Fisheries.
Not real pleased with them at the moment...maybe one of them will read this and have some sort of response.
Have not seen any increase in patrols/checks etc since the FBL came in. That's out of about 20 launches from four different and popular ramps. Wouldn't mind seeing where some of that $30 has gone, actually. I know they can't be everywhere at once but that was a healthy kick to the coffers when they brought that thing in two months ago, wasn't it?
I am one of those who fill out voluntary logbooks. Doing them a favour. The research division has expressed their gratitude. But with the new fees and extra licencing, I pointed out that it was now harder/more expensive to keep going fishing as much and maybe I and others of my ilk (logbook filler-outers) should perhaps qualify for some sort of discount? The research department thought it was a valid question and forwarded my email to the licencing arm a month ago and no response yet. Somehow I don't think there will ever be a response.
Also heard a rumour about why there is no shore-based fishing licence. Apparently it's too hard to police so they're not going to bother. Great news for the shore-fishos, I guess...or is it? I've crapped on about this before...many species grow up (juveniles) in sheltered waters, like the river/marinas/moles/estuaries, and are vulnerable to shore based fishing activity. People fishing from the rocks/jetties have the potential to do at least as much damage to fish stocks as what boaties can do. Remember, an undersized fish probably hasn't even spawned once yet, and somebody doing the wrong thing can wipe out a lot of unborn fish without even knowing it. But it's too hard to police. Much easier to round up all the boaties at the ramp and focus on them.
Release weights...spoke to a fisheries officer last week at their brand new you beaut facility in Mandurah about it (THAT's where my $30 went!)...the weight must be on board any time you are fishing in a manner that might catch a demersal scalefish. Including whiting fishing on an inshore sandpatch. Most of us are/were aware of that. I then asked if it is compulsory to actually USE one properly and she only said "That's the idea of having it on board in the first place". Would not or could not say if a person could actually be prosecuted for not using a release weight. I don't like giving money to government departments (licences) and then going into their multi-million dollar office and being met with the inability to answer my questions. Makes me think they're just taking my money for the hell of it. Surely that couldn't be true, could it?
I really don't think they did all the proper homework when they came up with all this stuff, do you?
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
I kinda understand the
I kinda understand the difficulty in defining exactly when a release weight must be used by law, but at the same time there are some cases where it is a clear necessity. From what I have heard/read there is nothing to say you actually have to use one, so yea I agree as usual it seems like they didn't do their homework.
As for the land based licence, I don't have a boat and do 99% of my fishing land based. I would be so stoked to see a land based licence introduced.
roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Well I can tell
you that in 14yrs of being in the boat with old fart here and in Leeman I've only ever seen a Fisheries officer, once. Where or who do they target, where do they go, what do they do. I know they are very sparse, spread out of 12,500 miles of coast line.
We have the release weight in the boat and home made one, as we felt the $2,000 fine was not looking healthy for our bank balance. Its there for Fisheries to see.
We've given more info to the voluntary fisheries officers than Fisheries Officers. Everytime we have to call into Fisheries (Freo) there seems to be heaps of green shirts everywhere, why?
Ginger Tablets Rock
Bill
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 24/03/07
I have seen an increase in
I have seen an increase in fisheries checks since the fee came in they are there and doing there jobs best they can
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15645
Date Joined: 29/11/05
13
There are 13 new fisheries officers just finished training increasing the state number by about 15%.
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DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
very sad indeed!
very sad indeed!
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
Billcollector
Posts: 2080
Date Joined: 16/05/09
How many have left since the
How many have left since the last recruitment a couple of yers ago Adam Iknow of at least 3 that were in Broome that are no longer with them
carnarvonite
Posts: 8671
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Patrol boats
We had two fisheries boats in yesterday, one of the bigger ones and Shark bays 45 footer, only the big one here today.
From what I could gather they had been out checking gear and catch records on all 19 prawn trawlers working in the bay.
Have been checked on the beach when I've had the net out on the last three occasions, same blokes , same questions, and always count the number of meshes depth of the net even though I have met them off duty a more than 3-4 BBQ occasions.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Thats certainly a lot more
Thats certainly a lot more bodies on the ground, although you can't help but thing those numbers may be improved with a general fishing licnese.
