The Humble Herring(Fisheries Latest)
Herring management
Australian herring is targeted by recreational and commercial fishers and we manage both sectors together to ensure the sustainability of the species.
Herring is a ‘bread and butter’ species to recreational fishers and is most commonly caught from shore or small boats. Recreational fishing is mainly managed through bag and possession limits.
We manage commercial fishing for herring through limited entry, gear restrictions, and seasonal, time and area closures. Over time various Voluntary Fisheries Adjustment schemes, under which the State Government buys back commercial fishing licences, have reduced the number of commercial operators.
Herring is managed to a target catch range, which is based on recent annual catches and also takes into account natural variations in recruitment. Each year, as part of reviewing the state of the herring stock, the actual catch is compared to the target catch.
A rigorous stock assessment published in 2013 showed that through a combination of environmental factors and fishing the WA herring stock was under pressure, and needed to be protected in order for stocks to return to sustainable levels.
A daily bag limit of 12 for recreational fishers and closure of the commercial South Coast G-net Fishery came into force on 1 March 2015 to ease fishing pressure, and help the stock recovery of this important species.
The 2021 Australian herring resource stock assessment indicated that the management actions taken had been successful and that the stock had recovered. The recovery of the Australian herring resource provides an opportunity to take a contemporary approach to management, which will allow for optimal use and maximise community benefit from the resource.
These new measures have yet to be determined, and in the short-term current management arrangements will remain in place. What is known at this stage is that future arrangements will be based on the herring resource as a whole. This means a management approach that considers the ecosystem in addition to the impacts and needs of all fishing sectors, to ensure that what is taken does not exceed what is sustainable.
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
sea-kem
Posts: 14857
Date Joined: 30/11/09
So they've literally said
So they've literally said nothing and the bag limit stays the same, are we meant to applaud them for good news that doen't really bring good news lol.
Never bothered me anyway 12 is plenty per person.
Love the West!
Moking
Posts: 1252
Date Joined: 30/05/12
Yep- That's my thoughts as
Yep- That's my thoughts as well!
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
rob90
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Standard blowing their own
Standard blowing their own trumpet, close any commercial species fishing and the number will increase. Sharks are a perfect example.
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
Reefsta
Posts: 281
Date Joined: 03/08/19
One way street
I think it's unlikely the bag limit on herring will ever go back to 30, reagardless of how the stock is doing now. I also asked Fisheries about the current 2017 ban on southern garfish and was told they were " looking at mid-2023 before we consider removing the prohibition".
davewillo
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 08/09/16
I think 12 is plenty but I
I think 12 is plenty but I get the point that is being made. I kept 8 recently at Rotto for the wife and me and me and we had leftovers for the following day's lunch.
PGFC member and lure tragic
Reefsta
Posts: 281
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Three seems a good for one
Have found 3 per person a good amount when we feel like some grilled herring. As a family of 5 though, I would have been happier with a limit of 15. So I only take a dozen when they are big ones.
Daniel Westerduin
Posts: 420
Date Joined: 30/10/06
The thing is we took a
The thing is we took a reduction to 12, but at the same time I've seen more tackle stores sell them as bait than ever before. So it's still okay to buy as many packets of them as we like. Each packet is 12 usually. So if we bought two or three packets that is fine but catch 13 or 14 and we're in trouble. What a crock of shite, I like catching my own not paying someone else for them.
davewillo
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Limits make no sense when
Limits make no sense when you put it that way Daniel, but we're used to that anyway!
PGFC member and lure tragic
Jim
Posts: 1321
Date Joined: 05/05/06
Im pretty sure the bait
Im pretty sure the bait thing was discussed a many years ago and I vaguely remember you needing reciepts if the bait you buy is over the limit. Most likely wrong but fisheries need things to be black and white.
I just dont understand how it takes so long for a bread and butter species to "recover"
Bend over
Tom M
Posts: 662
Date Joined: 22/09/15
I can recall seeing 20 ton
I can recall seeing 20 ton of herring netted and loaded into trucks for cat food taken from Peaceful Bay would be 20 years back. Thoughts then were not favouring cats.
Tom M
little johnny
Posts: 5330
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Most people I know
started fishing for them as a kid. Herring /gardies and flounder. Then long point for Taylor. 1 thing I haven’t seen for years and years is flounder. They where everywhere when crabs ran . Barely see them now
still trying
Posts: 1020
Date Joined: 27/06/17
They are a rare catch these
They are a rare catch these days, a mate of mine got one on a jig in 40m fishing for dhues a couple of weeks ago down mandurah.
rather be fishing