A few grey areas here , no you dont need a license but can be nabbed for having it loaded before entering the water , once saw a bloke get done who deserved it on a beach in victoria. He had all the family at the beach kids playing around fishing ect but had the speargun loaded standing up butt in the sand
There isn't much hard data about spearfishing participation and catches and even less about the precentages of breath hold versus compressed air, so any decision was always going to be based on perceptions and idealogies and political issues and not on the facts about the impact of spearfishing and what change in catch would result from any changes in the rules.
Recommendation 6A. Prohibition on take of category 1 fish on compressed air
Not supported
Recfishwest's policy on additional restrictions on spear fishing is as follows:-
"Recfishwest opposes proposals to declare prohibitions on compressed air assisted spearfishing, which at the same time would allow other forms of fishing, unless the proponents of prohibition can objectively demonstrate why prohibition is in the interests of resource sustainability or over-riding social or economic concerns."
Information provided in FMP225:- "a small proportion of demersal scalefish (less than 1 per cent) are taken by spear fishers," and FMP228:- "most spear fishermen that target demersal species do so by free diving" together indicate that the total take of demersal fish by compressed air spearfishing is significantly less than 1% of the West Coast recreational demersal catch.
This low take by compressed air spearfishing compared to other recreational fishing methods does not provide justification for the selective banning of the take of demersal fish in the complete West Coast bioregion. Such a ban would, at best, give only a very small reduction in the total take of demersal scalefish.
Similarly there is no sustainability justifications provided for extending any bans to all category 1 species or to all finfish.
The take by spearfishermen using compressed air would be reduced or limited by other proposals including seasonal closures, reduced daily bag limits and boat limits, proposals which do not discriminate based on the fishing method used.
However, Recfishwest believes that there may be some sustainability concerns related to the take of demersal species in heavily fished areas, particularly parts of the metropolitan Region. These may justify some additional restrictions, but these must be aimed at addressing those specific issues for the vulnerable species.
In the absence of relevant catch and participation data, it is not possible for Recfishwest to propose any specific restrictions which will balance the sustainability needs with the amenity of recreational fishing.
The proposal to prohibit spearfishing of Category 1 “high risk” fish on compressed air in the West Coast Bioregion received 51 per cent support in submissions. Comments received were “polarised” and either strongly in favour, or strongly opposed to the proposal.
The Minister remains concerned that some demersal species are highly vulnerable to spearfishing.
However in consideration of the comments put forward in submissions and further discussions with diving representatives he has decided to allow spearfishing on compressed air to continue in a reduced capacity. To provide increased protection for vulnerable species a reduced daily bag limit of one Category 1 fish for divers spearfishing on compressed air will apply.
Decision 6A: Daily bag limit of one Category 1 fish for spearfishing on compressed air
A daily bag limit of one Category 1 fish will apply to spearfishing on compressed air in the West Coast Bioregion.
BQ544
Posts: 361
Date Joined: 22/10/06
But keep in mind that it will be illegal to spear fish in the V-
"But keep in mind that it will be illegal to spear fish in the V-5 ban period"
Is it all fish or just the V-5 that you can't spear during the ban?
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Spearing limits and species
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/WestCoastDemersal/management.php
These "normal" limits apply to all legal ways of catching fish including breath hold spearfishing, but excluding spearfishing on compressed air.
West Coast list of category one species is in http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/WestLimits/index.php?0102
The rules in this current version will be changed as covered in the link above to apply from 15 October onwards.
TerryF
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Beavering away in the background.......
feral1975
Posts: 638
Date Joined: 22/02/07
A few grey areas here , no
A few grey areas here , no you dont need a license but can be nabbed for having it loaded before entering the water , once saw a bloke get done who deserved it on a beach in victoria. He had all the family at the beach kids playing around fishing ect but had the speargun loaded standing up butt in the sand
ROCKPOM
Posts: 625
Date Joined: 23/04/07
Only very silly person
Only very silly person would have the gun loaded above the surface even with the safety on!!
As for decision 6A another decision made with no research or any idea on what going on below the surface!
Unfortunately this is where the majority of the frames come from that have been collected for research by my family and friends for the research boys.
Terry did Recfish have any data relating to this decision either from the Minister or themselves?
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Spearfishing on compressed air restrictions
Rockpom
There isn't much hard data about spearfishing participation and catches and even less about the precentages of breath hold versus compressed air, so any decision was always going to be based on perceptions and idealogies and political issues and not on the facts about the impact of spearfishing and what change in catch would result from any changes in the rules.
Recfishwest's policies on "Taking Fish by Free Diving" http://www.recfishwest.org.au/PolicyTakingFishFreediving.htm and Compressed Air Spearfishing http://www.recfishwest.org.au/PolicyCompressedAirSpear.htm both recognise the need for risk based assessments, not rules based on emotions or perceptions.
Recfishwest submission on this proposed West Coast rule change for spearfishing is:- from http://www.recfishwest.org.au/SubDemersalFishingFMP228.htm
The explanation of the final decision on Recommendation 6A, is in FMP 231 http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/mp/mp231/index.php?0707 (the bolding emphasis is mine)
TerryF
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Beavering away in the background.......