Media Statement, March 2007
Best Easter ever for South-west salmon

Recfishwest today praised the announcement by Minister for Fisheries, Jon Ford, to implement a closure for the commercial salmon fishing industry over Easter.

Following years of lobbying by Recfishwest, the Minister for Fisheries has approved a closure from Good Friday to Easter Monday from Cape Naturaliste to the Old Dunsborough boat ramp.

Good numbers of salmon have been reported along the south-west area. However, salmon fishers should not expect salmon in the metropolitan area in the numbers that were seen last year due to a stronger Leeuwin Current.

"Fishing for Australian salmon in the south-west is one of the most highly valued recreational fisheries in this state. Although we would have liked the closure to extend from Cape Leeuwin to include the entire south-west coast, this is an important first step and one that should see a hassle free salmon fishery near Dunsborough." Recfishwest Executive Director, Frank Prokop said.

The recreational sector has consistently lobbied for changes to the existing fishery arrangements over Easter where commercial fishers could net a school of salmon that anglers had waited for days to appear.

"It has been the efforts of Recfishwest, backed up by support from people such as Rusty Ellis and local members that has been an important consideration in getting this closure implemented in time for the 2007 Easter season." Mr Prokop said.

"Recfishwest understands that commercial fishers may be impacted upon as a result of this change, but we have also consistently lobbied for the continuation of a buy-back of salmon entitlements on the south-west as the best long term solution to conflict in the area." Mr Prokop said.

Mr Prokop asked all recreational fishers to respect the activities of commercial salmon fishermen, but to be aware that the fisheries laws did not give commercial fishers the right to fish over the top of any recreational fisher.

Through the efforts of Recfishwest, recreational fishers have been the driving force behind a number of successful management measures for the protection of fish stocks such as the Cockburn Sound and Shark Bay pink snapper closures and protection of blue groper at Rottnest Island.

"We are pleased with the Minister's decision which will help ensure a successful and enjoyable Easter weekend in the South-west to the benefit of the tourism industry and many small businesses." Mr Prokop said.

ENDS
Media Contact
Frank Prokop, Executive Director - Recfishwest 9246 3366 or 0419 949 118.

           

Media statement by Jon Ford, Minister for Fisheries

This Recfishwest media statement was in response to the Media statement by Jon Ford, Minister for Fisheries (link opens in a new window)

Easter break for commercial salmon fishers

Fisheries Minister Jon Ford announced today (Thursday 22 March, 2007) that commercial fishing for Australian salmon in a popular area of Geographe Bay would be prohibited during the Easter public holiday period.

"Conflict between commercial and recreational fishers using the same beaches to target Australian salmon in this area has been an ongoing problem," Mr Ford said.

"While there are no concerns about the overall sustainability of salmon at this time, I have decided to put in place a short closure to commercial salmon fishing to avoid conflict over beach use and catch during this peak tourism period.

"Salmon are one of the most sought-after beach fishing species at this time of year, and beach netting operations and angling are not generally compatible when the salmon are schooling in a specific area accessible to both."

The ban will apply between Cape Naturaliste and the old Dunsborough boat ramp from midnight on Thursday, April 5 to midnight on Easter Monday, April. 9

The Minister said the closure would ensure recreational fishers could continue to enjoy a favourite Easter pastime.

Mr Ford said that a series of meetings earlier this month in the South-West with both recreational and commercial fishers were very positive and had led to this outcome.

"The broad support for this initiative particularly from commercial fishers demonstrated their commitment to good fisheries management in Geographe Bay."

Australian salmon are not a true salmon. They are a migratory species of sea perch which move in large schools from the Great Australian Bight as far north as Rottnest Island on the West Coast during the autumn and early winter.

In years when there is a weak Leeuwin Current (El Nino) and cooler inshore water temperatures, the schools tend to hug the coastline and move west and north before spawning.

In La Nina years, when the Leeuwin Current flows strongly southward, salmon tend to avoid warmer inshore water and may not move much north of Cape Naturaliste before spawning.

Salmon grow to five or more kilos and are highly regarded as one of the best angling prospects for shore anglers during the Easter period south of Perth.

22 March 2007. Minister's office - 9213 7200

Further permanent changes to commercial salmon fishing in Geographe Bay

The Minister for Fisheries announced extensions to the Easter closure and further permanent changes to commercial salmon fishing in Geographe Bay in Minister for Fisheries' media statement (link opens in a new window)

Geographe Bay fishing future settled

Fisheries Minister Jon Ford has delivered a comprehensive solution to the sharing of fish resources near Busselton and the removal of commercial shoreline fishing from Geographe Bay over a fair and equitable timetable.

"Rapid regional population growth and Geographe Bay's important tourism role in Western Australia's South-West have been increasing resource-sharing pressures, however we must apply a fair and balanced approach to resolving the issues," Mr Ford said.

"I have established a plan to remove the conflict and close a large section of the bay to commercial shoreline fishing activities that have the highest interaction with recreational fishers and other beach users, but the change will be implemented over a reasonable timetable.

"From July 1, 2009, there will be a permanent closure of Geographe Bay between Cape Naturaliste and Port Geographe to salmon fishing and beach seine fishing, which targets bait fish, however in the meantime there will also be time closures during holiday periods.

"Commercial salmon fishing will be prohibited in this area of Geographe Bay on public holidays and long weekends, from Friday to Monday during Easter and between noon Friday and noon on Sunday for weekends during the April school holidays.

"This solution will allow the community to plan ahead, take advantage of the tourism benefits it provides and for commercial operators to be compensated accordingly."

The Minister said the Government would fund the buyout of the commercial licences through a Fisheries Adjustment Scheme, to address the resource-sharing issues in an equitable way and allow for those fishers to plan ahead.

"The area that will be closed to commercial shoreline fishing covers a significant area of Geographe Bay, however the reason we didn't close the whole bay off was in reaction to feedback from local people about the availability of fresh local fish supplies," he said.

"This new initiative, combined with my recent decision to implement a new management plan for the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery and the significant adjustments I have made to Zone 1 of the Joint Authority Southern Demersal Gillnet and Longline (shark) Managed Fishery, will address resource-sharing conflicts in the Geographe Bay area."

Adjustments in the shark fishery include an overall effort reduction of 30 per cent, with some gillnet and longline licensees experiencing individual reductions of greater than 60 per cent and a two-month pupping closure to prohibit fishing in the area from mid-August to mid-October.

Friday 9 November, 2007. Minister's office: 9213 7200

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This page prepared on 22 March 2007, last updated 23 April 2008.