PJAY
Posts: 1005
Date Joined: 12/05/09
since the intro of the new
since the intro of the new licences i have been checked by fisheries 4 times out the back of garden island and at the point peron ramp......we can't expect to see them on every street corner so to speak?
like most govt dept's they are doing the best with what they have got and placing their resources where they are likely to be most effective..
The Kimberley....perfect one day and more perfect the next!!!
wombat78
Posts: 171
Date Joined: 20/04/09
ive been fishing since i was
ive been fishing since i was 6 & still have never seen a fisheries officer what do they look like i recon the $30 is another cash grab wonder how many are getting a pay rise this year the only people that have ever checked my catch were the coppers but they were just down there havin a look oh well just another way for the goverment to make a bit more money i wonder when the breathing tax is coming out theres alot of people that just breathe too much there steeling all the oxygen should be able to tax that somehow surely
Trousersnake
Posts: 172
Date Joined: 20/12/09
Ok Auslobster where do you want me to start.
When it comes to governing bodies (specialy law enforcement) it never seems like they are around when they should be and usualy tha dude who does tha right thing ends up in tha shit for something stupid.
When it comes to those who filled out a volunteer log book. After one year of voluntary submissions it only seems obvious to offer a discount to those who have offered their time to help studies. Do not cross yer fingers or hold yer breath as you could end up physically disabled or dead from doing either for to long!
Being a shore based fisherman(haha it sounds funny calling myself a fisherman considering how amateur and shit I am). A license for us would be almost impossible for them to police. Tha lack of checks that you are unhappy about now would be even worse. I enjoy fishing from land but if I had a boat I would fish more often! Yer comment about land based fisherman wiping out younger fish is SPOT ON! There will always be those who will abuse tha system because they do not understand conservation. However tha poor bastard learning how to fish and taking home his first should not receive a fine because he didnt know. When I started if you tried to tell me there was a big difference between a baby salmon and a herring I don't know if I would believe you. It is easier to stand at boat ramps and hit you as you come in.
From tha recent discussion on FW about release weights. I would say that anyone who respects their environment would be concerned that their release weight not only works, but is used for any effort to release a demersal scalefish or any fish that needs to be released in a similar fashion. This being said if you read another recent thread on FW you will see that their are a lot of simple minds in this state. Not that they have simple minds but homework is not something a government employee does(9-5 operating hours) and their new offices will most definately be tha primary cash injection.
Don't let tha man get ya down!!! He will always enforce tha worse laws and struggle to prosecute tha real offenders. Keep doing tha right thing on tha water and maybe they will be smart enough to start a database of those who do. It would soon become obvious who needs to be checked and who doesnt!!!! I'm sure that tha idea of fisheries is to do tha right thing.
I may not have told you what you want to hear. However I understand your concerns and can only hope that one day BRAINS will prevail!!!!
null
Leemo
Posts: 3712
Date Joined: 22/02/07
fishing landbased at
fishing landbased at hillaries yesterday, on two different occasions fisheries officers came around. once to do a survey on how much i fish, how many rods etc etc. the second lot came round checking buckets and giving out stickers and books. they did confiscate a bucket full of undersized skippy from an asain bloke on the rockwall. good to see them out!
bludgin' since 94'
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
Seems a waste to have two
Seems a waste to have two lots come by, couldnt the guys doin the survey check your catch as well?
Actually it seems a waste to have fisheries inspectors conducting surveys at all, isnt that what students and work experience kids r for lol? save the fisheries time for more important jobs.
I have fished the same land based spot on and off for 13 yers now and never seen them there, and its a popular spot. kinda dissapointing. seen them at hillareys and stuff though
fishintruckie
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 22/07/08
Did they prosecute the asian
Did they prosecute the asian bloke on the rock wall?? or did he go the "no speaka da englas" thing and get off? I am sorry but undersize is undersize and like breaking the speed limit or drink driving he should be prosecuted not just have his bucket confiscated. JMO.
