Like this . Answers only what they want you to say . Pretty standard imo.

 The Abrolhos one was the same, the questions were all "rigged" for a positive response, the only way to consider other responses was via a comment, however these won't be collated in the data. So expect to hear them say "98% of survey respondents supported this" or something similar, when it's not really the case. Pretty clear to see they have already decided the outcome, now "we just need to make the survey responses align with the desired outcome!"

Flawed methods collecting flawed data.

Rant over.

BD.

 Leading us to our own graves 

 Yep 100% agree. Would of liked too say no the lot! No mention of reductions anywhere else just recreational! C--ts. Pineapple coming! Fuckn tags?  Limited days who the fuck can say what day you could go fishing ! On and on. I need a beer

 Well said, I totally agree.  From fishing reports posted on the net you would think that metro

 The above comments are all correct.

Reckfishwest is nothing but a QUANGO totally reliant on Government finance. 

Has anyone seen any evidence at all on shark mitigation Reckfishwest promised when fillet limits were introduced.

As a QUANGO they represent Government policy not our real interests.

Surveys like this are really designed with the single purpose of obtaining a desired answer. Politicians can then say our opinions have been considered. All smoke and mirrors.

Wagyl's initial post is most telling. How can the same research produce two opposite views a year apart. The powers that be still refuse to acknowledge that we have a shark problem.

Rant over.

 Yeah was a bit of a rort. Only one very brief mention of the shark issue :/

 Yeah was a bit of a rort. Only one very brief mention of the shark issue :/

  If anyone is interested, its such a shame just more rules, restrictions and mandates for recreational fishing.

  https://lagallery.parliament.wa.gov.au/detail/videos/grievances/video/6300926037001/west-coast-fisheries-affected-by-demersal-fishery-changes?autoStart=true&mc_cid=2a80694729&mc_eid=f51493ac71

 Got half way through it , realized it was bullshit so delete.

 you should of gone to 6.57mins and listened to the minister...its just such a shame that new restrictions will be forthcoming and we are solely relying on a report of "they say".

 Its a shame for all the coastal communities that rely on rec fishery industry small businesses i.e. Leeman or even Dongra / Kalbarri etc

 and still no shark mitigation strategies -  though we were promised

they said they bought back all commercial crab licences in peel inlet /harvey estuary, however its  still going on

massively biased questionaire , chose the least hurting option

https://www.afr.com/companies/agriculture/andrew-forrest-backs-234m-ocean-impact-fund-20211114-p598tj

https://www.minderoo.org/global-fishing-index/news/new-report-finds-global-fisheries-in-far-worse-state-than-previously-estimated/

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/andrew-forrests-minderoo-foundation-australia-ranks-d-for-overfishing-with-stock-on-brink-of-collapse-c-4621726

For anyone with any misapprehension about who's actually behind this.

https://www.afr.com/companies/agriculture/andrew-forrest-backs-234m-ocean-impact-fund-20211114-p598tj

https://www.minderoo.org/global-fishing-index/news/new-report-finds-global-fisheries-in-far-worse-state-than-previously-estimated/

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/andrew-forrests-minderoo-foundation-australia-ranks-d-for-overfishing-with-stock-on-brink-of-collapse-c-4621726

For anyone with any misapprehension about who's actually behind this.

 Money talks and the research walks to the money. How can we expect accurate research when he is throwing all this money around. 

We are being scammed, thanks for the post. 

 We are at an infliction point all because of some really really poor decisions 15-20 yrs ago on a number of fronts all political and commerical orientated.

 The recreational fishing community is being played as the the biggest fool now. Think about this your fees have gone up, and will contiune to do so, we have reduced our daily allowance we have all worked with this system, but the original benchmarking was set to favour commercial fisheries and was so flawed.

 your Dhu Bag limits 4 to 2 in 2003 and to 1 in 2009 + 2009 a 2 month ban. but where too now, I know lets create a quick fix...lets jsut cut 50% and create a new benchmark to meet a target with little firm science and methodology behind it and whitewash it as sustainable, why not buzz word "mandate it" 

 This quick fix with no real consultation, no real solid data, no DNA sampling in zones to assess populations, No review of all the options, they need to consider sectors or regional reviews of the fishery, jsut like the 20 yrs before us really bad decisions were made and in great hast then have significant impacts to all of us for the future.

