PROTECTING OUR FISH FOR THE FUTURE –
WEST COAST
New rules 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.
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 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.
New recreational rules
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 has been 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 has been 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.
| Boat limits for “high risk” fish | ||||
| Number of people on a boat | Number of “high risk” fish they are permitted to land under the new boat limit . | |||
| 2 | 8 | |||
| 4 | 8 | |||
| 6 | 12 | |||
| 8 | 16 | |||
| 10 | 20 | |||
| 12 | 24 | |||
| 14 | 28 | |||
| 16 | 32 | |||
| 18 | 36 | |||
This represents a substantial reduction to the quantity of fish people may legally land from a boat. Actual landings are very rarely at this level. |
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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.
Explanatory Notes
The West Coast is the region extending between Kalbarri and Augusta. Demersal species include dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod, blue morwong (queen snapper) and red snapper. A full list of high risk species is available from Schedule 3, Part 1 of the Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995.
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Further Information
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| Recreational Fishing Guide - West Coast Region (Dec 2008) |
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| Minister for Fisheries Media Statement (Oct 2008) |
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[33k] | |
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| 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) | |
[2.71M] | |
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| 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) | |
[2.71M] | |
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The Species
The species concerned are long-lived, slow growing and relatively sedentary, making them vulnerable to high levels of fishing.
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| Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 3 – West Australian dhufish (Sept 2007) | |
[383k] | |
| Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 5 – Pink snapper (Sept 2007) |
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[518k] | |
| Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 6 – Baldchin groper (Sept 2007) | |
[324k] | |
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Previous Information
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| Recommended Changes to Recreational Fishing of Vulnerable Iconic Fish (Ministerial Position Paper) (Mar 2008) | |
[619k] | |
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| Fisheries Management Paper 228 - A Strategy for Managing the Recreational Catch of Demersal Scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion (Mar 2008) | |
[655k] | |
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| Fisheries Brief No. 1 – West Coast Demersal Scalefish (Sept 2007) | |
[1.44M] | |
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| Minister for Fisheries Media Statement (June 2008) |
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[71k] | |
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| Media Statement Fact Sheet (June 2008) |
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[32k] | |
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| Minister for Fisheries Media Statement and Media Fact Sheets (Sept 2007) | |
[71k] | |
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