WA six Month Fishing Closure

[Volvo]

Any truth in this or just scaremongering ??.
Also talk of only 4 scalable fish per Boat.
WTF is going on ??.

[disorderly]

Nah its true mate..

Their fisheries department are a disgrace and have totally dropped the ball on this in recent years..

and now Pro fishers get to take the majority of the fish while rec guys get totally screwed..They were asking for 9 months ban in some ridiculous scheme that goes till 2030...!!!!

Fancy Commercial guys being able to catch but you and I are criminals for trying to put a feed of fish on the table..

I would be absolutley filthy if I lived over there ..I personally wouldnt stand for it and would just poach what I needed anyway..

[Corry]

Is it a one off thing?
I'd be filthy if I lived there, too bad if you owned a boat or tackle shop.

[Noelm]

Any truth in this or just scaremongering ??.
Also talk of only 4 scalable fish per Boat.
WTF is going on ??.

Be a bit hard to catch 4 scalable fish, if you can't fish......I think maybe this is somewhat misinterpreted? Let's see if anyone can find a link to the relevant proposed restriction, maybe one if the WA members might see this?

[Noelm]

First google hit explains a possible 6 month ban on Snapper and Dhufish, as I expected, it's somewhat misrepresented.

[Noelm]

Reading the entire article, it seems it's only one month longer than their recreational body suggested, and only applies to a certain section of Coast, and not 6 months continuous, it's spread over month long periods....as far as I can gather from the submission.

[disorderly]

Be a bit hard to catch 4 scalable fish, if you can't fish......I think maybe this is somewhat misinterpreted? Let's see if anyone can find a link to the relevant proposed restriction, maybe one if the WA members might see this?

Its for Dhufish and snapper...but why even bother launching the reef boat to go out and catch 4 bream..and if you have 5 blokes on board 2 of them have to split a fish...one bream fillet each...

and why can pros go out and smash 240 tonnes of them and yet rec guys cant even bring a single one home for 6 months of the year..

wouldnt the best solution be to buy back all those commercial licences and let rec guys take that available 240 tonnes..?

Just google search mate..there is plenty of info on the net..

https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/...06-p5c47k.html

[Noelm]

That's what I found (as per my previous posts) pros V recs is a never ending argument/debate and another issue entirely, the article clearly states the pro effort will be cut back considerably. If I understood the figures correctly, the rec "quota" is 115 tonnes, the pro quota is 240 tonnes, but their allowable fishing days have been cut considerably, it also reads that the pro quota is not achieved.

[Noelm]

Its for Dhufish and snapper...but why even bother launching the reef boat to go out and catch 4 bream..and if you have 5 blokes on board 2 of them have to split a fish...one bream fillet each...

and why can pros go out and smash 240 tonnes of them and yet rec guys cant even bring a single one home for 6 months of the year..

wouldnt the best solution be to buy back all those commercial licences and let rec guys take that available 240 tonnes..?

Just google search mate..there is plenty of info on the net..

https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/...06-p5c47k.html

Not too sure where the Bream fit into it, or why the 5 fisherman are needed, you could go out on your own and catch 4 big Snapper or Dhufish just as easy and 5 people could catch 4 Bream. Let's be 100% clear here, I am not on either side, don't live in WA and knew nothing about it all until now, but, it seems there might be a bit of embellishing a proposed restriction to suit individuals.

[tunaticer]

So tired of the "mortally wounded" card being played and distorting the facts.
Grow up and be factual at least.

[Noelm]

So tired of the "mortally wounded" card being played and distorting the facts.
Grow up and be factual at least.

What does this mean?

[disorderly]

Not too sure where the Bream fit into it, or why the 5 fisherman are needed, you could go out on your own and catch 4 big Snapper or Dhufish just as easy and 5 people could catch 4 Bream. Let's be 100% clear here, I am not on either side, don't live in WA and knew nothing about it all until now, but, it seems there might be a bit of embellishing a proposed restriction to suit individuals.

I was just using an extreme example that the 4 fish is a total boat quota regardless of how many aboard....and for 6 months of the year you cant touch snapper or Dhu at all...and also when you state a "rec quota" or amount caught that also includes charter boats in that figure...

and going by the article the commercial catch has only been reduced by 12%..If I have made an incorrect statement I'm happy to stand corrected as some of the articles seem a little contradictory...

and yeah I alway will beleive that normal citizens should have priority over commercial blokes...I mean why have commercial guys been exporting snapper while locals arent even allowed to catch them..?

