We've had a win!

It looks as though we have had a win in regards to our complaints about the new fishing rules.  The proposed rules have been greatly modified, and I would think that most people will see the new proposals as being fair and even necessary.  Here are the key elements.

 


MODIFIED RECREATIONAL FISHING ARRANGEMENTS
Background
In September 2009, the Minister for Fisheries announced modified arrangements for recreational fishing management in Western Australia.
The main elements of the new arrangements are as follows:

A mixed bag limit of two “high risk” demersal scalefish species, of which only one may be a dhufish, will apply in the West Coast Bioregion (Kalbarri to Augusta);

A boat limit of two dhufish will apply in the West Coast Bioregion (six for charter boats);

No West Coast Demersal Scalefish Licence will be introduced;

A “release weight” will be required when fishing from a boat in the West Coast Bioregion;

A two-month seasonal closure (for boat and shore fishing) on the take of “high risk” demersal scalefish by recreational fishers in the West Coast Bioregion (between Kalbarri and Augusta) will apply from 15 October to 15 December inclusive;

Fish in the current “high risk” group will be divided into two new categories: demersal scalefish and pelagic species. Some species, such as Australian salmon and freshwater trout, will be moved to the “medium risk” category at their current bag limits. A full list of the medium and lower risk species will be available on the Department’s website;

A mixed bag limit of two “high risk” pelagic species will apply in the West Coast Bioregion. This bag limit will be in addition to the bag limit for “high risk” demersal species;

The boat limits introduced earlier this year for “high risk” species will be replaced by the bag limits for “high risk” demersal scalefish and pelagic species (that is, a licensed fisher may take two demersal scalefish (of which only one may be a dhufish) and two pelagic species per day);

Reduced bag limits will apply for “lower risk” species (from 40 to 30) and “medium risk” species (from 16 to12) on the west coast. “Lower risk” species include herring, sand whiting and garfish. “Medium risk” species include tailor, skippy and King George whiting;

A state-wide Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) will be introduced with an annual fee of $30;

The Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence will only be required for fishing conducted from a registered boat. Fishing from kayaks or other boats that are not required to be registered under the WA Marine Act 1982, will not need a licence;

Any fisher not holding a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence will be allowed to fish from a boat in the company of a licensed boat fisher within the licensed fisher’s bag limit;

Charter boat passengers not holding a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence will be required to pay a fee of $15 per trip for a Charter Boat Fishing Licence;

The recreational ‘umbrella’ licence will be replaced with individual licences to allow more comprehensive monitoring of recreational fishing activities and fisheries in WA;

Fees for existing recreational fishing licences will be made uniform at $40 with a 10 per cent discount when more than one licence is purchased at the same time;

A 50 per cent discount will be offered for seniors, pensioners and children under 16 years of age;

All funds raised from the sale of recreational fishing licences will be placed in the Recreational Fishing Trust Account and spent on the management of recreational fishing;

A voluntary logbook system will be introduced to provide additional information on recreational catch and participation; and

Another $2 million in new funding will be provided annually for an additional 13 Fisheries and Marine Officers to support education and compliance of the new recreational fishing arrangements.
FAQs
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I saw a TV advert for an exercise machine today and it was said that just three minutes a day of the machine would give me the body I dream of.  How will three minutes a day on an exercise machine give me Miss World?


Posts: 183

Date Joined: 08/07/08

Sounds pretty fair to me.  

Sat, 2009-09-19 18:17

Sounds pretty fair to me.

 

Posts: 151

Date Joined: 02/07/09

I think these arrangements

Sat, 2009-09-19 20:48

I think these arrangements are far better and the seperate licence for crayfish and abalone etc is fair enough as well.

 

Jim.

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fishing, that used to be free!!!!

Feral's picture

Posts: 1508

Date Joined: 01/11/06

sounds fair if you are a pro

Sat, 2009-09-19 20:53

sounds fair if you are a pro ...

does anyone know what the boat limit is going to be as a max ? (6 demesals ?? )

i suppose there is no piont complianing about this in here as so many opposed the $150 licence (i for 1 thought the $150 was a good idea) but it seems a shame to me that this has happened.

Cammos's picture

Posts: 606

Date Joined: 30/06/09

Excluding Dhu's, there is no

Sat, 2009-09-19 21:19

Excluding Dhu's, there is no boat limit.

