Southern Garfish Ban - Review
Submitted by Ush on Thu, 2023-07-13 12:25
Gday all,
is there any word out there on the potential lifting of the ban? Its been 5 years. Appears to be tonne of them whereever I go. Calls and emails to Recfish and Fisheries unanswered as usual.
Surely they'd be looking at a review shortly?
Perhaps a reduction in the bag limit as they did with Herring - that'll help.
____________________________________________________________________________
Got keen?
.thumbnail.jpg "Yesterday arvo")
Reefsta
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Should be soon
Back in August 2021 I asked Fisheries about the gar ban. Got a quick reply, including the following info on their procedures.
"As you are aware, garfish protection was implemented in May 2017, thus, based on Marine Stewardship Council recovery timeframes which are being adopted, noting the generation time calculation for garfish, we are looking at mid-2023 before we consider removing the prohibition. A decision will be made following the next stock assessment, which at present is anticipated for delivery in mid-2023."
So that would suggest a decision is due in the next few months
Ush
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 04/04/14
That sounds positive.Fingers
That sounds positive.
Fingers crossed the gars have re-generated and hopeful this stock assessment is delivered soon with favourable outcomes.
Got keen?
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
MSC are a non profit
MSC are a non profit corporation run by WWF and Lever Foods, a multinational company. How do they have any jurisdiction? Since when do global private corporations have any authority over citizens resources?
"WWF set up the MSC in 1997 with Unilever to certify sustainable fish and help consumers make informed choices. More than 8,000 seafood products worldwide are now certified as sustainable by the MSC."
https://wwf.panda.org/es/?200084/Promoting-sustainable-seafood
Dont buy MSC cert foods or RSPCA certified foods unless you want to donate to more fishing closures
Dont buy Unilever foods products. More multinationals in full conflict of interest
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Unilever_brands
"As you are aware, garfish protection was implemented in May 2017, thus, based on Marine Stewardship Council recovery timeframes which are being adopted, noting the generation time calculation for garfish, we are looking at mid-2023 before we consider removing the prohibition. A decision will be made following the next stock assessment, which at present is anticipated for delivery in mid-2023."
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
Da pirate
Posts: 1548
Date Joined: 03/05/15
Horay ..
I've seen big numbers berlying up for
skippy .. literally walk across them ..
cheers pirate..
Brock O
Posts: 3192
Date Joined: 11/01/08
How do the numbers for
How do the numbers for Garfish drop, not by take home fish caught surely ?
Hard to understand this one, or is the Gar fisherman as popular as the herring fisherman.
Ush
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 04/04/14
surely not by rec fishos.
surely not by rec fishos. The estimated recreational catch is nonsense. Unlike herring Gars can be tricky to catch
Got keen?
Reefsta
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Commercial take known but rec take estimated
When I read the status report on gar done in 2017, (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Perth. Report 271) they said the recreational take was not known, but was estimated at 27.7 tonne. Not sure how they got that number. Most came from the West Coast bioregion, predominantly around Perth.
Brock O
Posts: 3192
Date Joined: 11/01/08
I doubt there would be 27
I doubt there would be 27 dedicated gar fisherman in the whole west coast region...
27.7 tonne...fk they pull some shit don't they.
Da pirate
Posts: 1548
Date Joined: 03/05/15
With you ..
I'm with you brock .. 27 tonne ..
fark .. that's a lot of gardies .
rac
Posts: 99
Date Joined: 14/02/22
yeah ~280,000 of them...
yeah ~280,000 of them... fisheries median catch weight was 99g ea.... lol.
Reefsta
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Made me check
Had another look at that 2017 report. They said;
"In 2000/01, the total retained recreational catch of H. melanochir in WA was estimated to be 230,503 fish (27.7 t), with 92% (25.6 t) taken in the WCB"
So that is pretty old data but still a motza of gar, if the estimate is anywhere close to reality.
Pete F
Posts: 310
Date Joined: 07/01/18
From the 16-17 status of the
From the 16-17 status of the fisheries report.
Total commercial landings in the WCB peaked at 44 t in 1999 and then steadily declined, reaching an historical low of 2 t in 2015. The catch remained at 2 t in 2016. Partial estimates of shore-based recreational catch are available for the Perth area, April-June only. The April-June catch was estimated to be >5 t in 2010, but <0.5 t in subsequent years (Smallwood et al. 2012). In the WCB, the total boat-based recreational catch was estimated to be 2-5 t per year in 2005/06, 2008/09 and 2009/10. The estimated boat-based recreational catch of southern garfish was steady in 2015/16 (1,994 kept by number, SE=992) compared with 2013/14 (1,636, SE=673) and 2011/12 (16,340, SE=3,477) (Ryan et al. 2017, Smith et al. 2016).
Cheers
timboon
Posts: 2931
Date Joined: 14/11/10
27 T? They might be
27 T?
They might be including Black Garfish, Striped Garfish and Blue Garfish, Mostly caught in tropical waters ....
Fucking retards
Reefsta
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Recent advice for Fisheries
I asked Fisheries for an update. They got back to me today saying, along with anecdotal reports of more fish around, the gar stock status has now been assessed and a decision will be made after disucssions with Recfish. So that couldmean the ban might be lifted with conditions. I'd say even if that happens the bag limit will be less than it was.
Ush
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 04/04/14
funny that - I also got a
funny that - I also got a response from Recfish stating that the matter is currently been looked by Fisheries. However there was no mention of Recfish taking part in any discussions. ".....being looked into by Fisheries. Will provide you with an update as soon as we are notified of any official changes"
Got keen?
Reefsta
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Yep, who's in charge?
