Minister imposes new limits on recreational lobster take.
Submitted by TerryF on Thu, 2008-10-30 07:03
Minister imposes new limits on recreational lobster take.
MINISTER FOR FISHERIES MEDIA STATEMENT
Quote:
Fisheries Minister Norman Moore today outlined details of plans to limit the recreational fishing take of western rock lobsters.
Mr Moore's plans for the recreational fishing sector follows his announcement of tough restrictions on commercial fishers for the next two years to address the worrying decline in juvenile lobster stocks.
Mr Moore said that in addition to the 15 per cent reduction in commercial lobster fishing pots for the 2008-2009 season and a further 15 per cent pot reduction in 2009-2010, he would also impose new restrictions on recreational lobster fishing.
“Taking effect from December 1, or as close as administratively possible, the daily bag limit for lobsters taken by each recreational fisher will be reduced from eight to six," he said.
"There will be a similar reduction in the catch limit per boat from 16 lobsters to 12 and we will impose a ban on the use of power winches on recreational boats to prevent the lifting of commercial pots."
Mr Moore said he would also place a personal possession limit of 24 lobsters per licence holder. This will replace the existing "unrestricted" number of lobsters allowed per licence holder - subject to daily bag and boat limits - and will apply state-wide.
"This restriction will target hoarding and profiteering and help protect vulnerable lobster stocks," Mr Moore said.
"Starting next year, we will delay the current November 15 start of the recreational rock lobster season in zone C (which extends from Jurien Bay to Augusta and is where 80 per cent of recreational lobster fishing occurs) to coincide with the November 25 start of the commercial lobster fishing season.
"The commercial sector is experiencing some considerable financial pain in order to protect our valuable rock lobster fishery.
"I believe it entirely appropriate that recreational fishers shoulder their share of the burden to ensure the long-term, sustainable management and protection of this resource."
Mr Moore's plan to better manage the lobster fishery follows the release last week's of monthly puerulus (young lobsters) figures which showed puerulus numbers were virtually nil.
This follows five years of declining puerulus counts and is obviously a matter of serious concern as it means the annual catch of around 11,000 tonnes of western rock lobster is under pressure," he said. (ends)
Media contact: John Duffy wk: 9422 3000 mob: 0417 932 985
See also http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=105247
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EDIT amended to “Taking effect from December 1, or as close as administratively possible, the daily bag limit for lobsters taken by each recreational fisher will be reduced from eight to six," he said.
Was previously "from start of season...."
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TerryF
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feral1975
Posts: 638
Date Joined: 22/02/07
and the good news is ?
and the good news is ?
feral1975
Posts: 638
Date Joined: 22/02/07
why dosen't the government
why dosen't the government use than billion dollar surplus and buy out the pro licenses both cray , crab and wetline this would lift the stocks on the demersal and crustacean fishery stocks by tonnes annually and most people would be happy ?
Shorty
Posts: 1549
Date Joined: 10/05/08
The banning of power winches
The banning of power winches to stop folks pulling Pros pots ?
So thats a problem is it ? It might be a bit harsh on elderly folks that have not got the strenght to pull there own pots,or back or shoulder problems,,i would like to see an exemption for disabled or impaired folks.(produce a medical cetificate)
Colin 3 > long standing and highly respect member of the prestigous Colin's club.
ROCKPOM
Posts: 629
Date Joined: 23/04/07
I agree Shorty you will need
I agree Shorty you will need a medical to winch ya pots!!!
ROCKPOM
Posts: 629
Date Joined: 23/04/07
I would love to give a
I would love to give a speicial THANK YOU to Miss Management and her family in the past Governments for once again letting us down with all the TAX payers money donated to the crayfishing industry over the years!
I reckon we need to look after our own and stop feeding the rich all around the world!!
This export industry of we give you good fish and you give us sh#t fish needs to stop!!!!
dpost80
Posts: 439
Date Joined: 01/08/07
Hear Hear
Well said mate...
Couldn't agree with you more.
diji
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 31/03/07
Ban pot winches
Thats a load of crap show the evidence that its a problem and anybody over the age of 50 or medical problems should be exempt.
Its not worth putting pots out they only get pulled by pro's. diving for them this year.
What if you put a dive flag up in the vicinity of pro's pots while diving is it illegal???? would this stop them entering the area????
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
This is the sort of part
This is the sort of part truth stuff which is getting into the public's mind and giving them a message which is misleading by omission. From a Letter to the Editor in the West 30 October:-
So maybe some recreational lobster fishermen should write in and point out stuff like that more than 95% of the lobsters are caught by the commercial fishermen and less than 5% are caught by recreationals.
So it's VERY obvious where the big cuts MUST to be made for sustainability - to the commercial catch.
Simple maths:- cutting the rec catch even by half wouldn't make much difference to the total catch, but makes a big difference to the enjoyment (amenity) of fishing).
