Does the WA govt value recreational fishing?
Its interesting to see what the other states are doing to improve recreational fishing.
I see here that NSW now have a Go Fishing Day
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/go-fishing-nsw
The Qld Govt have opened up the majority of their drinking water dams to fishing and with the huge success of the Barra stocked dams many people have been travelling to them to chase Barra rather than the NT. The NT Govt has then encouraged fisherman to chase Barra up there with the million Dollar Barra competition.
I also see that the Vic govt has promised 16 million to be spent creating and upgrading infrastructure for recreationl fishing and estimates that its economy is boosted by 7.1 billion $$ a year from Rec fishing.
The Tasmanian Govt has long realised the value of recreational fishing and fostered and promoted its Trout fishing for years.
Things were looking up when the liberal govt promised to create a fishing hub in Wellington Dam prior to the last election but that seems to have died in the ass before a single fish was even stocked. Apart from a few lumps of concrete dumped off the coast what else has the WA govt done to improve/promote fishing?
Swompa
Posts: 3910
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Other than successfully
Other than successfully manage it, what else do they need to do? Re-stocking Mulloway, prawns and Barra up north?
Isnt the western rock lobster industry known as the best managed fishery in the world?
I think they do a bloody great job.
sunshine
Posts: 2627
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Hang on - Victoria has closed access
To dams like the Tarago that I fished for years, now fully fenced and patrolled as it is now drinking water
SA remains ostrich like, the so called King George Whiting capital of the world yet they allow anglers to take this species at a size that means that they do not even get a single breeding season in before capture ...and they wonder why their whiting stocks are a former shadow of what they were
I actually think WA Fisheries are doing a fair job, sure there are areas where improvement is potentially possible but the closure of metro waters from commercial pressure has massively improved offshore fishing. Would like to see a fresh water fishery with cod, silver perch and the like
Sulo
Posts: 256
Date Joined: 13/08/11
Our King George size limit is
Our King George size limit is also well below the spawning size..
Walfootrot
Posts: 1385
Date Joined: 23/07/12
Wish they would open shark
Wish they would open shark fishing.................
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
quadfisher
Posts: 1146
Date Joined: 28/09/10
Freshwater , wats dat?
I agree with some of what you have said , purely looking at it from a freshwater point of view.
I think it was Mike R or possibly scotty cog , that has always remarked that we are so blessed with our saltwater fishing,
think exxy, broome, kalbarri, south coast etc and with our crabs , crays, etc that the freshwater scene in WA will always take a back seat ,
we are not blessed with the sort of rainfalls and topography that supports what over east has, so we are up against it to start.
Dont mean it cant be done , and in these eco sensative times , it makes alot more sense to have people catching managed stocks
in impoundments , than to be hitting wild stocks I guess.
quadfisher
sea-kem
Posts: 15040
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Thankfully we have
Thankfully we have recfishwest who lobby the gov very successfully for great programmes. If more people joined we'd have an even greater voice. It's easy to sit back and whinge about the few lumps of concrete you mention as from what I see it's been a great project with a lot of research put in.
Love the West!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
I agree with sea-kem
if more people joined a fishing organisation (like recfishwest) for instance, more numbers more pressure can be put on government to cater for recfishermen and women who bring a lot of dollars to towns that cater for them with fishing facilities.
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
This vic government is the
This vic government is the same one that allows tbe geelong star supertrawler to fish their waters?
As a community i think wa does it bloody well.
Fish! HARD!
Rob H
Posts: 5817
Date Joined: 18/01/12
no
that is Commonwealth-AFMA
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
If your complaining I'd swap
If your complaining I'd swap - come live in SA - fishers are just getting trampled here. getting beyond a joke.
SA the state of bans and increasing limits (size, bag, possession) - pulling down jetties so they can't be fished - don't mention the taxes either :-(
Can't even get a brick put in the water here.
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
barneyboy
Posts: 1392
Date Joined: 08/01/09
Sucessfully stocked
Lake Argyle with barra for a couple of years??
