High interest from commercial anglers in being paid to relinquish their quotas has given the state government the ability to double the length of a recreational demersal fishing window.
High interest from commercial anglers in being paid to relinquish their quotas has given the state government the ability to double the length of a recreational demersal fishing window.
Fisheries Minister Don Punch on Wednesday morning revealed that 38.5 tonnes of pink snapper and dhufish stock entitlements had been relinquished by commercial anglers since the $4.1 million voluntary fisheries adjustment scheme was launched in June last year.
That is 20t more than the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development had targeted to help the species’ stocks recover.
The oversubscription means the second recreational demersal fishing window in spring can remain open for an extra two weeks, from September 16 to October 15.
Mr Punch said the changes would not lead to catch above the 375t total catch limit in the fishery.
“This is a genuine win-win-win scenario in very difficult circumstances for this critical fishery, and I’m pleased that we were able to achieve this outcome through a voluntary scheme delivering a very fair price to commercial fishers,” he said.
“If people don't stick to the guidelines, there is every chance that we will not meet the recovery targets and these fish will still be at severe risk or even worse.
“I do not want to be in a position of having to put further restrictions in place, that is why I am asking people to really do the right thing.”
Half of the extra catch available under the scheme will be allocated to recreational fishers and the rest will go to charter operators via an extra 1,500 tags available immediately.
From July 1, the charter sector’s take will be increased by 50 per cent to 30t annually.
Mr Punch said financial pressure on the charter sector was a factor in deciding against banking the extra 20t of relinquished entitlements.
“It will enable the additional allocation of tags that will enable charter boat sector to operate on a more sustainable basis into the future,” he said.
“Now is a time to think about using the additional tags to switch into eco-based tourism fishing rather than simply going out, smashing the fish and catching as many fish as possible.”
Mr Punch said recreational anglers should still consider targeting species such as tuna, tailor, crabs or squid to give demersal fish stocks at severe risk time to recover.
Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland said the changes would be welcome news to charters and fishing families.
“This is an unprecedented shift in fisheries management policy and a positive and encouraging step towards fairer management of this fishery,” he said.
“After a decade of sustained effort towards formal reallocation in our West Australian fisheries, this is a great start and we thank the minister for this decision.”
Mr Rowland said Recfishwest had been calling for a reallocation of the fishery’s share between commercial and recreation since 2012.