Even the total stopping of the recreational catch completely wouldn't make much difference to the total catch.
Cutting the recreational catch as the Minister has announced sends a message to everyone but will not make a huge difference to the sustainability of the stocks - simple maths.
From West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery Status Report pages 15 onwards in the State of the Fisheries Report http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/sof/index.php Yes these are years out of date but are the latest released to the public.
TerryF
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D_DOUSH
Posts: 497
Date Joined: 23/12/07
Carefull diji
Mate id be looking at your fellow rec crayfisho's on there way out for a bottom bash pulling your pots than the pros, We work inside the 3 mile for about 3 days.
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team
diji
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 31/03/07
D Doush no i wont be carefull seen it myself
I ve also been told by deckies they are told by skippers to pull them they hate rec's and yes some fellow rec's do the same.
And banning winches what is that saying
diji
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 31/03/07
This fishery is heading the same way as the crabs
Flogged for so long an then its everybodys fault make everybody pay.
D_DOUSH
Posts: 497
Date Joined: 23/12/07
Well dont blame the pros,
Well dont blame the pros, blame the government for not implamenting precausionary measures sooner.
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team
D_DOUSH
Posts: 497
Date Joined: 23/12/07
I dont care who my skipper
I dont care who my skipper is but I wont and never have been told to pull some one else's pot, except a fellow pro who we put a few flour bombs on is ropes.
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team
mitch
Posts: 1285
Date Joined: 14/08/05
i have heard for as long as
i have heard for as long as i can remember the W.A cray fisheriy is one of the best managed fisheries on the planet.WHAT AN ABSOLUTE LOAD OF F#$^%CKING WANK .seems to me the managment have been pissing in there own pockets while there wallets get fatter .now the fishery is close to desimation every one of them wants to blame everyone else .meanwhile they will get out unskathed im sure .while the pro fleet they were suppose to manage will be culled with many not being able to stay afloat .they need cutting up and put into bait boxes stuffed into a cray pot an sent to the bottom
i can see the price of rec cray liecence going up in the near future
always in it just the depth that varies
jersey
Posts: 393
Date Joined: 12/06/08
Fisheries Corruption
On the news,882 6pr,they have announced that the Manager Fisheries WA has been removed due to illegal,(he was warning a suspected commercial fisherman ) of being investigated by fisheries also two fisheries (now left) have also been accused of supplying info to commercial interests to beat fisheries investigation? as I have said,the corruption that is rampant in some government organizations is clear to see,by those that look.I personally no longer have any faith in the fisheries department,nor its agents as I believe they are unable to be fair and unbiased,I hope I Am wrong,and if so I will gladly shake the hand of the honest fisheries officers ,but at the moment,I reckon they are all suspect of doing the wrong thing jersey
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Microcosm
The Fisheries Department is just a microcosm of wider society, unfortunately there will be always one or two bad eggs Jersey but I don't they ALL should be tarred with the same brush.
JMO
Regarding the new crayfish regs though, I don't think there is anything to harsh there, apart from the ban on electric winches where there should be exemptions on age and medical grounds.
Unfortunately it looks like the situation has got very dire and we all (rec and pro) have a vested interest in doing our bit to fix it. The blame game is fun but it doesn't get one anywhere.
John
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Hear hear big john
doesn't matter what society you are in always the minority ruin it for the majority of good honest people.
SPEWIE LEWIE
Ginger Tablets Rock
D_DOUSH
Posts: 497
Date Joined: 23/12/07
remeber we arnt
remeber we arnt alowed to fish sundays and 3 day moon closures. I wouldnt be surprised at the end of the season the % reduction for the pros will be more than the recs.
The one good thing that the minister has done is let us keep the bycatch for our own consumption.
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
The Minister's statement
The Minister's statement about commercial reductions:- http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/RecentStatements.aspx?ItemId=130794
TerryF
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wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
No electric winches!
What a load of crap!...so many people have electric winches....not! Ive just finished building my back muscles up in my home gym..how much do the pro pots weigh?
IF YOU EVER NEED A LIMOUSINE...CALL LAKES LIMOUSINES BALLAJURA
MOBILE 0416341256 OR PH 92496113
D_DOUSH
Posts: 497
Date Joined: 23/12/07
60-70kg wet wade. Deckhand
60-70kg wet wade.
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team
DAVO 1
Posts: 111
Date Joined: 02/07/07
winches
Alot of the rec regulars have winches and they wont be happy.I just get my decky to pull them, alot cheaper ha ha.Nice and heavy when there full of weed too
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
Shit!
60-70kg ... shit betta put down my beer and go do a few more reps!
IF YOU EVER NEED A LIMOUSINE...CALL LAKES LIMOUSINES BALLAJURA
MOBILE 0416341256 OR PH 92496113
D_DOUSH
Posts: 497
Date Joined: 23/12/07
good luck pulling them when
good luck pulling them when there in 50 fathoms!!!! ahahah
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team
Willy
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 10/04/08
Crays
Willy is not Happy!
