New West Coast recreational fishing arrangements

Recfishwest today (24 June 2008) described the new management package for recreational anglers on the West Coast a necessary step in the right direction in the interest of resource sustainability.

Acting Executive Director of Recfishwest, Kane Moyle commented, "The recreational sector is generally accepting of the need for tighter management arrangements to provide additional protection to important demersal species. However, the timing and length of any closed season is critical to ensure sustainability targets are achieved with the least possible impact on the enjoyment of fishing."

Recfishwest supports the Minister's two and half month closure from 15 October - 25 December for the 2008/09 season, but believes it is too early to be prescriptive on decisions to extend the closure to include all of January and October in subsequent years.

"I am hopeful that if we reach the required annual target for reduction in fishing mortality during the first year closure the Government can be adaptive in its management of these important species." Mr Moyle said.

"We are not opposed to tight management controls if they are necessary, however, a four month closure (as proposed for 2010/11) during the peak summer fishing period would impact heavily on fishers, the tackle and boat industries and the tourism industries from Kalbarri to Augusta." Mr Moyle said.

Recfishwest did recommend including all Category 1 demersal species in any closed season. "This would have provided increased protection to these "vulnerable" species by removing any reason for fishing in deep water where the vulnerable species live and thus removing the potential for incidental mortality. We believe this should be considered a realistic trade off to extending the closure in 2009/10 and 2010/11." Mr Moyle said.

Recfishwest has been a long time advocate for tighter management of our demersal scalefish, particularly for the vulnerable dhufish. Recreational fishers first began to formally voice their concerns about the status of dhufish stocks at the Dhufish Workshop, run by Recfishwest in 2004.

Recfishwest is cautious of the potential flow on effect the new management arrangements may have as recreational fishers shift their attention to important recreational "bread and butter" species like King George whiting and herring during closed seasons.

"It is important that researchers work closely with recreational anglers to monitor the impacts of the new management arrangements on catch and fishing behaviour." Mr Moyle said.

Recfishwest applauded the Minister's decision to establish a dedicated Recreational Fishing Trust Fund for recreational fishing expenditure priorities.

"It is great to see that recreational fishers will get greater say in the expenditure of existing licence monies with establishment of a Recreational Fishing Trust Fund. This will allow the recreational sector to fund research programs of interest to recreational fishers." Mr Moyle said.

ENDS

Media Contacts
Kane Moyle - Acting Executive Director Recfishwest phone (08) 9246 3366 Mobile 0419 949 118
24 June 2008

References and links to current and recent papers on Recreational Fishing changes.

Minister's decisions and links to information and discussion papers on West Coast demersal fishing.

This is in two parts:- the most recent decisions by the Liberal Government Minister for Fisheries, Hon Norman Moore, and the proposals by previous Labor Fisheries Minister Hon Jon Ford, which were not implemented before calling the WA State Election prevented implementation.

Most recent papers (October 2008).

Minister for Fisheries media release, 8 October 2008 (link opens in a new window) Summary of the decisions announced, to commence on 1 January 2009:-

New recreational rules from January 2009, from "Protecting Our Fish for the Future - West Coast" (link opens in a new window)

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has announced a revised package of recreational fishing rules to take effect in January 2009, at the same time that further changes to reduce commercial fishing effort will take effect.

• 1. Reduced mixed bag limit for high risk fish - 4 per person per day

The mixed daily bag limit for "high risk" fish will be reduced from seven to four fish in the West Coast Bioregion.

• 2. Reduced species bag limit for pink snapper - 2 per person per day

The daily bag limit for pink snapper will be reduced from four to two fish per person.

• 3. Increased minimum legal size for pink snapper south of Lancelin

South of Lancelin, the minimum legal size for pink snapper will be increased from 41cm to 45cm on 1 January 2009 and then from 45cm to 50cm in 2010.

• 4. Boat limit for "high risk" fish

A Boat Limit for "high risk" fish is introduced for recreational boats and licensed fishing tours. Where one to four fishers are on board a boat, the boat limit would be eight "high risk" fish (subject to individual daily bag limits). Where five or more fishers are on board, an additional two "high risk" fish per person (over and above the new boat limit) is permitted for the fifth and additional fishers.

• 5. Discourage fishing competitions from targeting "high risk" fish.

• 6. Reduced possession limit at Abrolhos Islands to 10 kilos per person.

The finfish possession limit within the Abrolhos Islands Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Area is reduced from 20kg to 10kg of fillets or from 2 day's bag limit to one day's bag limit of whole fish per person - this possession limit can be transported back to the mainland. The possession limit to remain in place for at least two years while a review to assess the option of managing the Abrolhos Islands as a wilderness "no take away" fishing area is undertaken.

• 7. Voluntary logbook program for "high risk" fish

Introduce a voluntary logbook program for high-risk fish to provide additional catch and effort information.

• 8. Recreational Fund review

The Recreational Fishing Fund will be reviewed with a view of providing recreational fishing stakeholders more meaningful input into recreational fishing spending priorities.