 Its interesting that in the Fishing Management Report it articulates that the fishery is actually recovering but not at the rate "they" want it too as per what "they" set at 20yrs ago based on debatable data, because "they" know best.

 If the fishery is actually recoverying then why not manage the recovery with smarter technology, a new system or systems and zones not some blanket 50% reduction of tonnes for the whole fishery and hope that this logic will be sufficent for this so called date "they created" Has to be a better way, but sadly i dont like the chances of any politician or Don Punch and his team being smart and fishing for the future on this one.

Reduction prob would work . Because 50 percent of people will flog there boats . Are we All going to pay 50 percent less for licence? .No prob go up . Where is guy from months ago saying it will never happen ? Many things on the table ? . Snapper have come back big Time . Outside the bays . It’s not through bans . It was through stopping cray guys getting them . Big motor . Big amounts of burley same time everyday . They are dumb and can be easily trained . Snapper numbers are brilliant . I can not understand why they would put them in high risk ( there like blowies ) now days . Charter boats should go on pro total catch . Not ours . That is taking the piss . Fudging figures . Making our total weight go way way higher . They have to record everything .does anyone know there total weight of demersal catch is in west coast ?

Sign the petition... it’s one part of many things that need to be done
There’s also an election coming up !

https://www.change.org/p/don-t-take-our-fishing-freedom?cs_tk=AkECEWmxdg7EMW2SS2IAAXicyyvNyQEABF8BvOaeTLBCQbk44NSilIlVAQY%3D&utm_campaign=abbe277c312d46fda5d3fb9317cfc549&utm_content=initial_v0_3_0&utm_medium=email&utm_source=petition_signer_receipt&utm_term=cs

 If you signed the petition then make sure you share it. Still just under 2500 signed to date we can do better than that.

anyone who received the email from recfishwest would have had this same message on it as below

everyones choice to have their say or say nothing , but you can be assured there will be a result by the end of this year so dont complain if you dont have ago ,and end up with a new management plan you dont like , its easy to sit on the sides and complain but this is your fishery and you really need to put up any ideas that may be helpfull,via the options given to you , shooting from the hill at the messenger is not helpfull and does not achieve jack ime ,,

this wont be easy as its such a large diverse region covering different demersals ,, but to do nothing and just continue without reflecting on the real stage of the recovery of demersals would potentialy see it collapse in the future , your job is to read & understand ,get informed , question the science , ask for more info , suggest alterntives , be proactive and innovative in your responses , and submit your thoughts after that

hezzy
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We strongly urge you to take the survey, but if you have any questions or comments you would like to share outside of the survey you can respond to this email or call us on 9246 3366.

West Coast Demersal Scalefish Questionnaire
Introduction
Thank you for taking time to complete this survey – we value your views highly.

As the peak recreational fishing sector body, Recfishwest have been asked by the State Government to gather the views of the recreational fishing community on the management and other approaches to deliver a sustainable West Coast Demersal Scalefish fishery. To learn more about the West Coast Demersal Scalefish fishery please click here

It is important we understand your views so we can reflect these when we engage with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

DPIRD will be developing a specific management package that will be available for formal public consultation later this year. This will give you another chance to have your say. You can find out more about the consultation process by clicking here.

This survey has several open ended questions. You may write as little or as much as you wish in response to these questions. Some questions are mandatory, but you do not need to answer all questions. There are no correct or incorrect responses and all feedback is treated equally. The survey should take you 10 minutes to complete.

Your responses are anonymous and cannot be linked to you. The information collected will be viewed by Recfishwest and our consultants 361 Degrees Strategic Engagement & Communications.

If you have a question please contact Recfishwest on 9246 3366 or

A copy of Recfishwest's Privacy Policy can be viewed here and 361 Degrees' Privacy Policy and Collection Statement can be viewed here

This questionnaire will close at 11.59pm Friday 29 April 2022
OK
Question Title

 I finally got around to doing the survey, I thought it was pretty good actually able to choose from options that were in planning and still able to put out views across, weather it is heard or not is the real question. The tag system has merit, and easy to bypass 

We are screwed, how screwed we get is somewhat still in our hands

From the fisheries website, they are basing it on weight which I believe is flawed as they don't even know acuurately what is currently being caught.Their data is from boat ramp surveys and the like. The charter catch will also be included in that 135 tonnes which equates to less than 1kg per licence.

