Outcomes of Commercial Wetline Fishing Review
Outcomes of the Commercial Wetline Fishing Review - Hon Jon Ford JP MLC, Minister for Fisheries' has today released his proposed decisions for the future management of the West Coast and Gascoyne commercial 'wetline' fisheries at http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/mp/mp221/index.php?0206
The foreword says:- "This document details my proposed decisions regarding the new management arrangements for the West Coast and Gascoyne commercial "wetline" fisheries.
Before finalising my position on the new management arrangements for these fisheries I invite any final comments on the proposed arrangements set out in this document. Although specific issues have been identified, your views are sought on any or all of the matters in the document of significance to you and/or your group.
Your written comments would be appreciated by 5pm, Wednesday, 28 February 2007, and should be addressed to Ref: Wetline Review Comment, Department of Fisheries, 3rd Floor, The Atrium, 168 St George’s Terrace, PERTH WA 6000"
One hot topic in earlier posts was the "receational" take of finfish by commercial fishers who do not get a licence to wetline fish, eg people who have Western Rock Lobster licences or other commercial fishing licences.
Page 7, Section 2.5 Personal Consumption Limits
Commercial fishers operating in other commercial fisheries, but without any access to the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery, West Coast Inshore Beach Net Fishery, Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Fishery, or Gascoyne Inshore Net Fishery will be entitled to take a limited amount of scalefish for personal consumption (i.e. they will not be permitted to sell their personal consumption catch of scalefish).
The personal consumption limit will initially be set to allow each person fishing in accordance with this arrangement to take fish for personal consumption up to the following limits and subject to the following requirements (including the boat limits noted below):
• one fish of any species of category 1 fish relevant to that bioregion;
• the equivalent of the existing bag limit for category 2 or 3 fish relevant to that bioregion; and
• a boat limit of two category 1 fish (when the boat is being used for fishing by more than two persons).
Commercial fishers taking fish for personal consumption will be required to record all "personal consumption" scalefish catch taken during commercial fishing operations (utilising a specifically-designed catch logbook and process, similar to that currently employed for commercial fisheries,but to be developed following further advice in the coming months). They will be required to comply with any specific requirements relating to fish taken for "personal consumption" (to be developed further in coming months), but most probably including that those fish are:
• marked in some way (e.g. pectoral fins removed [or similar]) so that they can be recognised as being taken for this purpose; and
• landed whole (but can be gutted and/or gilled).
2.6 Recreational Fishing from a Licensed Fishing Boat
A person will be permitted to use a licensed fishing boat to fish solely for recreational purposes (except for any recreational fisheries which require a person to hold a Recreational Fishing Licence [RFL]) to take fish up to the existing recreational bag limit for that species, or category of fish relevant to the bioregion, and subject to the following:
• operators undertaking this activity will be required to nominate (with details of the nomination process to be provided during 2007) prior to commencing the trip and giving details of the period over which they will be conducting a recreational fishing trip; and
• commercial operators who have nominated to utilise their licensed fishing boat to recreationally fish will not be permitted to have (or transport) rock lobster pots or other specified commercial fishing gear on board the boat.
Note: I will review the arrangements described above regarding personal consumption limits and recreational fishing from a licensed fishing boat, after the first 24 months of operation, with a view to reducing permitted levels of take, if sustainability of the demersal scalefish resource is compromised.
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Lots more to consider in this 30 odd page document.
TerryF
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Beavering away in the background......
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Recfishwest Draft submission on Wetline Review.
Recfishwest's DRAFT Submission on the Outcomes Of The Wetline Review http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/mp/mp221/index.php?0206 is on the RFW website at http://www.recfishwest.org.au/SubWetlineFMP221.htm
An extract:- "Recfishwest welcomes the final consultation phase in the development of formal commercial management for the 'wetline' fishery. The recreational fishing sector has waited with anticipation for the implementation of commercial 'wetline' management arrangements. Although the development of management arrangements has been lengthy, the final outcomes of the 'wetline' review will provide certainty to successful entrants and be of substantial benefit to the recreational sector's future management of the resource.
