WA six Month Fishing Closure

[Dignity]

Welcome to the world of global economy, it was always going to end up in a shi!t fight. We need exports to generate money (basic economics) so exports need to stay but greed got the better of most exporters and they were crying poor when the pandemic hit and had to sell on the domestic market at reduced rates. Coral Trout are around in good numbers and those that want to and can catch a feed will get them, good luck to them but try buying one at a seafood market or restaurant, very scarce and very expensive, no doubt there are a few people on here who can tell stories of how that industry works. Once a market for live coral trout was identified as being viable, it took off and the domestic market suffered. Same as crays/lobster, used to be able to buy them cheap until it was found live exports were so profitable the domestic market once again suffered (not to mention gas - approvals for drilling were based on domestic market first and price not tied to export market but every one of them threw that agreement out with the bathwater once they started).

Bans - will never really work as rec fishers are their own worst enemy, ban the pros but let rec fishers take what they want. Never a good thing, I have already recounted here previously how one presenter at a fishing show 30 years ago bragged how he could find a school of squire (smaller snapper) and take up to 300 in a night, he was a so called rec fisher. Is there merit in closing certain species, probably is but until rec fishers are required to document their catches it may come sooner rather than later. There are smart people out there who can develop a system, after all there is an app for nearly everything you can think of and it wouldn't be hard to complete one for each trip and it would need to include C&R as that would have an impact an also tells how healthy the fishery is. I know on some of my trips not a single pearlie or snapper released made it to the bottom, often it is a dolphin that hangs around and zooms straight in as soon as the fish is released ( we used throw it a pillie on one side of the boat while releasing the fish on the other but they aren't stupid and would have both, other times it is sharks that hang around. Once again not a simple statistic to capture as by catch for both pros and rec fishers are not taken into account.

Pro's certainly do have an impact but closing them all down doesn't solve any of the issues, I agree that sometimes the logic (if it even exists) isn't clear, yes it is a case of buy out most of them and leave a few behind but that is just crap decision making as in the past the govt sold the bought back licenses to the remaining pros, probably changed now, I haven't kept pace with it so correct me please. I've been in other parts of the world where the fisheries collapsed due to overfishing and never made a comeback, otherwise pristine areas devoid of fish life so we need to do something or else there will be very little for everyone to share. I know I can catch a reasonable feed locally but have to often work hard for it or move further afield for an easier catch but even in the last 20 years here on the sunshine coast the catch rate has diminished considerably. Catching bait to turn into farm fish fodder doesn't help but came about because of bio security issues from previously importing bait to feed the tuna industry, introduction of a virus that nearly wiped out the humble WA Pillie industry.

The answer is 42 because I don't have any other answer to give as no matter what is proposed I as well as every other angler whether rec or pro will see a problem with the proposed solution and until we own the problem which is what rec fishers in the main don't do then we will suffer the consequences. Sorry about the ramble, must be the after effects of yesterday's Christmas party.

Merry Christmas to you all and please be safe both on the water as well as on the land.

[Volvo]

Welcome to the world of global economy, it was always going to end up in a shi!t fight. We need exports to generate money (basic economics) so exports need to stay but greed got the better of most exporters and they were crying poor when the pandemic hit and had to sell on the domestic market at reduced rates. Coral Trout are around in good numbers and those that want to and can catch a feed will get them, good luck to them but try buying one at a seafood market or restaurant, very scarce and very expensive, no doubt there are a few people on here who can tell stories of how that industry works. Once a market for live coral trout was identified as being viable, it took off and the domestic market suffered. Same as crays/lobster, used to be able to buy them cheap until it was found live exports were so profitable the domestic market once again suffered (not to mention gas - approvals for drilling were based on domestic market first and price not tied to export market but every one of them threw that agreement out with the bathwater once they started).