"The new recovery catch benchmark will be set at 375 tonnes, reduced from 750 tonnes, which translates to 240 tonnes to the commercial sector and 135 tonnes to the recreational and charter sectors."

http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/About-Us/News/Pages/West-Coast-Demersal-recovery-enters-next-phase.aspx

 Can't see how some sort of average weight taken per licence could work.  The current minimum size pink is 50cm, with a typical weight of 2.5kg.  Nobody would bother chasing demersals if you could take one per year, so some other approach is needed.  I tfish mostly inshore species but target pinks occasionally for a special meal. Take 1-2 fish half a dozen times a year, in the 60-80cm size range. So, less than a dozen per year, even though theoretically  I could take 2 a day, every day. Hopefully I can keep fishing for a  couple every now and then,  something like that.

 In principle I like the idea of a tag system that as Rob says can be rolled over if you don't catch a yearly quota.

But if the stipulation  is a maximum tonnage and ending up in a lottery then that as we all know won't work. 

They need a true marker on what the rec catch actually is  to specify rec  catch tonnage and work out a system from there that works for everyone.

Fishing generates a lot of money I'm sure the politicians are aware of that, and voter pushback if blokes are missing out entirely not being able to go out and catch a fish because of a "lottery"

And yet again there are a lot of factors that reduce rec catch anyway in the form of weather (blowing it's arse off all the time) 

Actually finding time to get out etc. 

This summer I've done ok on demersals but have probably caught only 4 Dhuies over the last 6 months so for one bloke not a massive impact. 

The rec sector has gone along with reductions and closed season, sanctuaries  and licence fees! Yet here we are, the pink snapper was in my opinion spot on. No one could argue it was unethical to smash breeding aggregations.  But the pro was aloud to continue!!! The crab fishery is classic closed sound, half your bag limt and seasons. The pros still run long strings of traps right along our beaches. Byist? The swan still has a pro crab fisherman using tangle nets. We are reduced  to half a bag to protect the stock's! The survey force's a 1-6 rating on the multiple choice questions that I don't agree with .Those choices I didn't like  we should have the ability to score them 6 .The lowest option.  I can see the use of the force scoring system being use multiple  ways. For me the 100% of our fees should be something we get a say on where it goes.  Breeding and restocking bye back systems, inpoundment fishing( barra, jacks and so to give people more options  locally) i feel until I can see these sort of proactive measures being used im reluctant to accept tags or half 2 fish to 1. The government needs to work to support the rec sector not just hit us again because it a quick fix. Fishermen a environmentalist at heart, we love our oceans respect our fish and often only catch what we need. Something past down from feather to son, daughter and will continue! The data says this the data says that.. forgive my which oppinon is right. Just my say.

livewire,

this is why i posted that we need to question the science this is being based on ,and the methodology used to get to a figure for threre take , given we dont fill in log books etc currently im sitting on the fence on that ,

here is how it looks in simple terms and there are different ways you could use to calculate a figure and im sure some one will poke holes in it , but

135000 kg of demersal whole fish divided by 300 days of the current demersal season each year gives you = a subjective TAC of 450 fish per day that can be harvested on the west coast , now if you give each of those 450 fish an arbitrary weight of say 5 kg each , that equates to just 90 demersals per day that can either be landed or are killed by poor release mortality which is being counted as part of the TAC , so then taking that figure of said 90 demersal per day and allocating it as one bag limit of just 2 fish per boat each day thats only 45 rec boats a day on the entire west coast, to harvest that 135 000 kg under the proposed new draft , and in reality it is likly to be less as some of those 45 boats would have lost one fish to release mortality ,,,

so in essence the question is , even done simply as above , does that stack up // if you think about it , it means we currently have roughly 90 boats a day every day taking/killing a possible 2 fish to be at 270 tons per year,

of course some days will be less boats out , but others will be more boats out ,,