Recfishwest's foremost issue with the implementation of formal management for the 'wetline' fishing is the capacity of those who do not obtain a managed fishery entitlement to take or retain 'wetfish', and the legislative capacity under which this might occur.
During the formal consultation of the 'Wetline' Review, Recfishwest was consistent in its view that, unless endorsed under the 'wetfish' management plan, no commercial fishing boat or fisherman should be allowed to have in their possession fish, or the implements for the taking of fish (i.e. fishing gear).
Allowances for the take of 'wetfish' outside entitlements of the 'wetline' managed fishery would go against the precedence of regulations for all other managed fisheries. For example, no commercial fisher unless fishing under a western rock lobster managed fishery entitlement may retain a western rock lobster or use the gear specified in the management plan. A similar position was adopted with the Spanish mackerel management arrangements, where only those persons with an entitlement to take Spanish (and other similar) mackerel may be in possession of these fish while on a licensed commercial fishing boat. Recfishwest strongly supports a consistent principle applying with respect to 'wetfish' as a managed fishery.
Recfishwest would like to acknowledge the importance of spatial management for the 'wetline' fishery. Although this is not a formal consideration of the Management Planning Panel, we believe that its value to the future management of the resource should be investigated.
"Hot spots" for both commercial and recreational effort such as the metropolitan region, Geographe Bay, Kalbarri and Jurien Bay would benefit from explicit recognition of spatial priority access. This will ensure that the commercial adjustment (potentially including compensation) will result in a tangible benefit to the recreational sector. Spatial management will place a greater responsibility on the recreational sector to manage the catch sustainably and for a quality experience......"
You can read the rest from the RFW website http://www.recfishwest.org.au/SubWetlineFMP221.htm
This draft will be finalised and sent next week. Closing date for submissions to the Department of Fisheries is Wednesday 28 February 2007.
TerryF
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Beavering away in the background......
tangles
Posts: 1367
Date Joined: 17/12/06
thats cool but
thats cool but what about the wetliners that target fish in around the waters close to home and im talking a 20-30mile radius from town? they go and clean up all the dhuis from the lumps and hoover the pinkies from the hotspots and leave nothing! and there are at least 2 that do that here during the year cos they know they dont have to go 60 mile plus to get their 800kg of fish! I used to work wetlining and they do more damage than the cray boys do up ere. At least the cray boys just go and get a feed and leave fish there!
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Recfishwest's DRAFT Submission on the Wetline Re
tangles
Your comment about targetting fish in the waters close to home a 20-30mile radius from town ... seems to be covered by the Recfishwest comment on the need for spatial management - which means areas such as those listed being closed to commercial wetline fishing.
TerryF
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Beavering away in the background......
SPESS
Posts: 3356
Date Joined: 29/12/06
As you have said there Terry
As you have said there Terry id hate to see the commercial fisherman raping grounds that are only accessable to the average angler! eg within the 30mile mark of shore etc, When a sustained catch can be made further out and out of reach to "US" average guys and girls just chasing a feed and no more. Even those of us who plurley got out to catch and release. This does become un-achieveable to many fisherman who already are wondering out further to get there one or two fish, this starts to become expensive with fuel costs etc and will eventually restrict people heading out as they cant afford to, or they'll take extra to make it worth while which is clearly a no no, but what can you say to it s its proberly far! I do suppose that the fish further out do adventure in close when the needs arize and if they find a new home that posssilbly used to hold fish but was raped by the commercial guys. As long as it all fare to all of us surley we can work together to achieve this. Simple answer is how much are they taking and what affect is it actually doing to the environment. Shit id like my kids to get a dhue or two when where my age, not just look and ponder at my pictures. Keep it real and realistic!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!
tangles
Posts: 1367
Date Joined: 17/12/06
thats fine
thats fine for down there but you gota remember up ere we have no fisheries officers and the fisheries boats that patrol up here once in a blue moon are only usually during the cray season and in the 6 years i worked on deck up here i didnt see one boat up here patrolling north of kalbarri! who is going to police these guys? you have to remember some of these guys are rednecks! and do as they please!