INTERESTING READING REGARDING THE COMMERCIALS OPINION ON THE VALUE OF TAGGING SNAPPER!
I will be interested to hear what the opinions of our site members are on the follwing article which was posted in the May-June addition of the ProWest mag!
I personally have never had an issue releasing snapper and that goes for depths up to 90+m.
IN the May-June edition of ProWest,
we spoke about the Minister’s Position
Paper which recommended a suite
of new arrangements to manage the
recreational sector’s take of demersal
scalefish on the west coast such as
dhufish, snapper and baldchin groper.
One of those recommendations was to
increase the size limit of pink snapper
from 41cm to 50cm from south of
Kalbarri to east of Augusta for both the
recreational and commercial sectors.
In the weeks following, WAFIC met
with both the WA Demersal Gillnet and
Longline Association, which represents
fishermen from the temperate shark
fisheries, and permit holders from
the West Coast Demersal Scalefish
(Wetline) Fishery primarily on the
proposed increased size limit for pink
snapper.
Advice from the wetline sector,
particularly those who work in the
more northern part of the west coast,
was that they were strongly opposed
to a 50cm size limit. Their views were
that the issues of post release mortality
associated with snapper caught at depth
and released have not been properly
dealt with and too much weight had
been given to the incomplete and
inconclusive data from ANSA’s tagging
study.
Advice also received from the Fisheries
Research Division indicated that an
increased size limit for snapper is not
an appropriate tool for the commercial
sector given the post-release mortality
issues associated with releasing snapper
caught from depths greater than 30m,
but particularly above 90m. This is a
major factor considering that the vast
majority of snapper caught by wetliners
are caught deeper than 60m.
Another significant factor is that the
vast majority of snapper caught by the
wetline fishery are between 41-50cm in
the Midwest and Kalbarri zones.
WAFIC assistant executive officer,
Felicity Horn, who was present recently
when wetliners were unloading at
Dongara, said a large percentage of their
total catch was snapper and most of
those snapper were under 50cm.
‘A 50cm size limit would mean a
substantial proportion of the total catch
would need to be thrown back and then
would potentially not survive,’ Ms Horn
said.
The West Coast and Joint Authority
Southern Demersal Gillnet and
Demersal Longline Fisheries catch
approximately 5 per cent of the total
snapper catch, most of which is above
50cm.
The Minister’s Position Paper also
proposed that a four month seasonal
closure over summer also apply to
the recreational sector. In preparing
responses to the Minister, both the
temperate shark fishers and wetliners
also considered what the impacts would
be if the seasonal closure were to apply
to them.
It is evident there has been widespread
confusion amongst recreational
fishers on what the prime purpose
of the closure is, whether it is to
reduce recreational catch and effort or
provide spawning protection or both.
Some within the recreational sector
consider that if a four month closure
is to apply then it should be applied
to both sectors. This highlights the
lack of knowledge by some within
the recreational sector of the stringent
measures that are either in place or
coming into place in these commercial
fisheries to manage their catch of
demersal scalefish within recommended
levels.
LATE NEWS
In late June the Minister announced, as
part of changes to recreational fishing
off the west coast, that an increased pink
snapper size limit, from 41cm to 45cm
in October 2008 and then from 45cm to
50cm in 2010, will apply for the metro
and south-west zones only. It will apply to
commercial and recreational fishers. For
further information, please contact Felicity
Horn on 9492 8829.
luke
Posts: 3163
Date Joined: 14/08/06
good read matt! seems they
good read matt! seems they want to keep whatever they pull up...regardless of size... " because they dont survive".......and becaus "most the snapper they catch are under 50cm".... obvious fix here...close the fishing for a while..let the sizes increase.....
TerryF
Posts: 370
Date Joined: 11/08/05
http://www.recfishwest.org.au
http://www.recfishwest.org.au/TaggingProgram.htm#PreliminaryResults
Nah, releasing snapper doesnt work.......
http://www.recfishwest.org.au/SubDemersalFishingFMP228.htm#Rec3
TerryF
=====
Beavering away in the background.......
luke
Posts: 3163
Date Joined: 14/08/06
nah...pinkies dont survived
nah...pinkies dont survived terry...lol
good post, and agree wholeheartedly with the above post!!!
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4561
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Good read Matt!
Thanks for posting that article - made for an intersting read. As I read it, they don't wan't the 'bother' of returning their snapper catch properly.
As you said and on Terry's comments - it would seem there isn't a problem withreturning snapper.
Colin Molloy
(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
luke
Posts: 3163
Date Joined: 14/08/06
lol.... to think a pro boat
lol.... to think a pro boat would take the time to return fish properly is a joke in itself...to much time and effort.....good job the pinky's are tough little bugga's!!!
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4561
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Yup Luke
It aint gonna happen ay?
Colin Molloy
(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
hlokk
Posts: 524
Date Joined: 04/04/08
"
"
Some within the recreational sector
consider that if a four month closure
is to apply then it should be applied
to both sectors. This highlights the
lack of knowledge by some within
the recreational sector of the stringent
measures that are either in place or
coming into place in these commercial
fisheries to manage their catch of
demersal scalefish within recommended
levels."