Posts: 401

Date Joined: 03/01/09

am i reading correctly that

Sun, 2009-09-20 13:56

am i reading correctly that there is a boat limit of two high risk spieces??

so if im fishing and i get a double headed of pinkys and a mate pulls up one on the same drift that means im over my limit and i correct???

 

it will be interesting to see if they are going to supply everybody with a release weight

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Tim's picture

Posts: 2497

Date Joined: 26/09/06

2

Sun, 2009-09-20 14:27

The 2 high risk is a personal limit Luke unless you are fishing under the Skippers license. Only 1 of those can be a Dhu with a max 2 dhu on the boat unless its a charter.

Clear as mud. I think.

Posts: 1676

Date Joined: 12/07/09

do we get a free release

Sun, 2009-09-20 18:07

do we get a free release wieght because i think we should

Posts: 9358

Date Joined: 21/02/08

You have a boat, don't

Sun, 2009-09-20 18:39

You have a boat, don't whine.

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Tim's picture

Posts: 2497

Date Joined: 26/09/06

Release Weight

Sun, 2009-09-20 18:41

To be honest you should have one already especially if you chase Demersals.

Posts: 9358

Date Joined: 21/02/08

For sure, I have a small release weight

Sun, 2009-09-20 18:51

For sure, I have a small release weight on my boat just in case its needed and the costs are trivial  when added to everything else you need to run a boat.

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callum's picture

Posts: 417

Date Joined: 29/10/08

release weight

Sun, 2009-09-20 18:44

does the release weight have to be a certian type?

i know that soem people make there own?

just wondering bout that

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happy fishing

Posts: 896

Date Joined: 25/05/09

the only fish that needs a

Sun, 2009-09-20 19:10

the only fish that needs a release weight is dhufish they are a weak fish species which is a shame , an they should be supplied, also the 2 high risk fish what that about per boat or angler ??

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living is fishing

Tim's picture

Posts: 2497

Date Joined: 26/09/06

More

Sun, 2009-09-20 19:31

Theres more fish out there that need the release weight than Dhu fish.

Even Sambos need big release weights sometimes to get them down.

Shouldnt be an issue as anyone chasing Dhuies should have them on their boat now anyway. If not places like the Tackle Shack are selling them at cost so it wont break the bank to get one.

 

synthos's picture

Posts: 522

Date Joined: 23/06/07

yeha but

Mon, 2009-09-21 05:54

Problem is if u are out by yourself 2 Black Arse  and you have reached your bag limit all species of cod are high risk now.

Paul G's picture

Posts: 5215

Date Joined: 12/12/07

Then you need to make sure

Mon, 2009-09-21 06:04

Then you need to make sure your fish are brought to the surface slowly and in good condision so they can be returned then you can fish on for the bigger ones ,if you know you have a small fish on to bring it up very slow ,if it gets off half way up who cares it was going to be released anyways ,people still bring up undersize fish as quickly as they can ,gets me .

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Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential  and commercial ceilings and walls

roberta's picture

Posts: 2773

Date Joined: 08/07/08

So true Paul g

Mon, 2009-09-21 11:08

in the old bag limit we brought up 8 dhuies kept 4, released  3 but unfortunately one didn't go back and these where caught over 3 days, we bring all fish up slowly, sometimes I get a bit excited and old fart yells at me, slow down, slow down.  One of the 3 was just over but old fart said back she goes to breed another day.

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Ginger Tablets Rock

 

chevin's picture

Posts: 44

Date Joined: 11/04/09

I can't believe this

Sun, 2009-09-27 18:05

I can't believe this bleating about free release weights!  Why the hell should anyone give you free release weights?  You will be wanting free fishing tackle next!  This is pathetic.  The rules are all about preserving fish stocks and all of us should be prepared to join in on that.  Every boat should have a release weight as part of its fishing tackle.  At times I get the feeling that a lot of anglers are a greater threat to our fishing than politicians!

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I saw a TV advert for an exercise machine today and it was said that just three minutes a day of the machine would give me the body I dream of.  How will three minutes a day on an exercise machine give me Miss World?

chevin's picture

Posts: 44

Date Joined: 11/04/09

Highlander.  Been trying to

Sun, 2009-09-27 18:06

Highlander.  Been trying to reply to your PM but it seems that you have blocked PM.s

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I saw a TV advert for an exercise machine today and it was said that just three minutes a day of the machine would give me the body I dream of.  How will three minutes a day on an exercise machine give me Miss World?