Sustainable fisheries in the METRO area
Hi all,
I don't think that too many people would disagree if I said that fishing in the landbased area is slowly on the decline and has been for a number of years. I know there are a number of factors relating to this, that are in no way related to the behaviours of fisherfolk - but wanted to put forward a hypothetical question to seek some of your opinions.
We already have a regulated metropolitan fishery - with a number of guidelines, catch limits, size limits, seasonal restraints and so on. Would you support a 'Metropolitan Fishing Code of Practice' for Perth?
A code of practice is not law, but simply a framework or set of guidelines. In my opinion, a code of practice could cover off any number of topics that would help support a sustainable fishery. Things like the use of barbless hooks, removal of rubbish, safe release of fish, minimum size limits or catch limits for some species where perhaps fisheries may not quite have it right.
Not only would you support it....but as a freely available document (with posters, etc at popular fishing spots) - do you think it would have an impact on how our fisheries are treated at present?
BTW - I'm mainly angling (pun intended) at landbased fishers. As jealous as I am, I think boaters have enough to deal with. The ocean is vast and probably not as high a risk as areas such as popular perth beaches, jetties, river spots, etc.
Cheers,
Buschy
Righteo
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 23/12/11
imo what your suggesting
imo what your suggesting apart from the posters ect is already common practice by most people who fish land based or from a boat and know the rules. as for decline in landbased fish stocks, would that not be a more seasonal and dependant on things like water temp/currents/juvenile mortality rates? some places fire for fish one year and nothing the next. always figuresd the biggest threats were commercial fishing and pollution not recreational fishing. i think a poster/campain would be good though.
Here we go again.
smash
Posts: 434
Date Joined: 01/12/10
Righteo--a question?
"always figuresd the biggest threats were commercial fishing and pollution not recreational fishing"
Which landbased metropolitan fishery is threatened by commercial fishing?
NOHA
Posts: 914
Date Joined: 24/06/07
Um--herring
250-300 tonne a year is not insignificant
Twin turbo..V8 diesel..Ohh what a feeling!!
No Orange Hats Allowed
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
how would that work??
the people who would do that already are! unless you had a fisheries officer or a cop watching all the dodgy so called fishermen then it wouldnt make a difference!! and im not so sure about your landbased fishing on the decline!! there have been a few very good years for tailor of late! the only way imo we could make the beach fishing any better would be to take away the polution! and that is not going to happen!
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
I suspect the ones littering,
I suspect the ones littering, taking undersized fish, taking no care when returning the fish to the water, etc are just not going to care either way and its really those ones you need to change. "Preaching to the converted"?
However, there are still many people who want to do the right thing that arent aware of what the right thing, and some friendly tips would be useful in that regard. Although the fisheries booklets already cover some of that stuff. You would need to figure out who your target 'market' is, whether anything will effect them (e.g. if they're already all model fishers, then telling them what they're already doing wont do much), and what is currently available and could it be better, if so how. Think who do you want it to affect, and will it when current methods may not?
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
I support your concerns but not sure about a Code
Your really talking self-regulation. That doesn't always work and creates a rift where people (or groups) with differing views openly challenging each other and ultimately people who take charge of these types of things do it for a motive other than what the code was set up to cater for (generally for some form of self-benefit be it financial or otherwise).
The question of sustainability for fish stocks is something very much in the spotlight and is well debated. Angling clubs I think play a big part in promoting ethics in rec fishing both on the land and at sea. I think it would be a good idea to see more people join clubs.
I have a fair bit of experience with self-regulation or co-regulation and it can become a mess and often be dominated by bullies. If we feel that current fisheries regulations are appropriate then we should support them as individuals and lobby groups and look for ways to improve them and the policing of the regulations. As for dumping rubbish etc. that's a problem in society that no code of practice will ever fix. IMO.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
buschy
Posts: 626
Date Joined: 27/11/09
Thanks guys
Appreciate your replies and insights.
The consensus view seems to be that the people who are doing the wrong thing are mostly those who would not change, regardless of education.
I do genuinely believe our marine environment is on a gradual decline...and yes, there are hundreds of factors, some of which are virtually impossible to police. Righteo - certainly not disregarding your comments re: seasonal variations, water temps and other natural factors...they certainly have to be taken into account.
Thanks again.
Buschy
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
I agree Buschy.. Things are on the decline
But I also see personally some seasonal trends. For a long time now I have been complaining that Tailor stocks etc. seem to be dwindling. This year (or 2011) has seen a much better showing of some really nice fish in the near metro areas. It's a bit like the weather... We can all speculate about it but we haven't been here long enough to really be in a position to comment. scientists will tell us one thing but reality will tell us another... Just go down to the Molls and see how things differ between differing groups of fishos. Saying that of course Buschy it supports your credible call for more publicity toward some ethical codes of conduct.
Good for you though Buschy, every aspect of our environment needs to be scrutinised as we are seeing signs of attrition everywhere. I just want to see a rational and reasonable approach taken to all aspects.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Brock O
Posts: 3164
Date Joined: 11/01/08
I wonder
about some things Buschy, (minimum size limits or catch limits for some species where perhaps fisheries may not quite have it right)
Why is it we have a max size limit on snapper but not Dhue fish?
I remember one report on here where the bloke new the game well and caught some great fish but a rule on his boat was that any dhue over a certain size would be released, providing it was in good health.
That i thought was a good code of practice, and i thought that should be law.
I can only think that its not law because they do not have a good survival rate on being released!!
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
brock O
we dont have a maximum size on snapper where did you get that from??
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Maybe we should have then ... LOL
This is what I mean as posted above. We all have our feelings about what should happen and what we can do. You guys spend big bucks on the boat fishing and so you claim a right to take home what you can. Some of the blokes here take it very seriously and set their own limits. Andy Mac is an example where he tags and releases but I am sure he still takes home enough to justify the trip (if he is not getting paid for it LOL).
Some posts here show pics of large numbers of bread and butter fish on the beach. Not realising the catch is being distributed to a group of anglers we all get a bit upset. This thread was about metro beach fishing so we should keep it to that.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Brock O
Posts: 3164
Date Joined: 11/01/08
No there isn't,sorry was thinking of one over 750.
tangles
Posts: 1367
Date Joined: 17/12/06
good call
good call brock O! any dhui over 10kg is released by me and i know that it will be healthy because i will take as long as it takes to get the fish up in good condition, keeping an eye on bubbles as the fish rises! It is up to us as individuals to make sure that we do the right thing by the fish! Unfortunately fisheries cant be everywhere and people know that hence the blatent disregard for the rules that some people have for how many fish they catch! The commercial industry is so regulated now especially in Western Australia that people cant use the excuse for commercial fishermen cleaning out stocks anymore! Dont get me wrong there are still cowboys out there but they cant hide anymore and they are quickly taken care of when found out! This warmer water conditions that we have experienced in the last couple of years and also this year is mixing things up in the ocean! The good thing about these warmer currents that we have going atm is it brings more nutrients in the water especially around the edges of the warm water swirls that you get out in the deeper water and anyone who knows of Ord map or has seen it in use with tuna fishing knows how it works! Fish will congregate on these edges for that fact, unfortunately in the shallower water the warm currents has more of an adverse effect and we will see that as the months go on especially this year! We as humans are our own worse enemy and in the end it is up to us to control how the environment it looked after.
FISH FOR THE FUTURE NOT THE BLOODY FREEZER!!