Considering the commercial catches for pink snapper make up 79% percent (recs only 11%), I think we can tell which side wrote this
--------------
Always interested in someone to go fishing with
TerryF
Posts: 370
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Some commercial fishermen are thinkers and doers
Pages 17-18 http://www.recfishwest.org.au/DhufishWorkshop2004.htm shows that some commercial fishermen who are in it for the long haul have their concerns too.
They recognise that sustainable fishing is essential for their future and try to do the right thing.
2.1 Commercial Fisher Perspective by W. Aitchison, Commercial Wetline Operator, Western Australia at the Western Australian Dhufish Workshop June 2004
Note, this presented in June 2004. Emphasis/bolding added by me.
He got a great response from the audience.
Worth a read, or a re-read http://www.recfishwest.org.au/DhufishWorkshopProceedings.pdf
TerryF
=====
Beavering away in the background.......
roberta
Posts: 641
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Terry
Hubbie's mate went to Jurien a couple of years ago and Fisheries did some trials on releasing under sized dhuie's, they put them in cages, different depths and left them over night (I assume cage was put down very slowly etc) but next morning (slowly I hope) they pulled them and 9 out of 10 dhuie's were dead. Hubbie has released successfully undersized dhuie's he's found that you have to bring any fish (as you don't know what you've got on the end of your line in 60 metres plus)) up very slowly (we use reef master reels) and most undersize dhuie's go back (with release weight) As far as snapper all undersize snapper we have caught all go back with a flurry of activity. We've found bringing up any fish very slowly and if undersize, sometimes with a little bit of help they will go back. I suppose I'll get a bit of flak from the sports fishing fellas on this site but this pump pump reel them in at any cost of course they will blow their bag and you most certainly in the majority of weighted releases won't go back, sorry fellas just my opinion, don't want to step on anybody's toes.
SPEWIE LEWIE
Andy Mac
Posts: 3111
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Excellent perspective from a concerned pro.
Cheers
GOATRUTAR
Posts: 3669
Date Joined: 12/04/07
Kind of missed the point
Kind of missed the point Andy as it wasn't about the Pro with a conscience but the remark about the undersize snapper and their ability to be released!
.
IF IT SMELLS LIKE FISH IT MUST BE GOOD FOR YOU!
Andy Mac
Posts: 3111
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Dont worry
Cheers
GOATRUTAR
Posts: 3669
Date Joined: 12/04/07
It was an attempted
It was an attempted hi-jack!LOL!
IF IT SMELLS LIKE FISH IT MUST BE GOOD FOR YOU!
Andy Mac
Posts: 3111
Date Joined: 03/02/06
not quite
Cheers
TerryF
Posts: 370
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Attempted hijack
Nope, not a hijack, it was commenting on:-
Goatrutar and luke.
I'm still waiting for you to contact me about that talk. You have my email, phone number, postal address, etc. I'm not quite so busy this week if you have the time.
You never never know if you never never go... Oh, sorry, that's the Territory's slogan.
TerryF
=====
Beavering away in the background.......
Tony Halliday
Posts: 270
Date Joined: 14/06/07
simple solution chaps
The Pro-fisherman would be more "pro-release" if they where kept to a quota number of fish over 50cm, and not just tonnage.
For them, they can get more fish from 40~50cm snapper to the market on a tonnage quota, than if the fish are limited to heavier fish in the +50cm range..
not rocket science, when you limit them to a maximum number of fish or tonnage, wich eaver comes first, they will toos back the little ones and only keep biger fish ( yes I know they breeders, but how can you convince these guys to fish for the future and not for the NOW pocket!!!)
cheers
Tony
Full-time piscatorial-idiot, in The Vines. "It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC) Greek poet.
Supporter of Meals on Reels
jersey
Posts: 94
Date Joined: 12/06/08
A pro with a brain
I read with great interest the comments of the Pro fisherman from Dongara,and I complement him on the whole article,it says what most recreational fisherman have been saying,and I quote,The cray fisherman go out for 5 day trips,1 day wet linning pull pots,day 2 wet line,day 3 pots wet linning and so on,then the money goes to pay the crew? they offset the fuel and bait through tax and then fish,I wonder who is doing more to deplete the fish stokes,personnaly i think the cray fisherman should only be allowed to catch crays,no fin fish,and leave the wet line fisherman have their shasre of the fishing stokes,and the recreationals a lower bag limit,and as for the comment that the Fisheries used cages too see the effect it would have on the capurted fish,I did not think them very smart this proves it, put any living creature in a trap it will be damaged during the capture.(handling,decompreesion)2 return to depths( water pressure on them as they go down plus recompression,3 not being able to get out,how many wild creatures will beat themselves up trying to get out,then pulled up again,and to think these fisheries morons get paid for this Il bet if I was allowed to get two or three,treat them the same way ,the result would be the same
jersey
Faulkner Family
Posts: 1662
Date Joined: 11/03/08
dont know much about wetliners
but do the bring the fish in with in one hour or leave them over night ????
because if it is over night it is no wonder they wont go back is it ??
