Just came across this on the Fisheries site, thought it might be worth putting up.

VESSEL MASTERS MUST NOTIFY FISHERIES OF ABROLHOS ISLANDS VISITS

​Commercial and recreational fishers can now fish at the Abrolhos Islands any time of the year, provided they advise the Department of Fisheries via a simple notification process.

The department has developed the new arrangements in consultation with Recfishwest and the commercial fishing sector.

Midwest Regional Manager Ron Shepherd said the old off-season notification requirement had become outdated, with the significant changes to the patterns and the times of year that both commercial fishers and recreational boaters visit and fish at the Abrolhos.

“The Houtman Abrolhos has been the domain of the commercial rock lobster industry for over 40 years and, with the move to a quota management system, has seen big changes to when operators fish and the times they stay in their camps,” Mr Shepherd said.

“It will be the responsibility of the Master of commercial and recreational vessels entering the Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area, at any time, to submit a notification.”

Mr Shepherd said notification of a visit had become vitally important in managing public access to the remote Abrolhos Islands reserve and in protecting public and private infrastructure and environmental values of the island group.

“The Houtman Abrolhos is a remote area and public safety is a key concern. In the event of an emergency situation, the notification will provide critical information on who is at the islands, where they are and how to contact them," he said.

“Fish stocks at the Houtman Abrolhos are highly valued, but they are experiencing growing fishing pressure. The notification will assist in monitoring activity and fishing effort and will help us point visitors to important information about fishing rules and protected areas.”

For the recreational sector, a simple notification form is available on the department’s website. Alternatively, a form can be obtained at the Geraldton office and notification can be submitted in person, or via email to . Work is underway to streamline the notification process even further, and a new online system will be in place very soon.

For commercial operators, nominations made in accordance with their fishery management plans will generally be sufficient. For camp owners, the Bodies Corporate are developing an online nomination system with the support of the Department of Fisheries.

For more information on the Abrolhos Islands go to www.fish.wa.gov.au, or contact the Geraldton office on 9920 8400.

Department of Fisheries 4/07/2014 11:45 AM