A quality future for Recreational Fishing in the South Coast by the South Coast Recreational Fishing Working Group

The South Coast Region between Black Point and the South Australian/Western Australian border offers a wide range of recreational fishing opportunities that expand over 1,200 km of near pristine coastline. River and estuarine systems, beaches and an offshore environment that hosts an array of popular cooler-temperate water recreational species make the South Coast Region different to any other region in WA.

With a growing population and advances in technology, fishing pressure will continue to grow and anglers will become more efficient at targeting fish, particularly offshore demersal species such as blue groper, dhufish, red snapper, breaksea cod and queen snapper.

There is also a clear need for recreational fisheries management to complement the existing management arrangements for the charter industry, and provide the necessary framework for recreational fishing to be incorporated into an integrated management framework with other fishing sectors.

Before catch allocations can be managed under an integrated management framework, it is first necessary to ensure that effective sectoral management arrangements are in place. Some fisheries are not highly managed (e.g. finfish) and a move to a higher level of management is essential for both the commercial and recreational sectors.

Complementing the regional recreational fishing strategies, a corresponding review of the unmanaged components of the commercial finfish sector (wetline) is also planned to ensure the effective management of the commercial catch.

To manage the recreational component of the catch and help protect the future quality of recreational fishing in the South Coast, representatives from the Department of Fisheries, Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee (RFAC), Regional RFACs, Recfishwest, and Volunteer Fisheries Liaison Officers met to develop the basis of a fishing strategy for the region. This strategy was then further developed through consultation with regional RFACs and stakeholder groups.

Community comment is now being sought on the draft management proposals. All submissions will be carefully considered before final recommendations are submitted to the Minister for Fisheries for his consideration.

I would encourage anyone who has an interest in the future of recreational fishing in the South Coast Region to carefully consider these proposals, which are aimed at maintaining or improving the quality and diversity of the region's recreational fisheries.

Your comments, ideas and support for this essential step forward in improving the management of recreational fisheries on the South Coast is needed - the future depends on you.

DOUG BATHGATE
CHAIRMAN
RECREATIONAL FISHING ADVISORY COMMITTEE