Fisheries’ officers are set for a busy summer, with a new boat and two new quad bikes to boost compliance resources in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds and along the south metropolitan coast.

Regional Manager Tony Cappelluti said the new patrol boat was now based at Rockingham and, for the first time, Fisheries and Marine Officers would have quad bikes to access popular beach fishing areas.

“The $270,000 patrol boat is already providing the Fisheries Officers with a fast, stable platform to carry out a range of patrol duties between Fremantle and Mandurah and up to 30 nautical miles offshore,” Mr Cappelluti said. “It has an operating range of more than 200 nautical miles.”

The 8.5 metre, Naiad-design, Rigid Inflatable Boat replaces a seven metre aluminium plate design patrol vessel and provides officers with a much safer platform, for seaworthiness and for boarding other vessels, making it easier to pull alongside for compliance checks. It can carry up to four personnel and has a top speed above 40 knots.

Mr Cappelluti said demersal fishing for recreational fishers reopens in the West Coast Bioregion from tomorrow (16 December) and the new patrol boat would help officers ensure the rules were being observed. It would be useful in a range of other compliance duties too.

“Education of fishers is an important role for the officers who also oversee crab fishing, which has opened in Cockburn Sound today and runs until 30 April,” he said. “They will continue monitoring the annual pink snapper closure that is in place to the end of January in both Sounds.

“The officers work to get the ‘fish for the future’ message across to both recreational and commercial fishers. They also monitor the local aquaculture industries and perform duties in the new Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds are part of a fast-growing region and we must have the appropriate equipment to manage the fisheries.”

Mr Cappelluti said Fisheries and Marine Officers would deliver a more effective land based compliance and education service, by having better coastal access with its two quad bikes.

“The two quad bikes will enable officers to carry operational equipment and access much larger areas than previously possible during patrols,” he said. “The quad bikes will also provide officers with fast coverage of the coastal strip for fisheries work and for emergency management situations, when working jointly with Police and local authorities.”

Details on the fishing rules that apply in the Rockingham region (which is part of the West Coast Bioregion) are available online at www.fish.wa.gov.au.