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PROTECTING OUR FISH FOR THE FUTURE –
WEST COAST

A strategy for managing the recreational catch of demersal scalefish in the west coast bioregion.

 

The West Coast Bioregion is home to a variety of fish species that live on or near the bottom. These fish are termed ‘demersal' species and include dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod, blue morwong (queen snapper) and red snapper.

 

Recently completed research has revealed that both dhufish and pink snapper are being overfished throughout their geographic range on the west coast and that baldchin groper are being overfished at the Abrolhos Islands.

If breeding stocks continue to decline, these fish stocks may be reduced to the extent that there are not enough mature fish available to take advantage of favourable environmental conditions for spawning and successful recruitment when they occur.

The total catch by all sectors of these iconic demersal fish in the West Coast Bioregion (north of Kalbarri to east of Augusta) must be reduced by at least 50 per cent as soon as possible.

In dealing with the current sustainability issues facing this fishery it is important to manage the impacts of all sectors. Significant management measures have already been introduced for the commercial sector. These include bringing the commercial wetline fishery within a management plan and establishing a closure to commercial line and net fishing in the Metropolitan area (from Lancelin in the north to Mandurah in the south).

The WA Government has also committed $5.3 million in additional research funds over the next four years to continue to monitor stocks and evaluate the effectiveness of this recreational fishing management package in conjunction with the new commercial fishing arrangements. An additional $7.8 million has also been committed to education and compliance for marine finfish fisheries in the West Coast Bioregion over the same period.

New recreational rules from 15 October 2008

The Minister for Fisheries has announced the following recreational fisheries management package after an extensive public consultation process.

The changes will come into effect on 15 October 2008, and are aimed at not only ensuring sustainability of our key demersal fishes, but also allowing an enjoyable fishing experience to continue for Western Australians.

Decision 1: Reduced mixed bag limit for category 1 fish – 4 per person per day
The individual mixed daily bag limit for Category 1 “high risk” fish will be reduced from seven to four fish in the West Coast Bioregion

Decision 2: Reduced species bag limit for pink snapper – 2 per person per day

Decision 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 in October 2008 and then from 45cm to 50cm in 2010.

Decision 4: Boat Limit of 8 for Category 1 “high risk” fish
A boat limit of two daily bag limits for Category 1 “high risk” fish will be introduced (i.e. eight Category 1 fish) for the West Coast Bioregion.

Where five or more fishers are on board a recreational boat or licensed fishing tour, an additional two Category 1 “high risk” fish per person (over and above the boat limit) is permitted for the fifth and additional fishers.

Decision 5: Seasonal Restriction for ‘vulnerable 5' demersal scalefish
A seasonal restriction will apply from:

15 October – 25 December in 2008/09,
15 October – 31 January in 2009/10, and
1 October – 31 January from 20010/11 onwards.

The seasonal restriction will prohibit the take, landing and possession of the “vulnerable 5” species; dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper/bight redfish. The effectiveness of this restriction will be closely monitored and consideration will be given to adjusting this list of species in subsequent years.

Decision 6A: Daily bag limit of one Category 1 fish for spearfishing on compressed air
A daily bag limit of one Category 1 fish will apply to spear fishing on compressed air in the West Coast Bioregion.

Decision 6B: Use of power-assisted fishing reels
The use of power-assisted fishing reels (e.g. electric fishing reels etc) by recreational fishers be prohibited in the West Coast Bioregion (exemptions will be provided for fishers with disabilities).

Decision 7: Discourage fishing competitions from targeting Category 1 fish
Initiate discussion with fishing clubs to discourage public fishing competitions in the West Coast Bioregion from including high risk species such as dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper in prize categories

Decision 8: 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 to 10kg of fillets or 1 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.

Decision 9: Voluntary  logbook program for Category 1 fish
A voluntary logbook program is established for Category 1 demersal fish in the West Coast Bioregion to provide additional catch and effort information.  Consideration will be given to introducing a compulsory logbook program in the future if participation in the voluntary program is found to be insufficient to meet research requirements.

Decision 10: Establishment of a Recreational Fishing Trust Fund
A Recreational Fishing Trust Fund will be established with business rules to enable the recreational sector to have meaningful input into determining recreational fishing expenditure priorities.  The Trust is to be overseen by a committee consisting of key stakeholders from the recreational fishing sector.

Decision 11: Further research the appropriateness of large scale fish reservesFurther 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

Please note

The changes to recreational fishing outlined in this package will not apply to people fishing for the common fish species caught from beaches, jetties or groynes.  Nor will any changes apply to people fishing from boats for species such as squid, whiting, skippy or significantly impact on people fishing for “pelagic” fish such as Spanish mackerel and tuna.

Further Information

Minister for Fisheries Media Statement (June 2008)		pdf	[71k]

Media Statement Fact Sheet (June 2008)		pdf	[32k]

Fisheries Management Paper 231 - A Strategy For Managing The Recreational Catch Of Demersal Scalefish In The West Coast Bioregion - Decisions By The Minister For Fisheries (June 2008)		pdf	[2.71M]

Fisheries Research Report 177 - A 12-month survey of recreational boat-based fishing between Augusta and Kalbarri on the West Coast of Western Australia during 2005-06 (June 2008)		pdf	[2.71M]

The Species

The species concerned are long-lived, slow growing and relatively sedentary, making them vulnerable to high levels of fishing.

Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 3 – West Australian dhufish (Sept 2007)		pdf	[383k]
Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 5 – Pink snapper (Sept 2007)		pdf	[518k]
Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 6 – Baldchin groper (Sept 2007)		pdf	[324k]

Previous Information

Recommended Changes to Recreational Fishing of Vulnerable Iconic Fish (Ministerial Position Paper) (Mar 2008)		pdf	[619k]

Fisheries Management Paper 228 - A Strategy for Managing the Recreational Catch of Demersal Scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion (Mar 2008)		pdf	[655k]

Taking action now to ensure fish for the future – The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery (map) (Sept 2007)		pdf	[314k]

Fisheries Brief No. 1 – West Coast Demersal Scalefish (Sept 2007)		pdf	[1.44M]

Fisheries Research Report No. 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. (Sept 2007)		pdf	[10.6M]

Minister for Fisheries Media Statement and Media Fact Sheets (Sept 2007)		pdf	[71k]

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