FEEEISH ONNN!!!
dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Lake argyle? Weren't they
Lake argyle? Weren't they concentrating on lake Kununurra first?
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
barneyboy
Posts: 1392
Date Joined: 08/01/09
States all of the facts
in RecFishwests e newsletter. Lake Kunnanurra is their main water supply
FEEEISH ONNN!!!
dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
http://kti.wa.edu.au/news/mor
http://kti.wa.edu.au/news/more-barramundi-for-lake-kununurra/
Pretty sure they have never stocked Lake Argyle. There is a few in there and used to be commercial farming operations there at one point.
They are definitely stocking Lake Kununurra though.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
Yewiefish85
Posts: 795
Date Joined: 02/01/11
Worked at the barra farm at
Worked at the barra farm at argyle and know for a fact that a fair few barra escaped, the commercial cobbler fishermen would get a few in their nets, would be good if they were stocked in argyle like QLD, would be a world class fishery
bigmick
Posts: 77
Date Joined: 04/02/13
Our state government doesn't
Our state government doesn't value anyone's opinion unless it is their (especially Barney Rubble's) own.
All political parties will promise to make the earth spin backwards if they think it will garner them a vote or two, then come up with some nonsense about it being something like a "non-core promise". Our government has no money to spend on important things like schools, hospitals and the like as they've spent way to much money on things they shouldn't be spending it on (like digging holes in the Perth foreshore and building sports stadiums).
Swompa
Posts: 3910
Date Joined: 14/10/12
New Children's hospital in
New Children's hospital in Nedlands, New Midland Health Campus and New Fiona Stanley.....
Had any trips out to the airport recently? 15 minutes from my place (Thornlie) to the Domestic airport with two sets of traffic lights. Previously a 30-35 minute trip.
Major tourism hub in the making in the form of Lizzy Quay. Been to Darling harbour in Sydney? Clarke Quay in Singapore? Southbank in Melbourne? Lizzy Quay will be awesome once its done.
Wasn't it only 4 or 5 years ago that schools got a massive injection to build new buildings?
Mark Mcgowan, is this you?
Wahoo
Posts: 243
Date Joined: 11/06/07
The new hospitals
A bit off topic but the new hospitals had been planned for a lot longer than the people that are in power at the moment or the people that were in power even before that.
Fishin for a feed and fun.
dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
My kids are enrolled at a
My kids are enrolled at a brand new primary school from next year. 3 mins walk from my place. Their existing primary school is less than 5 years old. The new highschool should be finished just in time too.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Cost neutral
Apparently the cost of building Elizabeth Quay will be fully recouped from leases, private partnerships and other revenues. Unfortunately its much easier to report that it is costing the WA Taxpayers $$$ million.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Our fisheries mangement tends to err on the conservative side
They got it wrong with whalers and WP's( but so did everyone else). The increasing of minimum size has simply meant that the overall size of the fish captured has increased , this is a good thing. I can remember it going from 350 to 410 for pinks, pissing and moaning by some, then hey presto!!fish were bigger, keeping just as many. Tailor were a great example, remember how some were saying they'd never be able to keep a tailor when it went up from the riduculous 250mm or whatever it was? Took a few years, average sizes were well up. This has carried through all species, NSW and Queensland in particular need to have a good hard look at the pink snapper minimum size.
But this is not really the original question--from where I sit, people saying that the other states do it better are being very selective and cherry picking their facts. Recfish west is government funded, and does a good job. Infrastructure didnt (couldn't) keep up with the massive expansion of boating/fishing that occurred through the early part of this century due to the mining boom. But that caught all responsible out, in every facet, not just boating. This government is spending a massive amount of money around the place, Royalties For Regions has even seen some spent outside of Perth
sea-kem
Posts: 15040
Date Joined: 30/11/09
That's a good wite up
That's a good wite up ranmar
Love the West!
