shoals, Monte Bello Islands, Ningaloo Reef and the Cape to Cape region have sparked outcry from the recreational fishing sector.

The decision to ban recreational fishing activities over a large area of the Ningaloo Reef has proven to be particularly contentious, with the State Government even ignoring advice from our own Department of Fisheries over what level of access should be allowed. The State Government has also been accused of misleading the public over the level of consultation undertaken regarding the Ningaloo decision. The Coalition believes that political opportunism should not be used as the basis for marine planning decisions.

At present the Department of Fisheries is responsible for Fish Habitat Protection Areas (FHPA), while CALM has the power to create Marine Parks. In both instances, sections of the protected areas can be designated as no take areas, sanctuaries, marine nature reserves or locations for designated activities, though Marine Parks take precedence over FHPAs.

While priority must be given to ensuring the sustainability of our diverse marine environment, there is concern that current planning processes are resulting in large areas be unnecessarily 'locked-up' from even the most responsible recreational fishers while other activities such as jet skiing and anchoring are still allowed. This is forcing fishing activity to be concentrated in other locations to the detriment of fish stocks and can also push recreational fishers into more dangerous waters.

A Coalition Government will initiate an independent review of the current duplication of marine protection responsibilities between CALM and the Department of Fisheries to improve synergies, reduce confusing cross-overs and ensure that the marine environment is managed for the benefit of all stakeholders.

The Coalition recognises that in certain circumstances recreational fishing should be prohibited to protect spawning aggregations and fragile habitats or to allow for other recreational activities, but believes that the principle of equity should apply in ensuring access for recreational fishers.

While recognising the need to proactively protect our valuable aquatic environment, a Coalition Government will review processes governing the establishment of Marine Parks and Fish Habitat Protection Areas to ensure that decisions to restrict recreational fishing are based upon sound scientific evidence and not political opportunism.

Recreational fishers have a vested interest in ensuring the long-term viability of our fisheries and have supported numerous measures to protect stocks, including changes to size limits, bag numbers and catch and release fishing.

The Coalition believes that greater emphasis should be placed on protecting our fisheries through these measures rather than complete bans on recreational fishing activities.

Representation for recreational fishers

For far too long the recreational fishing sector has not received the recognition that it deserves. Recreational fishers encompass a diverse group of people - from those who travel widely and fish regularly, to the grandparent who takes a grandchild fishing a couple of times a year. This diversity has often made it difficult to present a strong voice.

The recreational sector has, however, expressed anger through both industry leaders and Recfishwest over the poor level of consultation undertaken regarding changes to the management of fisheries.

Submissions from the recreational sector have been overlooked as part of Marine Park planning processes and the recreational sector does not currently receive recognition in State Administrative Tribunal matters.

The Coalition believes that Western Australia's 600,000 recreational fishers deserve equitable recognition and consultation.

In Government, the Coalition will implement policies that ensure the recreational fishing sector is consulted on all changes to the management of fisheries that will impact upon recreational fishing activities.

A Coalition Government will also ensure that the recreational sector, through peak bodies such as Recfishwest, has the option to be represented as an affected party in matters impacting recreational fishers that come before the State Administrative Tribunal.

With the implementation of Integrated Fisheries Management, it is essential that the recreational sector be well represented to advocate the interests of the angling community.

A Liberal National Coalition Government will review peak body funding arrangements to ensure that there is greater equity in the representation of commercial and recreational interests.

CONCLUSION

Recreation fishing is an important part of the Australian way of life. For decades Western Australians have enjoyed casting a fishing line into the water from the local beach or riverbank. Unfortunately, increasing pressure on fish stocks has meant that casual anglers are often returning home without even a bite.

A Liberal National Coalition Government will acknowledge the valuable contribution made by the recreational fishing sector. Through sound planning decisions, equitable representation and adequate funding, the Coalition will protect our fisheries while maintaining a responsible, well managed level of access for all stakeholders.

For comment, please contact the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on ph: 9222 7351 or e-mail: barnettc@loop.wa.gov.au

End of Coalition Fisheries Position Statement for the 2005 State Election.



This page last updated January 2005.