Hi Ush
Here is the part of my email form Fisheries "DPIRD has assessed status of the stock and is progressing a review for southern garfish in the Metropolitan region of Western Australia. We will be meeting with the peak recreational fishing body, Recfishwest, to discuss this matter further. Following discussions with Recfishwest, a decision will be made on how recreational fishing for southern garfish will be managed in the Metropolitan region of WA."
Would be good if both organisations sat and talked at the same time...
stricko
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 10/05/10
First I've heard of a
First I've heard of a metropolitan region personally think there should be one as I think the west coast zone is to far reaching for the present bans steep point to windy harbour if you go by launch sites is bigger than most states.
Jim
Posts: 1330
Date Joined: 05/05/06
So fisheries do use anecdotal
So fisheries do use anecdotal data in their decision making. Reports from fisherman? I wonder what it is.
Discussions with recfish, yay can't wait.
Nice work Reefsta on getting an answer.
Bend over
Belly Fish
Posts: 499
Date Joined: 09/03/12
My view is this
Fisheries research officers sit in a room.
They say, gee we haven't changed rules for a couple of months, what can we come up with that makes us feel our jobs are meaningful.
I know, last time I asked, someone told me they didn't catch any Gardies. I know almost no one targets them and their numbers are cyclic, but why not ban them for 3 years.
This ban was a load of rubbish. There is no way a few anglers catching a few Gardies was ever going to make any meaningful difference to overall numbers.
Just another example of WA Fisheries being out of touch with reality.
Belly Fish
Posts: 499
Date Joined: 09/03/12
Double post
.
rob90
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 06/02/13
A bit of a stretch but I
A bit of a stretch but I grew up fishing for gars from the rockwalls with dad and granddad most weekends from march through to June, I noticed a significant drop in numbers and it continued to drop off until we gave up, main factor was we had a massive salmon appearance in 2006 and every year on from then. The first morning they showed up at North mole in 2006 gardies were literally jumping onto the rocks at our feet, in a week north mole was a baron wasteland. I remember the water being black with gars after a bit of pollard. After the yearly salmon runs there's barely any around, and that said now no gars around the salmon don't come around in as big a numbers. It is a far stretch, but in my view a few Europeans off the rockwalls never affected the stocks and in my opinion multiple schools of salmon at multiple tonnes each hanging around for weeks on end during garfish season certainly made a dent. Bit of a stretch I know but that's how we experienced it first hand.
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
keg
Posts: 397
Date Joined: 17/07/07
a bit like
how they don`t count the massive shark population in anything to do with demersal numbers
keg
Posts: 397
Date Joined: 17/07/07
double post
.
Ush
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 04/04/14
interesting mate, I recall a
interesting mate, I recall a bumper season of salmon approx 2016 2017, areas full of scalies were no where to be found.
Got keen?
Pete F
Posts: 310
Date Joined: 07/01/18
When the review happened with
When the review happened with herring a recfishwest survey the majority of fishers decided to go with a limit of 20 rather than return to the old limit of 30. Quality of fishing over quantity and looking towards the future. Then fisheries decided the sustainable take was higher and gave out 70 tones to the Gnet fishery.
Something to consider this time.
Cheers
Alan James
Posts: 2218
Date Joined: 30/06/09
...
Well I didn't know that, thanks for making us aware of that Pete. It certainly leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth.
Ush
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 04/04/14
Any word out there on the
Any word out there on the current bans? Or atleast a review of it...?
Got keen?
Billcollector
Posts: 2032
Date Joined: 16/05/09
Don't hold your breath if it
Don't hold your breath if it is up to Dumbpunch.
Reefsta
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 03/08/19
No update yet
I emailed Fisheries in 2021 and was told by email that the ban would be reassessed in second half of 2023, after a stock review. I emailed late last year and also again 2 days ago seeking an update, but no reply yet.
Ush
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 04/04/14
I see - good to know I am
I see - good to know I am not the only one seeking some info. Have to diversify with these bans - love gars!
Do keep us posted if you get a reply. cheers
Got keen?
Reefsta
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Still in discussions
Hi Ush
I got an email reply today from DPIRD, but not much different to the one I got last year or even back in 2021. Slow progress. Looks like Fisheries have now done the 2023 stock assessment they said would and now in discussions with the likes of Recfish, after which they'll make a decision. The reply included the following;
"DPIRD has received advice from our research team regarding the health of the stock and are currently in the process of consulting with the fishing sector peak bodies on this issue."
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
Is this the same MSC, aka Sea
Is this the same MSC, aka Sea Shepherd who reckon our sharks are endangered? Whaling stopped so they needed a new mascot to distract from oil spills?
https://wwf.panda.org/es/?200084/Promoting-sustainable-seafood
Fisheries know where their bread is buttered, the little corrupt w****s they are. Taking money from global cartels. Next police will be sponsored by local organised crime.
https://darrp.noaa.gov/oil-spills/exxon-valdez
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
Ush
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 04/04/14
they've reopened the
they've reopened the fishery. About time. Will take it seeing as the favorite demersals are out for most of the year. Bring on gardie baits and fillets.
Got keen?
Reefsta
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Details?
Good to hear. I haven't received any further info after the email a couple of weeks back, saying it was being discussed. Bag limits, seasons?
Ush
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 04/04/14
theres an official article
theres an official article on both Fisheries and Recfish I believe. Just a complete reinstatement of the previous rules 30 per bag.
Got keen?
Mark_M
Posts: 166
Date Joined: 10/04/15
here
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook-Labor-Government/Fisheries-management-success-has-garfish-back-on-the-Perth-menu-20240222
https://www.fish.wa.gov.au/About-Us/News/Pages/The-Southern-Garfish-Metro-Fishery-is-Reopening-on-1-March.aspx