Catch!Issue 57, April 2021 Recreational fishing newsSalmon SafetyAs massive schools of salmon congregate off the WA coast during the autumn salmon run, they will also attract their natural predator, sharks. Beach users, surfers and divers need to be aware that there will be increased shark activity during this time, and are advised to stay away from large schools of salmon. Take a buddy if you are going swimming, diving or surfing and take note of your nearest BEN sign as you head down to the beach. If you fish for salmon from the shore, keep the sand between your toes. Rock fishing can be dangerous and no fish is worth the risk. If you do want to fish from the rocks at Salmon Holes, remember it is mandatory to wear a lifejacket at that location. Ocean users can also Switch on their Sea Sense to stay informed of shark activity by downloading the SharkSmart WA app for near real-time information. If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600 or report it through the app. Awesome Autumn of SalmonPhoto credit: Recfishwest One of southern WA’s most iconic recreational fishing species is being celebrated during the Awesome Autumn of Salmon 2021, featuring two showcase events run in partnership with Recfishwest, WA’s peak recreational fishing organisation, and Western Angler magazine. Funded through the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund and launched on 1 March, it includes a free-to-enter, three-month salmon fishing competition run through the Salmon Slam 2021 app, and the three-day Salmon Spectacular, a family-friendly Easter weekend event held in Albany, coordinated by the Albany Fishing Club and Western Angler. While WA salmon stocks are abundant, to ensure we protect our salmon fishery, stick to the bag and size limit rules and follow catch care principles, gently releasing undersize fish and those you choose to put back carefully and immediately. As well as weekly winners, top prize for the Salmon Slam 2021 is a dinghy, outboard motor and trailer worth $9,000. Visit recfishwest.org.au for more information and download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Send Us Your Skeletons winnerCongratulations to Kevin Leighton, our latest quarterly Send us Your Skeletons (SUYS) prize-winner. His lucky fish was a dhui caught near Bunbury in October 2020, earning him a prize pack including a Daiwa rod and reel combo, plus braid, and a Crewsaver lifejacket, donated by peak recfishing body Recfishwest. Kevin, from Bunbury, has been a passionate fisher all his life. He has donated many fish frames since the SUYS program began a decade ago, and statistics show that a couple of them were more than 19 years old. Kevin mostly fishes from his boat but likes to dive and catch herring and whiting from shore. Kevin said that receiving the results in the reports sent to him by the SUYS team was interesting. “I like to receive information about my catch, and to know that by donating the skeletons it is helping to ensure sustainable fishing for the future.” Join Kevin in donating your frames to the SUYS program and put yourself in the running to be the next deserving prize winner in our quarterly prize draws or of the grand prize this year of a trip to the Montebello Islands with Montebello Island Safaris. Find out how to donate frames at www.fish.wa.gov.au/frames Clean your crabs!Do you know of the importance of cleaning crabs caught in the Swan and Canning rivers? Take part in our quick survey to help us spread the word. Recreational crabbers fishing for blue swimmers in the Swan and Canning rivers are reminded to take home their catch whole and to remove the head, guts (mustard) and gills from crabs caught in these rivers before freezing, cooking or eating them, due to the potential for the toxic alga Alexandrium. Rock lobster surveyKeep your eyes peeled for DPIRD research staff in the West Coast and South Coast Bioregions. The team will be asking some recreational fishers to participate in a short interview when returning from a fishing trip at key boat ramps between Geraldton and Esperance. By answering a few questions about your fishing trip, and allowing measurements to be taken of any kept catch, you will provide us with valuable length and weight data for species caught by boat-based recreational fishers. We then combine the average weight information with catch by number data collected from our off-site telephone interviews, to calculate ‘catch by weight’ for key species. This on-site survey will take place from January through to April, and is part of a Statewide survey of recreational fishing. Abalone season statsThe always-popular West Coast Zone abalone season concluded for 2020/21 last month. Most fishing days this summer had a medium risk rating with fishers warned to assess conditions before going in. Surf Life Saving WA worked hard across the five fishing sessions, performing a total of 62 rescues, 59 first aids and 2,013 preventative actions. Compliance officers were also kept busy making sure everyone followed the rules, with an average of 21 bag limit infringements issued at each WCZ abalone fishing day. There were a total of 107 bag limit infringement fines issued, along with 89 bag limit warnings, 12 size limit fines and 14 people caught fishing in closed waters. Catch estimate for the season was ~28t, with an average of 5.6t per session. Research staff head NorthIf you live in the North of our State, look out for our survey staff at key boat ramps in the Gascoyne Coast and North Coast Bioregions over the coming months. This on-site survey will take place from April to July, and is part of the Statewide Survey of Boat-Based Recreational Fishing. By answering some questions about your fishing trip, and allowing us to measure your kept catch, you will provide us with valuable length and weight data for species caught by boat-based recreational fishers. We then combine the average weight information with catch by number data collected from our off-site telephone interviews, to calculate ‘catch by