Allegedly, Pros take 95%, but get a 15% reduction. Fair enough, but when then recs get their bag limit reduced by 25%!!!!! Yeah Yeah, I hear the agument regarding going out every day and getting the boat limit, but I can't get out every day.
I reckon, in fairness to all, rec catches are reduced from 8 to 7 (close enought to 15%) and we do our bit for conserving stocks in line with the pros.
Secondly, ban all Pros from the Metro area. This is where the majority of recreational cray catchers are and between the pro and the recs, must be under the most pressure. This keeps the majority of the people happy in my view.
How amny pro are there in the Metro area? Anyone know? Maybe, just maybe, the funds accrued from the newly introduced Skippers tickets could be used to buy out, or relocate the Metro pros (almost sounds like a swear word)
My 2 cents worth, hopping off the soapbox and donning asbestos clothing in preparation of the coming flame war
Regards All
Willy
Willy
Lord of the Squid Rings,
Killer of Cockroaches of the Sea
D_DOUSH
Posts: 497
Date Joined: 23/12/07
Well seeing the main
Well seeing the main breeding grounds are the abrolhols and big bank and then the larvae being brought down with the leewin current, wouldnt it be smarter to reduce the pressure up there than the metro area?
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
i agree with D_D to a
i agree with D_D to a point ... big bank is where the protection needs to be as well as around geraldton .. being a ex cray deckie i can see where he is coming from .. as for the rec. side of things .. with a possetion limit of 24 crays at anygiven time then who cares - whats that in days effort - 3 ?? if i was going to bitch about anything it would be the possession limit ..
Auslobster
Posts: 1901
Date Joined: 03/05/08
Medical Exemption
I know of quite a few elderly amateur crayfishermen in a certain midwest coastal town who use power winches to pull other people's gear besides their own...obviously the majority do the right thing but I think fisheries has to pay attention to other things apart from age/medical condition if they're going to issue exemptions to the power winch ban.
Six crays a day is more than enough for a fisher to feed him/herself and family. I can understand the outcry regarding 25% catch reduction versus the pro's 15%, but I've fished for crays, both professionally and recreationally, on and off for the past 14 years, and it's the first change AT ALL that I've seen regarding the amateur regulations. In that same amount of time the pro's have had three pot reductions totalling around 40%, full moon/Sunday closures, a shortened season, and an overall reduction in fleet size.
Also, don't forget who's been paying the bills all this time...our amateur licence costs what, 35 bucks? A pro crayfisherman, whether he leases or owns his pots, pays around $150 per pot per annum access fee. That's $15k each year for 100 pots. That's ON TOP of a $80 per crew member professional fishing licence and the 2 or 3 grand it costs to licence the boat itself. It should be noted that I'm using figures that are from two years ago and quite likely are higher now.
diji
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 31/03/07
Auslobster
we pay tax on our income we pay tax on our fuel we pay licence fee's we dont sell crayfish for any return, its not about money its about getting shafted and yes 6 crayfish is plenty but as previously stated not eveyone can get out everyday.
And i feel for the professional now a days trying to make a living it would'nt be easy, but have a look back at the old fisherman there hardly doing it tough they have all done extremely well, cant really winge about what it costs.
D doush yes i agree its the fisherie dept who is to blame
just like the crab fisherie handed out licenses did'nt do enough monitoring and let it go to shit and then we all pay
D_DOUSH
Posts: 497
Date Joined: 23/12/07
looks like im fishing 180
looks like im fishing 180 pots till dec 1 then down to the 150 odd, fun fun!!!
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team
jersey
Posts: 393
Date Joined: 12/06/08
License payments
I agree with the number of crays per fisherman, But,I think it should be per license/fisher person,If you have 1 person on the boat 6crays,2 people 12 crays,3 people 18crays,but only those who actually fish and have a license,not sit in the boat,but while on about a license,why not a license on all fishing for the V5 type,of say $25.00 a year,but you must have one to catch the fish,charter fishing passengers included,just a thought,
jersey
diji
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 31/03/07
I agree jersey
When we go diving its no point having anymore than two divers with the boat limit of 12 if there is 4 divers thats 3 crays each
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Changes from 1 Dec gazetted
Changes from 1 Dec gazetted in GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 21 November 2008 Page 4926 http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/gazette/gazette.nsf/gazlist/1C0DE6D57B45D94FC8257507001DD2BC/$file/gg195.pdf
No ban on pot winches.
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Regulation 16E(3a)(c), (3b)(c) and (3c)(c) set the boat limit for 2 or more people as 2 days individual bag limit.
Source:- Fish Resources Management Act Regulations http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_1458_homepage.html hasn't been updated yet (22 November) with the above changes.
TerryF
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