Proposals For Community Discussion On The Future Management Of Pink Snapper Fishing In Cockburn Sound And Surrounding Waters

In the West Coast Region pink snapper aggregate in spawning schools when water temperatures start to increase in late spring/early summer. Due to variations in water temperature, these aggregations and spawning events probably occur in series, with aggregations occurring in the more northerly areas first.

Pink snapper were recorded in Cockburn Sound by Captain James Stirling in 1829 and to some extent have been “rediscovered” over the last two decades by an increasing number of recreational fishers.

As more research is conducted on pink snapper populations it has become clear that recruitment is highly variable from year to year. When combined with significant fishing pressure on aggregating spawning fish, this makes snapper populations highly vulnerable to over fishing.

As a precautionary measure to protect spawning pink snapper a closure was first established in Cockburn Sound in 2000. The spawning closure was established as a prohibition on fishing for pink snapper in the waters of Cockburn Sound from 15 September to 31 October.

Subsequent to this closure, during the Regional Review of Recreational Fishing on the West Coast, a proposal was put forward to extend the closure over November and expand the closed area to include the metropolitan area from Cape Bouvard to Ocean Reef. It was also proposed that the closure should apply to the take, landing and possession of pink snapper rather than just prohibiting the fishing for pink snapper. This was due to the fact that the existing closure was largely unenforceable as anglers landing fish could claim the fish were caught outside the Sound.

In considering this proposal the Minister indicated that additional consultation should be undertaken with the commercial fishing sector on the extension of the closure. However, in to make the existing closure enforceable, in the interim, the Minister approved that the current closure in Cockburn Sound would be a prohibition on the take, landing and possession of pink snapper.

Since the West Coast Recreational Fishing Review was completed additional research information has come to light, which has led to a re-evaluation of the appropriateness of the proposed pink snapper spawning closure in Cockburn Sound and the Metropolitan area.

This discussion paper outlines the current issues associated with the management of the metropolitan pink snapper fishery along with some options for future management.

Recreational fishers who have an interest in the future management of the Cockburn Sound snapper fishery are urged to consider the draft proposals and provide their views to the Department of Fisheries.