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
i hear you about the relase
i hear you about the relase weight thing
Was just up in exmouth, and letsa just say its disgusting that you still find small coral trout and small coronation trout floundering on the top of the water.........
chesky
Posts: 45
Date Joined: 21/08/08
the money the government is
the money the government is taking for the fishing liscense will be filtered down into more officers,after the inferstucture is set up.
people think that they're more officers employed strait away, doh,,
Rod P
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 20/05/08
I got stopped and asked for
I got stopped and asked for my license, but they wern't interested in catch?? just checking to see if i had contributed to there end of year or slush fund, or were ever the money goes.
Whats the point IMHO
Billcollector
Posts: 2080
Date Joined: 16/05/09
Pretty pathetic to see them
Pretty pathetic to see them checking just the rbfl and nothing else considering the extra time it takes,But that will be their way of justifying the funds going to more officers. Sixteen new officers that are about to start with them is only replacing the ones that have left over the past 2 years so there will be no improvement in the long run.
Alan James
Posts: 2224
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Apply more KY
Sounds to me like the RFBL tax is being used to fund the Fisheries Dept so that they can do what they should have been doing before (but with other funds).
Iceman
Posts: 747
Date Joined: 17/03/09
Off Two Rock
I was 15nm west of Two Rocks on Saturday and ahd the fisheries vessel from Hillaries come over and check my RST & RBFL. Also checked all my safety gear and catch. They came from over the horizon west of my position, so it seems we are paying for the fuel for them to run all over the ocean. It seems everytime I go out now I am being checked. Have never been checked before I out in the early morning. They could save some fuel by checking vessels before they launch and the catches when they return.
One thing they did not ask to see was my release weight!!!!
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kingsford45
Posts: 6
Date Joined: 23/09/09
RELEASE WEIGHTS AND FISHING RULES
THE MIDWEST RECREATIONAL FISHING ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO I WAS A MEMBER OF, IT IS NOW DEFUNKED DUE TO STATE GOVT. CUTBACKS, WE SUPPLIED $ 15000 DOLLARS WORTH OF WEIGHTS. THEY WERE GIVEN TO ALL FISHERIES DEPTS. IN OUR AREA TO DISTRIBUTE AND WERE VERY HARD TO GET IN JURIEN BAY. NOW WE HAVE TO BUY THEM AS WELL AS HAVE A FBL. THE FBL IS ONLY ANOTHER CASH GRAB BY THE FISHERIES AND THE CURRENT GOVT.
WHY IS SNAPPER BANNED NORTH OF TWO ROCKS ? THERE ARE MILLIONS OF SNAPPER AROUND CERVANTES , JURIEN , LEEMAN. IF THE SCIENTISTS GET THERE WAY THERE WILL BE NO FISHING AT ALL. PERHAPS IT IS TIME FOR A FORMAL PROTEST OUTSIDE PARLIMENT HOUSE TO MAKE THEM SIT UP AND RECOGNISE OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHT AND HERITAGE TO BE ABLE TO TOSS IN A LINE AND EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN LIKE WE WERE
KINGSFORD45
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
god given?
Massive Facepalm:/ At least tell me which god you are referring to?
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
Refering to Icemans post
Can anyone tell me what jurisdiction the fisheries officers actually have?
I asked a ranger if they can check the river for illegal fishing ---No.
Dangourous driving ----No
Driving on the foot path ----No
Parked on the foot path --- Yes.
Police do their bit, Rangers do theirs.
Fisheries Officers checking the catch and fishing licence --- Yes
Fisheries Officers checking Skippers tickets and safety gear, would have thought that was the job of the water police?
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
I think you'll find
I think you'll find Fisheries Officers are cross authorised under a fair few Acts and can police various things like fisheries, marine parks/sanctuaries (State and Commonwealth), safety gear, Nav Act etc.
Instead of having a Fisheries Office, DEC office, Marine Safety Office etc in the same place, why not cross authorise those you do have on the ground so 2 people can look into a range of things. You'll also find Cops are authorised under just about every Act under the sun so they are as entitled to check your catch as a Fisheries officer.
I use to work for Fisheries in another State and had about 10 cross authorisations including being a Livestock Inspector!
Billcollector
Posts: 2080
Date Joined: 16/05/09
Fisheries officers have the
Fisheries officers have the power to enter your premises and check the contents of your freezer if they wish without having to get a search warrant. About the only thing they don't do is check roadworthiness of your boat trailer , thats the police's problem.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8671
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Friends
The fisheries officers have phones and friends in the police force.