Bans - will never really work as rec fishers are their own worst enemy, ban the pros but let rec fishers take what they want. Never a good thing, I have already recounted here previously how one presenter at a fishing show 30 years ago bragged how he could find a school of squire (smaller snapper) and take up to 300 in a night, he was a so called rec fisher. Is there merit in closing certain species, probably is but until rec fishers are required to document their catches it may come sooner rather than later. There are smart people out there who can develop a system, after all there is an app for nearly everything you can think of and it wouldn't be hard to complete one for each trip and it would need to include C&R as that would have an impact an also tells how healthy the fishery is. I know on some of my trips not a single pearlie or snapper released made it to the bottom, often it is a dolphin that hangs around and zooms straight in as soon as the fish is released ( we used throw it a pillie on one side of the boat while releasing the fish on the other but they aren't stupid and would have both, other times it is sharks that hang around. Once again not a simple statistic to capture as by catch for both pros and rec fishers are not taken into account.

Pro's certainly do have an impact but closing them all down doesn't solve any of the issues, I agree that sometimes the logic (if it even exists) isn't clear, yes it is a case of buy out most of them and leave a few behind but that is just crap decision making as in the past the govt sold the bought back licenses to the remaining pros, probably changed now, I haven't kept pace with it so correct me please. I've been in other parts of the world where the fisheries collapsed due to overfishing and never made a comeback, otherwise pristine areas devoid of fish life so we need to do something or else there will be very little for everyone to share. I know I can catch a reasonable feed locally but have to often work hard for it or move further afield for an easier catch but even in the last 20 years here on the sunshine coast the catch rate has diminished considerably. Catching bait to turn into farm fish fodder doesn't help but came about because of bio security issues from previously importing bait to feed the tuna industry, introduction of a virus that nearly wiped out the humble WA Pillie industry.

The answer is 42 because I don't have any other answer to give as no matter what is proposed I as well as every other angler whether rec or pro will see a problem with the proposed solution and until we own the problem which is what rec fishers in the main don't do then we will suffer the consequences. Sorry about the ramble, must be the after effects of yesterday's Christmas party.

Merry Christmas to you all and please be safe both on the water as well as on the land.

Merry Christmas to you and Yours also mate ..

[billfisher]

"If we are dealling with a finite resource thats shown not to be recovering then without a doubt the first to go is export (the whole industry is only worth a bit north of a Billion dollars a year anyway so why are we smashing our Prawn, Ab, Lobster and fish stocks for peanuts ..then commercial guys should be paid out and the industry wound down for any fish species that are being depleted ..fish and chip shops can use imported, farmed or local fish species that are in no trouble stockwise..i wonder how many people can really tell the difference between imported/exported or even between species.."

Most of we consume already is imported (about 80%), Also very little finfish (by volume) is exported.

[Noelm]

So the suggestion to buy out the pros and feed the non fishing public rubbish imported shit.....which is putting it mildly, it's already been mentioned not eating Vanemi Prawns, Basa and other rubbish is worse, or at least, just as bad.

[Volvo]

Getting a bit that way now. Forgive me O Lord for i have sinned !!..
At days end it will be the Rec Fisher to get the shyte stuffed out of him as the mighty $$ has much bigger n better a hearing Aid!!..

[Noelm]

Getting a bit that way now. Forgive me O Lord for i have sinned !!..
At days end it will be the Rec Fisher to get the shyte stuffed out of him as the mighty $$ has much bigger n better a hearing Aid!!..

we are doing it to ourselves, we are a selfish bunch, always were and always will be, ban everything, but leave me alone!

[Volvo]

No Disrespect Mate but dont quite agree with you wholy there.
Yes there may be the few who try push the limits on both sides of the fence but o erall i DO BELIEVE most Rec Fishos sre doing the right thing.
Ferget about what happened in yesteryear but for auite some time people have been abiding by their bag limits etc.
Shyte happens with everything n we cant take it out on everyone because because of the few.
At my age i can also remember when Water , Gas Electricity etc was Very Much affordale but nowdays everything is a Big $$$ Industry including your recreation n what you use ,catch etc to appease your interest ad it will get worse without my beckoning some sort of Comunistic state where i have to record everytime i go for a crap or how many pieces of shytepaper i use in the Process.
Next thing one knows we will be pushing each other to install Cameras in our house so everyone can see where we are , what we are upta etc etc.
Thank Feck im at the age i am n near over all the crap being suggested.
Anyway better get off my Banana Box before i fall off lol.
Havent the interest to reread n edit either lol.