Meteorite
Posts: 69
Date Joined: 30/12/10
Yes
A couple of lumps of concrete a lot of money to study it and see if they work. A brand new and quite awesome marina at Augusta, rebuilt the boat ramp just south of Busso, a whole new setup at Australind .a fair bit of time and money spent stocking and breeding trout and Marron in the dams around the southwest. Another huge project with the barramundi in lake Kununurra . They are just a couple I can think off the top of my head. But feel free to complain without offering any other good ideas.
barneyboy
Posts: 1392
Date Joined: 08/01/09
eggzackarree!!
eggzackarree!!
FEEEISH ONNN!!!
out wide
Posts: 1535
Date Joined: 30/12/08
Haha remember when the ALP
Haha remember when the ALP complained about the Dawsville cut and price of it all. Put forward and built by tricky dickie Court. I read that the land tax alone in the building developments down there around Dawsville have well and trully paid for it all. Lets give Richard Court a big pat on the back for that one. Love that estuary now.
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
And while the alp were
And while the alp were complaining about the cost..... its alleged their future prime minister was setting up a slush fund with some of the proceeds....
Fish! HARD!
slam
Posts: 168
Date Joined: 09/09/09
Question
Not really understanding why the dams in the hills etc are off limits to fishing & recreation of the sailing dingy style, no outboards. I understand that this is our drinking water but we do treat before drinking.
It is managed all over Europe. Coming from the UK 20 yrs ago i used to fish lakes & dams. Pay a day fee or yearly fee. Good times!
Why is it not possible in WA? or especially in the Perth region.
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Dinghies with electric
Dinghies with electric motors are allowed on lakes in europe.
Fish! HARD!
slam
Posts: 168
Date Joined: 09/09/09
Good revenue raiser
If they charged a daily fee for a fishing licence it would be a great way to spend the day with the kids. Take the kayak. Blow up dingy. We certainly don't make use of our dams & lakes. Good weather but no fun!!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Why can't you fish in the local councils lakes for a small fee
Most common answers,
someone might fall in and drown,
someone might damage the banks around the lake,
I don't want any rate payers having a good relaxing afternoon/morning by any lakes that we control.
Dawesville Cut, have you taken the time to read any scientific studies that have been carried out on the variety of fish that now inhabit the Mandurah Estuary now, and compared to reported species caught there before the cut was put in.
Big big eye opener, and what about the long term future of the current estuary species, big trouble ahead because of the ever reducing lower end food chain. No, get a copy from Edith Cowan university marine section.
What about all those who lost their fresh water bores due to the contamination of salt water with the development of the cut.
I live very close to the estuary, and yes it looks great and is a great place, at the moment.
Swompa
Posts: 3910
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Would have become a dead
Would have become a dead Algee filled swamp had the cut not gone through, wouldn't it?
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
apparenly wellington dam
seems wellington dam is to salty funny that how is its one of the best marron spots best not say no more might get in the shit
hezzy
Posts: 1521
Date Joined: 27/11/09
interesting reading in the
interesting reading in the link below on where the money is going
hezzy
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Fishing-and-Aquaculture/Recreational-Fishing/Supporting-Recreational-Fishing/Pages/default.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Catch+November+2015&utm_content=Catch+November+2015+CID_e9595c83b1066769105e56a139d54faa&utm_source=Campaign%20Monior&utm_term=Licence%20fees
Supporting recreational fishing
Page Content
Each year about $19 million is spent on the management and improvement of our recreational fisheries.
Recreational fishers contribute about $6m to this cost through licence fees, every cent of which is spent, by law, on recreational fishing.
The State Government contributes the remaining $13 million to ensure the continuation of sustainable management of recreational fishing in Western Australia.
Our approach to maintaining sustainable fisheries is underpinned by:
Research – including making assessments of fish stocks, researching key recreational fishing species and undertaking surveys of recreational fishing activity.
Management – including the identification and management of risks to recreational fishing and fish stocks, consultation with the recreational fishing community, developing new fishing laws and managing recreational fishing projects.
Compliance – educating recreational fishers and the community about sustainable fishing, enforcing recreational fishing rules and protecting fish stocks and fish habitats.
The peak body representing recreational fishing interests in Western Australia, Recfishwest, advises and represents the interests of recreational fishers and provides advice to the Government.