Saw a pro fisherman giving a fisheries officer heaps and heaps at Smith's beach and on driving back to Dunsborough there was the pro's 2 utes and boats and trailer parked up with red stickers on each one with him and his son thumbing a lift home.
bloodydex
Posts: 25
Date Joined: 28/04/10
How much money do Fisheries
How much money do Fisheries officers earn?
I might be interested
I would be a great orificer - if I found someone doing something wrong a quick $50 would sort the issue out right there an then
Iceman
Posts: 747
Date Joined: 17/03/09
Fisheries V Water Police
Fisheries officers have 2 jobs. Fisheries inspectors and Department of transport marine officers. So they check safety gear, catches and enforce licence rules. The Water police are mainly involved in search and rescue co-ordination, and crime relating to boating. They rarely check licences unless the vessel is doing the wrong thing like speeding etc.
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Dunny
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 27/10/09
Auslobster
New licences have just come in, hence $$ being put towards new staff takes time eg recruiting, training etc. 13 new officers soon to be starting up is certainly good news.
The new "you beaut" office to which you refer is home to 4 different State Goverment Departments inclusive of the Water Police....not just Fisheries. And how would you effectively police the effective use of a release weight? Sneak up behind them without the offender noticing? Some onus needs to be put on the fisherman not to be a twit.
If you want to know where the money is going use the Freedom of Information Act to have a look. Goverment departments have to be transparent in their expenditure and record keeping. There are no "slush funds", "bonuses" or the like as it is public money.
As for shore based fishing being "too hard to police", I see them around a few key area pretty regularly. If you think the issue of licensing land based fisho's has been put in the "too hard basket", write to the Minister requesting a response regard their rationale to this decision. With the largest stretch of coastline in Australia it may well be that even a hefty licence fee would not cover the extra costs to intensively and effectively patrol so many km's of beach, jetties and breakwalls.
roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Saw two
new Fisheries boats one larger than the other (those rubber duckie type boats, don't know the make of the boats) at the Woodie Public Boat Ramps yesterday (11.5.10), the trailers where brand new, sparkling in the sunshine, so it looks like they may have been doing trials with the new boats, maybe thats were some of the money has gone?
Anybody got info on this. They weren't checking boats. Looked like private 4x4's towing the fisheries boats.
Ginger Tablets Rock
Rod P
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 20/05/08
Those boat that you speek of
Those boat that you speek of have everything on board you could ever want and them some. They had a winge when the boat only came with a CD player. They had to then install CD player that was I Pod compatable and with extra speakers and a huge amplifier??????
Dunny
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 27/10/09
Yep most likely trials, or a
Yep most likely trials, or a training exercise for new recruits. Wouldn't be a new boat from the license $$ yet, the money doesn't move that quick...they do take care of their boats though. And I'd want a half decent cd player too if i had to be out at sea all day!
4 x 4's sometimes don't have the govvy plates, so they don't get vandalised while parked at the marina.
wacraig
Posts: 46
Date Joined: 29/03/10
4 x 4's with out govvy plates
are used a lot by the fisheries boys (and girls). If you look carefully you can sometimes see them sitting up the road from the ramps, in their 4x 4's, just watching.... only thing giving them away is the window down with arm and fisho's badge on the sleeve. Makes them less conspicuous.
Much like their all black yak's they have
Shorty
Posts: 1549
Date Joined: 10/05/08
Its great that we have more
Its great that we have more fisheries officers,,,,but is it just the normal number of extra recruits they process year in year out ?
Maybe we have no increase on any other year ?
I see they have a spiffy new 3.6 millon dollar boat just unveiled,thats good news,,,
WACRAIG, i don't think the fisheries have black yaks,i think thats the kayak boys and girls after the Calamari Classic
DhuBoi
Posts: 896
Date Joined: 25/05/09
the fisheries department
the fisheries department dont get a enough funding from governments its simple
living is fishing
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
Was down at Trigg last night
Was down at Trigg last night and had the survey guys come past. Good to see them out, first time ive seem fisheries in ages. But how come they need seperate people for enforcement and surveys? Seems a waste of manpower. could they not combine both jobs? Is it because of training or do they have diferent qualifications or something?