Minister brings back weekend fishing under flexible lobster quota
Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has given the green light for commercial rock lobster operators to fish on weekends during the last two months of the current season.
“At the beginning of the season, I announced during the transition to the quota management system that commercial operators would be able to fish up to the end of August, but weekend fishing would still be prohibited,” Mr Moore said.
“Recent consultation through the WA Fishing Industry Council and the Western Rock Lobster Council showed strong interest from fishers to lift the ban on weekend fishing and increase options as the season drew to a close.
“I am happy to support that choice by fishers. As we progress towards a full quota system, it gives fishers flexibility and choice to work to suit their business plans.
“The decision was made possible due to the greater flexibility that a quota system provides without having negative effects on sustainability.”
The change to allow fishing on any day of the week will require formal gazettal, which the Minister expects to be completed in time for the ban to be lifted for the June 25-26 weekend.
“As we head into the more uncertain weather of winter, the flexibility to choose which days of the week to operate will help commercial fishers when considering the safety aspects and planning required to work in the most favourable conditions,” he said.
The move to a quota system this season was designed to provide more opportunity for the industry to deal with supply and demand issues while maximising economic return.
Mr Moore said the western rock lobster fishery only started weekend closures during the 2008-09 season. These were implemented to support effort restrictions, but were no longer required for that purpose.
Under the new rules, fishers have catch allocations and are able to fish to their own plan on available fishing days during the 2010-11 commercial season, which runs from November 15 until August 31.
The proposed changes to the commercial fishing management plan will not affect recreational rock lobster fishing, for which the season ends as usual on June 30.
Department of Fisheries Media Release 13 June 2011
southcity104
Posts: 1659
Date Joined: 27/01/09
OMG!!
common sense!!
So we are back to the old working arragement. Thats revolutionary!
"Its a life style job"
scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
no change really
most of the pros left there pots in all weekend anyway just wernt allowed to pull them till monday
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
interesting one. anyone know
interesting one.
anyone know what these 'catch allocations' are? in terms of numbers?
BOOMER
Posts: 179
Date Joined: 24/01/11
TAC= total allowable catch=
TAC= total allowable catch= as an industry of 5.5 million kilos (this Year) they have divided that into the amount of units across the fishery.
catch allocation= 70kg total allowable catch per unit.
with a 50% allowable usage of pots.
Basically a boat with 200 units is allowed to have 100 pot`s in the water and has a total allowable catch for the season of 14000kg once this has been reached the pots come out of the water.
But as we have seen in the last 3-4 years old mate Norman can change the rules as he goes along depending on which side of the bed he get`s out of in the morning or who happens to be lining his pockets.
Big hook,
Big bait,
BIG FISH !!!!!