Increases in money from recreational fishing licences in recent years and additional government money have funded several new initiatives that have enhanced recreational fishing in Western Australia.
New recreational fishing initiatives
Additional fisheries mobile patrol units
$2 million has been spent on thirteen additional Fisheries and Marine Officers and extra vehicles now operating around the State. The patrol units play an important educational and enforcement role in the long-term promotion of sustainable fishing practices and compliance with the rules.
Artificial reef pilot study
$520,000 of licence fees have been invested towards a $2.38 million project to trial the State’s first artificial reef.
Lake Kununurra barramundi restocking project
$700,000 is being invested over four years to restock Lake Kununurra with barramundi for the enhancement of recreational fishing. This project is aiming to establish a world-class trophy barramundi fishery – a major boon to the recreational community and tourism in the Kimberley.
Western Australian Recreational Boat Fishing Survey
In 2011 the most comprehensive Statewide survey of recreational boat fishing in Australia was undertaken. The data was gathered from around 23,000 recreational boat fisher interviews and 3,000 recreational boat fisher logbooks.
The results from this $3.2m project will provide important data about who is fishing where and what they are catching.
This is critical information for the effective management of the State's fisheries and aquatic ecosystem resources, helping to ensure there are fish for the future.
Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund
A proportion of Recreational Fishing Licence fees, ranging between $1 and $1.5m, is set aside each year to provide grant funding for initiatives, projects and research that directly benefit recreational fishing.
Any academic institution, community, government, or non-government organisation can apply for these grants.
Examples of some grants that have already been approved include:
Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to be deployed off the WA coast between Cervantes and Jurien Bay;
Contributions to the artificial reefs program;
New fish species identification signs around Esperance;
Preliminary work on a Recreational Fishing Catch and Effort Electronic Data Capture System;
Funding for about 250 tackle stores and other outlets to provide recreational fishing brochures, stickers and other important information to recreational fishers throughout WA.
Educational fishing trips for underprivileged children in the East Kimberley; and
Manufacture of ‘brag mats’ in Broome to educate fishers about size limits and improving fish release techniques.
Further information about the initiatives fund, including how to apply for small grants and large grants is available from Recfishwest.
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Project aims to bring oysters back to Albany
Page Content
State Government funding to help restore Albany’s oyster reefs
Licence fees paid by Western Australian recreational fishers are being actively used to improve fishing opportunities across the State, including a major project to restore oyster reefs in Albany.
Fisheries Minister Ken Baston said $40,000 from the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF) would be matched with $40,000 from The Nature Conservancy Australia, to help identify or establish suitable habitat in Oyster Harbour and restock it with juvenile oysters.
Mr Baston said millions of larvae would be grown into juvenile oysters to help restock Oyster Harbour.
“Oysters are in low numbers in the harbour and, if numbers can be increased through stock enhancement, a new fish habitat will be created to improve the health of the ecosystem,” he said.
“That will boost fish stocks in Oyster Harbour and eventually offer flow-on effects for the quality of the local Albany fishing experience.
“Recfishwest will partner with The Nature Conservancy Australia, The University of Western Australia and South Coast Natural Resource Management to make this innovative project happen and I look forward to seeing the broad range of benefits for fishers.”
The Minister said recreational fishing was one of WA’s most popular activities, with about one-third of the population dropping a line, crab net or lobster pot into the water each year.
“The value the community places on recreational fishing is why the State Government has committed funding to a range of restocking and habitat enhancement projects,” he said.
“In other projects funded through the RFIF, we are restocking Lake Kununurra with barramundi, putting prawns back into the Swan River and releasing mulloway into coastal waters and estuaries.
“Each year, 25 per cent of the revenue raised from the sale of recreational fishing licences is set aside to fund projects to boost recreational fishing quality in WA.”
Fact File
Native flat oysters will be raised at a Frenchman Bay hatchery to harvest larvae
Since 2011, more than $7 million has been allocated through RFIF for restocking, artificial reefs and research projects
For more information, visit http://www.recfishwest.org.au
OFW 11
evil flourishes when good men do nothing