if you then counted how many boat ramps are on the west coast ,
divide those 90 boats by the ramps and ask yourself is that looking close to to what you see at the ramps when your there each time ...just from bunbury south we have at least 18 ramps that i know of that get used most days of the week , weather permitting

but truth is we simply dont know EXACTLY THE AMOUNT BEING TAKEN OR KILLED however fisheries are working on changing that in the near future

hezzy

 Thanks Hezzy. I assumed the data would be average out like a mathematical equation. It's the only way they could possibly do it other than log books. Which I think are a good idea for some of our more delicate areas, say the abrollis, Montebello's. The west coast dose a good job of protecting it's self. Weather will keep alot of boats off the water, plus the 2 month closure we could average out about 4months easy. The figures of rec fish take dosent  separate bread and butter fishermen and demersal and charter. ( who should have log books and easy number to access).The number gets smaller again. We probably gain a few in the school holidays, but we all holiday away and fish spots out of the metro maybe once a year. For me I will always stick to the rules and encourage others to do the same. Their are a number of post on here that express the same view, framing there spots, fishing shallow after catching there dhufish.  Target other fish once you got a good one. The dermersal fish, probably should be narrowed down to breaksea, dhu, pinks, and baldies. A fox fish should be an extra nanagi should be 3 each with a boat limt. The deep drop stuff is probably  best left for someone else I've been once! Ha and just caught green eyes. 

i think pinks should be seperated out of the equation. juvenile pinks seem to be everywhere, applying the same rules to all species that compete for the same habitat and resources where one is on the cusp of thriving is going to put a natural handicap on dhufish. 

 But pinks and dhuies are both earmarked as endangered so how goods the reserch i don't line fish much but from what I hear on this site is pinkys are doing well shit there getting caught shore based. More and more as spearo i can't say I've seen a decrease in dhuies in the last 20 years I'd like to see who done the reserch as most of the marine science graduates these days are tipped towards the conservation side of things and not a scientific one.i think a revue of the data should be done before anything is put in place. 

 But pinks and dhuies are both earmarked as endangered so how goods the reserch i don't line fish much but from what I hear on this site is pinkys are doing well shit there getting caught shore based. More and more as spearo i can't say I've seen a decrease in dhuies in the last 20 years I'd like to see who done the reserch as most of the marine science graduates these days are tipped towards the conservation side of things and not a scientific one.i think a revue of the data should be done before anything is put in place. 

 I think the priority for all the demersals should be to figure out where and when they spawn and  protect those aggregations. Seems to be working for the pinks here.

Always seems many factors at play with this sort of topic. Today there was a news storey about the QLD spanish mackerel fishery being in crisis. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-08/spanish-mackerel-fishers-fear-writing-in-on-the-wall-for-mismana/100973740. The pros reckon it has been mismanaged and Fisheries claim the suden about face on stock estimates was due to new research methods. Someone also pointed out that the mackies  that get seasonally targetted are often part of spawning agggregations, making them easily over exploited.. All in all a mess there.

agree that is where the research money needs to go. captive breeding research / program as well.

anyone catching kingfish? i havent seen one but if the release program started back in 2020 was successful there should be a few around now.

 Simple solution to halve the catch rate, ban GPS's.

Since GPS came on the scene the catch rates have gone up and stayed up because you could mark where you got fish last time and go back to the exact spot again plus finding new ground around it so your fishing zone gets bigger, removing that will automatically drop the amount of fish being taken

 GPS is everywhere now, in phone, tablet, watch, radio etc, not just in the sounder/plotter. Can't see how you could ban it and if you could, should the pros also not have it? I began fishing long  before GPS and depth sounders, being taught the marks to line up from land for inshore stuff and how to read the wave patterns to zero in on reef outcrops in deeper water beyond sight of land. But you can't go backwards. So I reckon we have to accept the tools that are around to help catch fish will be used, whatever they might be. The social side of what sort of catch is acceptable seems to me to be the best thing to work on.

 I think Thanos had the answer afterall.

 Ban GPS'  I'll take #thingthatwonteverhappen for $50

so far it seems less than 5 % of RFBL holders have completed the survey

pretty poor effort really ,

cant wait to hear the loud voices complaining about the results when they happen ,,,

hezzy