[chris69]

Buying out the pros is like getting rid of the mining companies , who wants to remove all the topsoil to get to the coal not me just like my seafood if I want to buy some I want to got to a seafood seller not deal with a pretend shamster semi pro with someone’s bad seafood handling practices and dodge filleting skills and my prawns cooked buy from someone that knows how to cook a prawn in sea water keep it in nice salt brine for a good tasting prawn, I like my wild caught prawns not these pond scum prawns that there trying to pass off as Australian tiger prawns.

[Lovey80]

Welcome to the world of global economy, it was always going to end up in a shi!t fight. We need exports to generate money (basic economics) so exports need to stay but greed got the better of most exporters and they were crying poor when the pandemic hit and had to sell on the domestic market at reduced rates. Coral Trout are around in good numbers and those that want to and can catch a feed will get them, good luck to them but try buying one at a seafood market or restaurant, very scarce and very expensive, no doubt there are a few people on here who can tell stories of how that industry works. Once a market for live coral trout was identified as being viable, it took off and the domestic market suffered. Same as crays/lobster, used to be able to buy them cheap until it was found live exports were so profitable the domestic market once again suffered (not to mention gas - approvals for drilling were based on domestic market first and price not tied to export market but every one of them threw that agreement out with the bathwater once they started).

Bans - will never really work as rec fishers are their own worst enemy, ban the pros but let rec fishers take what they want. Never a good thing, I have already recounted here previously how one presenter at a fishing show 30 years ago bragged how he could find a school of squire (smaller snapper) and take up to 300 in a night, he was a so called rec fisher. Is there merit in closing certain species, probably is but until rec fishers are required to document their catches it may come sooner rather than later. There are smart people out there who can develop a system, after all there is an app for nearly everything you can think of and it wouldn't be hard to complete one for each trip and it would need to include C&R as that would have an impact an also tells how healthy the fishery is. I know on some of my trips not a single pearlie or snapper released made it to the bottom, often it is a dolphin that hangs around and zooms straight in as soon as the fish is released ( we used throw it a pillie on one side of the boat while releasing the fish on the other but they aren't stupid and would have both, other times it is sharks that hang around. Once again not a simple statistic to capture as by catch for both pros and rec fishers are not taken into account.

Pro's certainly do have an impact but closing them all down doesn't solve any of the issues, I agree that sometimes the logic (if it even exists) isn't clear, yes it is a case of buy out most of them and leave a few behind but that is just crap decision making as in the past the govt sold the bought back licenses to the remaining pros, probably changed now, I haven't kept pace with it so correct me please. I've been in other parts of the world where the fisheries collapsed due to overfishing and never made a comeback, otherwise pristine areas devoid of fish life so we need to do something or else there will be very little for everyone to share. I know I can catch a reasonable feed locally but have to often work hard for it or move further afield for an easier catch but even in the last 20 years here on the sunshine coast the catch rate has diminished considerably. Catching bait to turn into farm fish fodder doesn't help but came about because of bio security issues from previously importing bait to feed the tuna industry, introduction of a virus that nearly wiped out the humble WA Pillie industry.

The answer is 42 because I don't have any other answer to give as no matter what is proposed I as well as every other angler whether rec or pro will see a problem with the proposed solution and until we own the problem which is what rec fishers in the main don't do then we will suffer the consequences. Sorry about the ramble, must be the after effects of yesterday's Christmas party.

Merry Christmas to you all and please be safe both on the water as well as on the land.