weight’ for key species. Western rock lobster syndicate bustedThe evidence is in the bag… gathered over 10 months, the western rock lobsters pictured led to our compliance officers searching a property in Leeman in April 2019 to bust a syndicate involved in black market sales of the lobster. The sale or trade of recreationally caught lobsters is illegal because it not only jeopardises the livelihoods of commercial fishers, but also threatens the sustainability of the fishery. In the Geraldton court case, the magistrate accepted the offending was towards the upper end of the scale of seriousness and that all three of the people involved knew what they were doing and that it was wrong. All up, more than $72,000 in fines, penalties and court costs was the result for the two men and woman who took part. Marine Science journal publishes researchers' workFour of our research staff have recently had their work accepted into the international ICES Journal of Marine Science. Karina Ryan, Steve Taylor, Alissa Tate and Claire Smallwood were authors of four research papers from 19 published worldwide in the themed set ‘Marine Recreational Fishers – Current State and Future Opportunities’. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and excellent science taking place in our labs at Hillarys. Recreational fishing is one of WA’s most popular pastimes, and it’s important that our fisheries’ sustainability is backed by strong science. The articles ranged from the benefits of using a registry of recreational fishers for surveys (such as our licence holders who are surveyed for the Statewide Recreational Fishing Survey), to improving the measurement of harvest rate for fish caught by shore-based recreational fishers. If you are interested in reading the articles, visit the site and search for the scientists’ names. If you see any illegal or suspicious fishing activity, such as taking excess shellfish, please report it to FishWatch on 1800 815 507. Did you know there is a bag limit for Periwinkles? Although not specifically mentioned in the Recreational fishing guide, Black Nerite, commonly known as periwinkles, are a type of marine snail that come under the heading ‘molluscs and invertebrate species’ – which also includes zebra top snails. The combined daily bag limit is 10 animals per fisher. Fisheries and marine officers in our South West and Southern regions have noted an increasing number of recreational fishers targeting these intertidal shellfish, commonly found in large clusters along our rocky coastline. If you plan to forage for them in WA, you need to know the fishing rules, including where you can fish for them, as they cannot be collected within marine park sanctuary zones. Like all animal species, marine invertebrates have a niche role to play in their environment. These animals are important in establishing the overall health of a marine ecosystem, and can contribute to fish health by removing parasites and harmful algae from coral reefs. NibblesMarron no go – A 32-year-old Ravenswood man was fined $2,398.70 and had to forfeit his gear after being caught fishing for marron out of season in North Dandalup Dam, a no-go area. More than half his catch was undersized. Illegal fish traps – Compliances officers discovered 17 illegal fish traps in Port Hedland’s creek systems in January and one man now faces a potential fine of up to $5,000 when the matter goes before a court. Remember – use and possession of fish traps is illegal in WA waters. Aquaculture industry expands – Huon Aquaculture is now fully licenced to begin aquaculture operations in the Mid-West. Huon, one of Australia’s most significant aquaculture companies, is planning a yellowtail kingfish project in the waters off Geraldton. This expansion of WA’s aquaculture industry will also create 30-40 new jobs at a new processing facility in Forrestdale. Read the full story. Funding boost for Hillarys Research Facilities – WA’s shellfish research capacity has been boosted with a $500,000 investment in DPIRD’s Hillarys Research Facility. Upgrades will include a new seawater bore and expanded laboratory and nursery facilities. The project will create 10 jobs and support economic diversification through aquaculture. Read the full story. Catch care – It is important to care for your catch – avoid catch and release fishing and stop once you have reached your bag or boat limit to help ensure we have fish for the future. SharkSmart WA app – It’s great to see so many beach goers downloading the SharkSmart WA app – with tens of thousands of Western Australians using the free app available from Google Play or the App Store. When you are out fishing or at the beach, help us to inform others by switching on your Sea Sense and reporting shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600 or through the SharkSmart WA app. Help keep our waterways pest free – You can help us protect WA’s aquatic environment by emailing Aquatic.Biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au, or calling FishWatch on 1800 815 507 if you see or catch any ornamental or unusual fish or pest species and please, do not return them to the water. Find us on Facebook – We regularly share information about fishing rules, safety and aquatic biosecurity through our Facebook page, as well as information of interest to recfishers. Check us out at Fisheries WA and give us a ‘like’ to keep us in your news feed. FishWatch – If you see something that looks a bit fishy, please report it so we can investigate. Anyone who has information on illegal fishing activities is asked to call FishWatch on 1800 815 507. Illegal fishing could include someone netting in the river, exceeding their bag or possession limits, taking undersize fish, fishing in a closed area, having more fishing gear in the water than they should, or selling or attempting to sell recreationally caught fish. Important disclaimer The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it. Copyright © Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 2021 |