Hopefully reducing commercial fishing days will mean those fishers will want a payout to leave the industry rather then just try and smash the numbers over a reduced season..

[chris69]

Well the more people complain in QLD the more chances of these things happening here too as now they have WA to go by, that's how some government departments work these days,WA did it why cant we do it.

[Berger4]

Here you go guys. Currently in WA for 2 months over Xmas. I used to live here 10 years ago. It doesn't really say when it will end i.e how many years. Certainly been a hot topic. However I must say that the fish they are trying to protect are in short supply and something needed to be done. Agree they should also limit the commercial catch a bit more. Just glad I don't live here anymore.

Catch!




West Coast Demersal special edition






Changes announced to ensure demersal sustainability

Following extensive industry and community consultation, new measures to protect the future of west coast demersal scalefish stocks, including iconic species such as pink snapper and dhufish, were announced this week.
The 20-year recovery plan is due to conclude in 2030.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) will monitor the impact of the new management changes on stocks and will finalise the next stock assessment at the end of next year.
The current two-month demersal closure will be extended by four months for recreational fishers in the West Coast Bioregion.
The closure period has been significantly reduced from the initial nine-month proposal, following consultation with recreational fishers.
The open seasons have been timed to allow people to catch these prized fish during all school holiday periods. Land-based demersal fishing will now be able to take place year-round.
Catching demersal scalefish from a boat will be prohibited from:

• 1 February to 31 March (inclusive);
• 1 August to the beginning of the September / October school holidays;
• And end of the September / October school holidays to 15 December (inclusive).

Recovery will be supported by a range of new measures, including a boat limit of four demersal scalefish per vessel, expanded spawning protections and gear limits.
The commercial sector will have its total allowable catch halved. This will be achieved through a reduction in available fishing hours for the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery (line fishery). The number of days spent fishing will decreased to an average of 20 days a year for a commercial line boat. Allowing commercial fishers to operate across the year (outside of spawning closures) ensures there is a continued supply of fresh WA demersal fish to local markets.
Commercial fishing for demersal scalefish will remain closed across the Perth metropolitan coast, from Lancelin to south of Mandurah.
For charter operators, a quota system will be introduced with specific limits on the number of demersal scalefish that can be kept each year. This gives charter businesses the flexibility to allow fishing for a limited number of demersal scalefish all year round.
This announcement comes after the latest scientific stock assessment found that key species remained under severe threat. The changes being introduced balance the fishing experience with the action needed to protect these fish.
The impact of the management changes will be closely monitored by DPIRD, who will finalise the next stock assessment around the end of next year.

Read the media release

Read the FAQ

When do the changes come into effect?

Management changes for recreational fishers will come into effect from 1 February 2023.
It is important to understand current recreational rules will remain in place when recreational fishing for demersal scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion reopens on 16 December 2022 through to 31 January 2023.
The implementation of management changes for the commercial sector and charter fishery will align with licence renewal periods. Changes for the commercial sector will come into effect on 1 January 2023, and for the charter sector on 1 July 2023.
The State Government will be undertaking an extensive education campaign to inform fishers and the wider community of the rule changes and how they are being introduced.

Management changes for recreational, charter and commercial fishers

Supporting measures to boost sustainability










The State Government is further boosting sustainability by investing $10 million to support and monitor the recovery of west coast demersal scalefish stocks.
Key initiatives to be funded include:

• Voluntary buyback of commercial fishing entitlement in the wetline fishery
• Enhanced monitoring and research, including digital reporting
• Expanded juvenile pink snapper restocking program
• Expanded State-wide Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) program
• Support package for charter operators to diversify tourism experience
• Expanded education and awareness program

Monitoring and stock assessment

DPIRD will monitor the impact of the new management changes on stock recovery, including continuing to monitor fishing mortality for all sectors annually. Another stock assessment will be undertaken at the end of 2023.

Read our FAQ

Further information

• fish.wa.gov.au/demersal
  
  
• wa.gov.au
  
  
• wcdemersal@dpird.wa.gov.au
  
  

Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.
Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2022.

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[Noelm]

So all the Christmas holidays will be open to fish.