Recfishwest Submission:- Proposed Closure of Part of Geographe Bay to Commercial Fishing

The following is the Recfishwest Submission. Fisheries Minister Jon Ford announced his decision on 9 November 2007.

Hon Jon Ford MLC
Minister for Fisheries
Geographe Bay Comments
Department of Fisheries
Locked Bag 39
Cloisters Square WA 6850

Dear Minister

Re Geographe Bay - future closure

Thank you for your letter 12 July 2007, outlining your proposal to close waters of Geographe Bay to commercial fishing.

Recfishwest supports the proposed closure in principle, however, we believe with some minor amendments to the boundary the outcome for fish stocks and recreational fishing within Geographe Bay can be significantly enhanced.

The proposed northern boundary provides little buffer between commercial and recreational activities around Naturaliste Reef as commercial fishers could still legally set their nets around the northern, eastern and western edges of the reef.

Recfishwest has consulted with the local community group "GeoBay for the Future" and supports their view that the proposed area closed to commercial fishing should be redefined as;

An area bounded by the coast and extending north west from the tip of Cape Naturaliste to the north west corner of the proposed Cape Naturaliste Sanctuary Zone (Longitude 114o 58' 00'' East and Latitude 33o 31' 00'' South), then north to Longitude 114o 57' 50'' East and Latitude 33o 19' 00'' South, then north east to Longitude 115o 00' 00'' East and Latitude 33o 10' 00'' South, then southeast to the eastern boundary of the proposed Capes Marine Park (Longitude 115o 27' 12'' East and Latitude 33o 34' 51'' South). Please refer to the attached map.

Aligning the boundaries of the closure with already delineated boundaries for the Capes Marine Park creates a common line of reference for compliance. This will help ease the burden on local compliance officers when enforcing these closures.

The above mentioned amendments to the boundary also allow for a greater buffer between recreational and commercial activities around Naturaliste Reef alleviating potential for resource sharing issues. Likewise, by extending the western boundary of the closure to the north western point of the proposed Cape Naturaliste Sanctuary Zone allows South West Bank (popular recreational fishing location) to be included as well as affording a greater buffer to Wright's Bank.

The Department of Fisheries must be cautious of a potential displacement in commercial effort from Geographe Bay to the inshore waters between Busselton and Bunbury. Should further resource sharing issues arise, we believe consideration should be made into closing the inshore waters from Bunbury to Busselton to demersal gill netting and salmon fishing.

Recfishwest's understanding is that the closures to commercial fishing are not applicable to commercial rock lobster potting and abalone fishing. Recfishwest does not object to these fisheries continuing within the proposed closure as our key interest lies in resolving resource sharing issues between commercial demersal gill netting, beach seining and long lining and recreational anglers within Geographe Bay.

Recfishwest highly praised the implementation of a commercial salmon fishing closure during Easter 2007 in Geographe Bay. We are pleased that this proposal will ensure this closure is effective all year round to the benefit of local and visiting recreational fishers. Recfishwest believes that there would be enormous community benefit in a permanent Easter commercial salmon fishing closure for the entire south west bioregion. Indeed Recfishwest still believes that the south-west salmon fishery becoming recreational only is an extremely high priority for the state.

Once again, thank you for progressing this issue and we look forward to your upcoming announcement of your decision on this matter.

Yours sincerely

Des Wood
Chairman
27 July 2007

CC Doug Bathgate, Chair RFAC

Minister's announcement 9 November 2007:-

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.

Minister's office: (08) 9213 7200





This page last updated on 10 November 2007.