New boat catch limit could be one fish a year <!-- google_ad_section_end(name=story_headline) -->
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<!-- // .image-frame -->THAT'S ALL FOLKS: Under proposed changes to demersal finfish allocations in the West Coast region, Robin Edden’s dhufish could be the only one he is allowed to keep in a whole year. Source: PerthNow
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<!-- // .article-media --><!-- google_ad_section_start(name=story_introduction, weight=high) -->UNDER proposed changes to the allocation and harvesting levels of demersal fish stocks, holders of the Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) may only be entitled to less than four kilos of demersal fish per year. <!-- google_ad_section_end(name=story_introduction) -->
<!-- // .story-intro --><!-- google_ad_section_start(name=story_body, weight=high) -->That’s right – one small dhufish or decent pink snapper, or maybe a couple of breaksea cod or even a goldband snapper.
The Department of Fisheries recently released a draft report on allocation of West Coast demersal fish species for the commercial and recreational sectors.
This allocation has been developed under the State Government’s Integrated Fisheries Management policy.
The Fisheries press release revealed that the anticipated recreational demersal limit was 238 tonne, under a proposed 66-34 per cent split of the fish resources between commercial and recreational fishers.
That recreational allocation has to be split between the 66,000 (current) RFBL holders, equating to 3.60 kilos per licence.
<!-- // .story-sidebar -->Even if only a third of the RFBL holders target demersals, and fish in the West Coast region, that is still only 10.8 kilos per angler per year, or one nice dhuie.
And that’s not 3.6 kilos of fillets either, that’s 3.6 kilos of live fish as it comes aboard.
On a positive note, recreational anglers have the chance to comment on these proposed changes as outlined by the independent Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee (IFAAC) by written submission until August 31.
There is also the chance for anglers to hear more about the proposed changes through a series of public meetings held by IFAAC and Recfishwest over the next two weeks in the South-West, with the first of these meetings held in Geraldton on Wednesday.
The West Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) will also be facilitating information sessions for the commercial sector.
Metro anglers are urged to attend the recreational sector meeting at Fremantle Sailing Club on Wednesday to learn more about the plans and to provide Recfishwest with valuable public feedback.
I’m led to believe there are serious concerns within Recfishwest about how Fisheries has arrived at the published figures and allocation, while one can only wonder how such a draconian limit would be enforced without completely removing the amenity of recreational boat fishing in WA.
Once again, the lack of accurate data on recreational catches has been highlighted in significant “guesstimation” of catch history, again leading to calls for compulsory log books.
One of the more glaring issues is that a raft of about 40 species have been lumped in together in the allocation, including species like dhufish, caught in similar amounts by rec and commercial fishers, and pink snapper, in which the commercial take is five times that of anglers.
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- Scott Coghlan
- From: <CITE>PerthNow </CITE>
- July 28, 2010 7:56AM
<!-- .story-header --><?xml:namespace prefix = fb /><fb:like class=" fb_edge_widget_with_comment fb_iframe_widget" width="550" layout="standard" show_faces="false" font="" action="recommend" colorscheme="light"></fb:like>
<!-- // .image-frame -->THAT'S ALL FOLKS: Under proposed changes to demersal finfish allocations in the West Coast region, Robin Edden’s dhufish could be the only one he is allowed to keep in a whole year. Source: PerthNow
<!-- // .caption -->
<!-- // .tabs .js-tabbed -->
<!-- // .article-media --><!-- google_ad_section_start(name=story_introduction, weight=high) -->UNDER proposed changes to the allocation and harvesting levels of demersal fish stocks, holders of the Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) may only be entitled to less than four kilos of demersal fish per year. <!-- google_ad_section_end(name=story_introduction) -->
<!-- // .story-intro --><!-- google_ad_section_start(name=story_body, weight=high) -->That’s right – one small dhufish or decent pink snapper, or maybe a couple of breaksea cod or even a goldband snapper.
The Department of Fisheries recently released a draft report on allocation of West Coast demersal fish species for the commercial and recreational sectors.
This allocation has been developed under the State Government’s Integrated Fisheries Management policy.
The Fisheries press release revealed that the anticipated recreational demersal limit was 238 tonne, under a proposed 66-34 per cent split of the fish resources between commercial and recreational fishers.
That recreational allocation has to be split between the 66,000 (current) RFBL holders, equating to 3.60 kilos per licence.
<!-- // .story-sidebar -->Even if only a third of the RFBL holders target demersals, and fish in the West Coast region, that is still only 10.8 kilos per angler per year, or one nice dhuie.
And that’s not 3.6 kilos of fillets either, that’s 3.6 kilos of live fish as it comes aboard.
On a positive note, recreational anglers have the chance to comment on these proposed changes as outlined by the independent Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee (IFAAC) by written submission until August 31.
There is also the chance for anglers to hear more about the proposed changes through a series of public meetings held by IFAAC and Recfishwest over the next two weeks in the South-West, with the first of these meetings held in Geraldton on Wednesday.
The West Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) will also be facilitating information sessions for the commercial sector.
Metro anglers are urged to attend the recreational sector meeting at Fremantle Sailing Club on Wednesday to learn more about the plans and to provide Recfishwest with valuable public feedback.
I’m led to believe there are serious concerns within Recfishwest about how Fisheries has arrived at the published figures and allocation, while one can only wonder how such a draconian limit would be enforced without completely removing the amenity of recreational boat fishing in WA.
Once again, the lack of accurate data on recreational catches has been highlighted in significant “guesstimation” of catch history, again leading to calls for compulsory log books.
One of the more glaring issues is that a raft of about 40 species have been lumped in together in the allocation, including species like dhufish, caught in similar amounts by rec and commercial fishers, and pink snapper, in which the commercial take is five times that of anglers.