Parties' Recreational Fishing and Boating policies.
Submitted by TerryF on Fri, 2008-08-22 19:41
The Labor Party policies page http://visionwa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=31 does not yet have a Recreational Fishing or Boating policy. (as at 2:15pm Friday 22 August)
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Parties' Recreational Fishing policies for the previous 2005 State Election.
Some background/reference/historical reading for comparison or analysis.
Labor's Plan for Fisheries for the 2005 State Election
Parties' Recreational Fishing and Boating policies.
Liberal Party from http://www.wa.liberal.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=49&Itemid=141
Quote:
RECREATIONAL FISHING AND BOATING
The Liberal Party has long recognised the cultural and economic value of recreational fishing and boating in Western Australia.
Recreational boating and fishing is a way of life in WA. There are over 640 000 recreational fishers in Western Australia, and the recreational boating and fishing industries are estimated to be worth over $1.5 billion annually to the state’s economy. Western Australia now boasts the highest per capita boat ownership of any state in Australia with over 85,000 registered boats.
However, the Labor Government has simply not considered the needs of Western Australia’s recreational boaters, fishers and associated industries. This arrogant and narrow minded approach needs to change.
Recreational Fishing
The seasonal recreational fishing bans introduced by Labor on 24 June 2008 are extremely restrictive. There is no question that it is important for the environment and for the commercial and recreational fishing industries that Western Australia’s fish stocks are well managed into the future. The problem with Labor’s recreational fishing ban, however, is that it was implemented without regard to the lifestyle of WA’s boaters and anglers and without considering the damaging economic impact it will have on the associated boating, tackle and accommodation industries.
A Liberal Government will immediately establish an expert recreational fishing panel to review the Labor Government’s ban and evaluate the environmental, social and economic impact of the restrictions, with a view to relaxing the bans.
A Liberal Government will be committed to ensuring there is an appropriate balance between the need to manage fish stocks and the ability of Western Australians to enjoy recreational fishing.
Recreational Boating
Boat ownership in Western Australia has grown enormously but there have been no significant changes to boat harbour infrastructure in over twenty years.
Western Australia simply needs more boat pens for commercial and recreational vessels, as well as for visitors. This is particularly true in the metropolitan area.
A Liberal Government will support a new marina to be developed at Rous Head to address the need for more boat pens. The Liberal Party’s view is that this project should be self funding and that the Fremantle Port Authority should work with private enterprise to deliver the marina.
The Labor Party policies page http://visionwa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=31 does not yet have a Recreational Fishing or Boating policy. (as at 2:15pm Friday 22 August)
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Parties' Recreational Fishing policies for the previous 2005 State Election.
Some background/reference/historical reading for comparison or analysis.
Labor's Plan for Fisheries for the 2005 State Election
http://www.recfishwest.org.au/Labor2005PlanForFisheries.htm
NOTE...For 2005 NOT for 2008
WA Liberal National Coalition Position Statement for the 2005 State Election - Recreational Fishing in Western Australia
http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ElectionWALibNatPositionStmt.htm
NOTE...For 2005 NOT for 2008
Recfishwest Election Policy 2008 and questions for the 2008 State Election, waiting for responses from the parties
http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ElectionPolicy2008.htm
TerryF
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Beavering away in the background.......
Fozz
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 01/08/08
Good to see
Good to see that the Libs have identified these restrictions as severe, fingers crossed common sense will prevail.
Who's knows they may even get my vote this time round...time will tell.
Fozz
boofhead
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 13/03/08
thanks terry, answers my
thanks terry, answers my question to previous post..... by the way, the links to the 2005 state election cant be found..... ????
me personally, i think the better way to go would be to ban the pro's to the v5 and cut the limit to the rec fisher's....
would be a far better way of "saving" the species
cheers Jes
"I used to have an open mind but my brains kept falling out."
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Parties' Recreational Fishing and Boating policies.
Jes
Links fixed - something invisible attached somehow added a space at the end.
TerryF
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Beavering away in the background.......
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Good pre-election rhetoric
On the Libs 2005 statements:
Well, there's lots of warm, feel good, placatory statements, but as always, the devil will be in the detail.
Some peripheral positives like the funding for ramps, improved signage and jetty maintenance.
' The Water Corporation is in the process of refurbishing a number of dams in the South West, which may provide new opportunities to expand inland recreational fishing....'
Interesting, but still very fluffy.
Good to see both sides recognise the need for extra FMOs and VFLOs.
Lots of issue recognition at the moment, and what the libs will look at, but short on process detail.
Once again, as all political parties do, there's lots of talk of 'throwing money' at issues. For example:
' To assist in the resource allocation process and guide decisions regarding fisheries sustainability, a Coalition Government will provide an additional $500,000 per year for the measurement and monitoring of stock and catch levels, with a focus on the recreational sector. '
and:
'Using accurate stock and catch data, the Coalition will continue the process of resource allocations within Western Australia's fisheries with an emphasis on equity between sectors.'
Saying an additional $500K per year is all very nice, but at what? The existing questionable (creel) and coloured (UWA) existing efforts? Or are we finally going to see a (needed) punishing assessment of creel survey shortfalls and true scientific (not emotional or outcome driven) analysis?
Extra money is nice, but it's far from all that is needed.
As for the 2008 short Libs statement so far:
A Liberal Government will immediately establish an expert recreational fishing panel to review the Labor Government’s ban and evaluate the environmental, social and economic impact of the restrictions, with a view to relaxing the bans.
Hmmm, not removing the bans, relaxing them? What does that mean? Who will be on that 'expert fishing panel'? Will the panel be chosen to ensure the outcome? Whilst I acknowledge that there is a LOT of resentment to V5 WCB ban (what other bans are being considered? - Crabs?Cobbler? ?) - what if the expert panel recomends against this? Just asking the questions..
Colin Molloy
(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!