Just wondering
SANDY
"A family that fishes together stays together"
roberta
Posts: 641
Date Joined: 08/07/08
wetliners
Hi Sandy
We know a drop liner in Leeman and he puts all his fish in a icy slurry and sometimes stays over night then he takes catch to Canningvale Markets, don't know about his undersize rate or throw backs, they never tell you. There is 3 professional fishmen in Leeman now and one crayboat that does charters fishing and diving, like to know their catch rate and their release also.
SPEWIE LEWIE
GOATRUTAR
Posts: 3669
Date Joined: 12/04/07
Sandy the drop lines the
Sandy the drop lines the pro's use don't stay in the water long.
They may drop 5 or 6 with 10 hooks on each and when the last one is dropped they pull them up and then reset or move to a new location.
They may find a school and just sit on it.The lines are placed right in the zone so if they are hungry they may be loaded up in the matter of minutes!
Some cases they may just use 2 lines if its firing up!
IF IT SMELLS LIKE FISH IT MUST BE GOOD FOR YOU!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 1662
Date Joined: 11/03/08
Thanks Matt
i just was not sure how it worked alot clearer now thanks
SANDY
"A family that fishes together stays together"
Faulkner Family
Posts: 1662
Date Joined: 11/03/08
Hi roberta
Sorry ment to read how long do they leave there lines in the water one hour two hours or over night ????
SANDY
"A family that fishes together stays together"
Watto069
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 15/01/08
Interesting read. I have
Interesting read. I have never had a problem with letting snapper go. They are one of the more hardy fish IMO.
It is evident there has been widespread
confusion amongst recreational
fishers on what the prime purpose
of the closure is, whether it is to
reduce recreational catch and effort or
provide spawning protection or both.
Some within the recreational sector
consider that if a four month closure
is to apply then it should be applied
to both sectors. This highlights the
lack of knowledge by some within
the recreational sector of the stringent
measures that are either in place or
coming into place in these commercial
fisheries to manage their catch of
demersal scalefish within recommended
levels.
I would like to know what these so called stringent measures are that are being applied to the commercial fisheries because it seems to me that they are allowed to fish when and where ever they want with little restriction
So many fishing spots. Not enough sickies!!!!!!!
TerryF
Posts: 370
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Quote:I would like to know
See http://fishwrecked.com/node/14741
TerryF
=====
Beavering away in the background.......
harro
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 07/02/08
was very interesting
i just wish more pros had the same thought ..
that was somewhat heartwarming.. and truly if everyone not just pros felt the same the problem wouldnt be half as bad as it is now.
this guy seems to have alot of respect , knowing he is out there to earn his rightfull income, but knowingly also the effects it has...
thanks for a good perspective..
prob too late and prob one in a million but good to see anyhow.
this site has been flooded by concerned fishermen, recs and pros regarding all this..
seems the bans that were originally implaced deffinately hit home, sure we are all concerned about our fish stocks and i,m sure alot of us now know just how bad they are, me personally didnt know how bad things were getting, but without repeating other threads and very important comments, sure we need to do something and it needs to be across the board..!!!
peace
harro
i aint been out in 4 weeks and i,m sure as hell gonna nail me some fresh fillets this weekend, so i,m bloody glad the ban didn,t happen
otherwise i would of been pissed.
Watto069
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 15/01/08
Cheers Terry atleast that
Cheers Terry atleast that has shed some light on the commercial restrictions
So many fishing spots. Not enough sickies!!!!!!!
Mick
Posts: 97
Date Joined: 28/08/06
G'day guys Before moving up
G'day guys
Before moving up here I was quite oblivious to the way in which pro's operated. I was of the same impression of rape and pilliage. After meeting alot of the guys up here I have completely changed my opinion. Firstly in regard to the crayfisherman and wetlining they can no longer catch fish unless they previously held a wetline licence. Even fish they bring up in their pots they must released generally to the men in the grey suits. This includes baldies, rankin cod, emperors, pinkies and the like. They cannot even keep one for a feed. This is even worse at the Abrolos. Tangle's stated some figures a while back when this rule came in and it was truly shocking. We have probably 5 or so wetliners which work out of Kalbarri and I would estimate that they would be lucky to fish 50 days in the year so when they fish yes they do bring fish in. Thats their's and their families livelyhoods. I think we all need to stop the us and them mentality and focus on solutions rather than blame. I'm sure that anyone who has a vested interest whether financial or recreational ( pro's, rec's, retail, charter ) would lack intelligence to keep on the path of mass destruction of something that we all get so much out of.
Cheers Mick
Few men desire real freedom. Most men simply desire a kind master
Adam Gallash
Posts: 7815
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Good comment
Good comment there Mick, presents both sides of the argument well.
Mick
Posts: 97
Date Joined: 28/08/06
Here you go
Here you go guys, this is tangles thread on fish caught in pots.
http://fishwrecked.com/node/13608
Pretty interesting read
Cheers Mick
Few men desire real freedom. Most men simply desire a kind master