I agree with a lot of what you said there. I do disagree with you on the Sunny Coast decline. Apart from bait schools, I think the overall snapper/Pearlie fishing has improved. In line with each of the management changes, there was a lag where things were tough but a few years later you saw the benefits. Sure with a massive population growth in that time the close in reefs get hammered. But overall, from Caloundra to the hards, the fishing I think has improved with a lot more fish in those lower 35-55cm size ranges than 20 years ago.

[NAGG]

We certainly need regulating ........ It was said earlier - we are greedy & that goes for the commercial guys as well . Heck even today on my facebook feed a 200m net was pulled up by Fisheries on the Clyde River & in the habitat protection zone. ...... just another example of greed .

The other disturbing thing is that anecdotally more rec fishoes are selling fish/crab illegally ...... Quite a few have been caught & the amount of nets seized / pulled is continuous.

I dont know how many times I've told people on my boat to put fish back because we have exceeded limits - bag / slot or even undersized ....... some even getting shitty -
"not a problem , go do it in your own boat "

For any one to say that rec fishoes generally do the right thing is pretty naive ...... I certainly know of a few who have been pinged .

Chris

[Noelm]

I guess to be fair, most do the right thing, but, the problem here, is sometimes the right thing is still way above what we should be taking. I have nothing against anyone getting their bag limit, it's legal, that's just how it is. Black marketeers, illegal netters and stuff like that will go on forever, unless someone knows someone and actually dobs them in, the chances of being caught is slim at best. Rec fishing licenses have gone a long way towards better facilities, how about license fees be introduced nationwide and the revenue be used to employ a lot more fisheries patrol officers? How some kind of catch rate data can be collected by rec fishers is complicated, but for the long game, it's going to be necessary, introduction will be faced with paranoia and gross mistrust, but without that documented data, we will always be at the mercy of guesses and complete shutdowns.

[Qlder1]

My thoughts (and sadly experience) is that a fair chunk of people are selfish, greedy pricks who don't give a shit. Pros as well as recs. They spoil it for the rest. They need to be forced to follow the rules, because if they can get away with it they will. The only way to maybe slow that down is to catch them and stop them, either by losing pro licence, or rec. licences.

Rules are mostly there already, just need to be enforced. If that means by paying a licence to rec. fish so be it. As long as the money was used to police the pros and boat ramps etc much more than they are currently doing.

I am not sure how the research is done into fish stocks, but if its from pro fishing catch records, or boat ramp survey data it's pretty inaccurate.

Someone mentioned the Fitzroy net ban further up the thread. I would guess there are still nets being snuck in at nights, mostly cause the pros that used to net now have crab licences. So many that its almost not worth recs chucking a pot in.

I don't know how it works in more populated areas, maybe its better and more policing, but in regional and remote areas its spread pretty thin.

[Noelm]

Policing fisheries laws is pretty thin everywhere, patrol officer numbers have just slowly dwindled down, while people fishing have increased. The pro catch data is pretty accurate, because its their living and (legally sold) catch is well documented. There is always cash sales (both rec and pro) that will never be counted, but, as it stands, the rec catch is just a scientific stab in the dark, and by the sheer number of recs, the catch rate would be staggering.

[Berger4]

S*&T just spent 5 mins typing a post and managed to delete it somehow. Here we go again.

I was talking to a bloke at the boat ramp the other day(Yep still in Perth until end of Jan) and he mention how they where removing the size limit for Dhufish, I didn't think much about it at the time just thought he was wrong or bullshitting me. Anyway it got the better of me and I looked it up and low and behold he was right see below.

Surely there has to be a better way as I can only imagine the number of small fish that will be kept now? I do know they all suffer from Barotrauma having seen it myself. I just can't think of a better way especially Dhufish probably one of the most prized fish over here yet the most vulnerable. Anyway you thoughts???

• Removal of size limits for WA Dhufish, Baldchin Groper and Breaksea Cod to limit barotrauma.

[Dignity]

I keep seeing an auto save come up when I'm typing a longish post but have never figured out how to retrieve it once accidentally hitting the wrong button.