• 9. Research into large-scale closures

Further research be undertaken to investigate the appropriateness of introducing large scale fish reserves or closed areas to provide protection for large numbers of fish or over an area, which is particularly important to spawning.

Full details in "Protecting Our Fish for the Future - West Coast" (link opens in a new window)

References and links to earlier papers on Recreational Fishing changes.

Earlier papers - June 2008.

Labor Minister for Fisheries media release, 24 June (link opens in a new window) Summary of the decisions announced, were to commence on 15 October 2008, but have been superseded by the announcement above:-

• 1. The daily bag limit for Category 1 fish to be reduced from seven to four fish.

• 2. The daily bag limit for pink snapper to be reduced from four to two fish.

• 3. The size limit for pink snapper to be increased from 41cm to 45cm in October, 2008 and then from 45cm to 50cm in 2010 for the metropolitan and South-West zones only (Lancelin to Augusta).

• 4. A boat limit of two daily bag limits of Category 1 fish to be introduced. Where five or more fishers are on board a recreational or charter boat, an additional two Category 1 fish per person (over and above the boat limit) will be allowed for the fish and additional fishers.

• 5. A seasonal restriction that prohibits the take, landing and possession of the Vulnerable 5 species: dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper. The season will run from October 15 to December 25 in 2008, October 15 to January 31 in 2009-2010 and October 1 to January 31 for subsequent years.

• 6. (a) A daily bag limit of one Category 1 fish to apply to spear fishing on compressed air.
      (b) The use of power assisted fishing reels to be prohibited (with exemptions for disabled fishers.)

• 7. Discussions with fishing clubs to be initiated to discourage public fishing competitions from targeting high risk species.

• 8. The finfish possession limit to be reduced at the Abrolhos Islands Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Area to 10kg of fillets (or pieces of fish) or one day's bag limit of whole fish. The possession limit will remain in place for at least two years while a review to assess the option of managing the Abrolhos Islands as a 'no take away' area is undertaken.

• 9. A voluntary logbook program to be established for Category 1 demersal fish (ocean-bottom dwelling fish), including the Vulnerable 5 species, to provide additional catch and effort information.

• 10. A Recreational Trust Fund to be established to enable the recreational sector to have meaningful input into determining expenditure priorities.

• 11. Further research to be undertaken to investigate the appropriateness of introducing large scale fish reserves or closed areas to provide protection for large numbers of fish or over an area which is particularly important to spawning.

Full details of those superseded proposals in "A strategy for managing the recreational catch of demersal scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion - Decisions by the Minister for Fisheries" published June 2008 in Fisheries Management Paper 231 (link opens in a new window)

"A 12-month survey of recreational boat-based fishing between Augusta and Kalbarri on the West Coast of Western Australia during 2005-06" published June 2008 in Fisheries Research Report 177 (link opens in a new window)

Recfishwest media statement 24 June 2008 New West Coast recreational fishing arrangements

==================

Earlier papers - March to June 2008

Minister for Fisheries' "Recommended changes to recreational fishing of vulnerable iconic fish - especially dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper in the West Coast Bioregion" 28 March 2008 is available from http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/WestCoastDemersal/management.php (link opens in a new window)

Fisheries Management Paper 228 - "A Strategy for Managing the Recreational Catch of Demersal Scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion" (28 March 2008) is available from http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/mp/mp228/index.php?0706 (link opens in a new window)

Minister for Fisheries' media statement 28 March 2008 including a summary of the proposed changes is available on http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=129922 (link opens in a new window)

Recfishwest media statement 28 March 2008:- "New West Coast fishing proposals a 'mixed bag'" http://www.recfishwest.org.au/MediaStateWestCoastMixedBag.htm

Recfishwest DRAFT submission 11 April 2008 on "Recommended changes to recreational fishing of vulnerable iconic fish", and "Strategy for Managing the Recreational Catch of Demersal Scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion FMP228" http://www.recfishwest.org.au/DraftSubDemersalFishingFMP228.htm Similar to, but replaced by, the FINAL submission on this page.

==================

Earlier papers - September to November 2007.

Fisheries Management Paper 225 - "Managing The Recreational Catch Of Demersal Scalefish On The West Coast - Future Management Scenarios for Community Consideration" September 2007 is available from http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/mp/mp225/index.php?0706 (link opens in a new window)

Fisheries Research Report 163 "Spatial scales of exploitation among populations of demersal scalefish: implications for management. Part 1: Stock status of the key indicator species for the demersal scalefish fishery in the West Coast Bioregion." September 2007 is available from http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/frr/frr163/index.php?0401 (link opens in a new window)

Recfishwest submission 15 November 2007 on that Fisheries Management Paper No. 225 is http://www.recfishwest.org.au/SubDemersalFishingFMP225.htm Note:- That submission was prepared 15 November 2007 and covers FMP225, so does not cover the Minister's proposed changes or FMP228 released in March 2008, or the Labor Minister's decision announced in June 2008 but superseded by the Liberal Fisheries Minister's announcement on 8 October.

==============================================


This page prepared on 24 June 2008, last updated on 10 October 2008.