Catch!

Recreational fishing news

New schemes to support West Coast demersal scalefish recovery

People fishing on a charter boat.

Commercial and charter operators can now access support schemes to help them adjust to the new management changes needed for the recovery of demersal scalefish stocks from Kalbarri to Augusta.

The Voluntary Fisheries Adjustment Scheme (VFAS) is now open to all current commercial permit holders in the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery, to support the sector manage the reduction in their allowable catch level.

Under the scheme, commercial fishers can voluntarily surrender units of entitlements and their associated Fishing Boat Licence in return for agreed compensation. Commercial fishers have until 30 September 2023 to submit an offer.

From 1 July 2023, a new quota tag allocation system is being introduced for charter operators who hold a Fishing Tour Operator Licence in the West Coast region. Under the quota system, 6,000 tags  (applies to the top 4 species) have been allocated between 21 charter operators in the region, based on their catch history over the past five years.

To help transition to the new quota tag system, the Charter Diversification Scheme will allow eligible charter operators to apply for grants of up to $20,000 to diversify their business into other tourism experiences. Grants of up to $5000 are also available to eligible operators with some reliance on catching demersal scalefish who did not receive tags.

Remember you can switch your fishing activities to non-demersal species such as mahi mahi, tuna and whiting in the West Coast region all year round.

Statewide Recreational Fishing Survey 

Research staff member conducting a survey at a boat ramp.

The 2023/24 Statewide Recreational Fishing Survey has commenced! We conduct statewide surveys every 2-3 years to collect information from recreational fishers about the frequency and location of their fishing activity, the species they catch and how many were kept and released, as well as other social and economic questions.

Interviewers from the ECU Survey Research Centre will be contacting fishers by telephone to ask about their fishing. DPIRD staff will also interview recreational fishers at key boat ramps statewide. 

The success of this survey relies on the cooperation of the recreational fishing community; whether you fish a lot or only occasionally. We would really appreciate your help if you are contacted. Information will be compared with previous surveys to improve our understanding of recreational fishing in Western Australia.

Innovative research methods to study snapper aggregations

Overhead photograph of snapper aggregations in Cockburn Sound

Our scientists have been using drones and recreational fish finders to study pink snapper aggregations in Cockburn Sound.

On multiple new moons last year (when pink snapper aggregate), our researchers headed out to trial these methods for the first time.  We identified snapper aggregations using each method, but found that using them in combination was the most successful approach! We’ll conduct the surveys again in 2023 to confirm if the methods are repeatable.

We anticipate that these methods will provide us with a way to monitor changes in abundance or occurrence of snapper aggregations, in a cost-effective way to be able to provide information to stakeholders.

This research is a collaboration with CSIRO as part of the WAMSI Westport Marine Science Program. We would like to thank members of the recreational fishing community and Cockburn Power Boat Club for their initial help.

Snippets

• Recreational fishers all over WA can now Catch The Facts on each bioregion's recreational fishing activity! Click here for the factsheets for the North Coast, Gascoyne Coast, West Coast, and South Coast Bioregions.
• Are you interested in stocking trout in farm dams and closed aquaponics systems? Check out our new streamlined approvals process by filling out our trout translocation form online. 

Seasonal notes

• Heading to Shark Bay to catch some sunshine? Please note that a pink snapper closure is in place from 1 May to 31 July (inclusive) in the Eastern Gulf to provide protection for the breeding aggregations which occur during this period in that area.
• Fishing for demersal scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion is now open from 1 April to 31 July (inclusive). 
• Fishing for blue swimmer crabs in Cockburn Sound is closed until further notice.
• You can find out the dates for the various fishing seasons in our Recreational fishing seasons calendar.

Caught Out!

A Geraldton magistrate this week issued fines totalling almost nine thousand dollars ($8989.30) to a 53-year-old man from Beresford for three offences related to out of season abalone fishing on a reef platform at Cape Burney last December. DPIRD fisheries officers apprehended the man after he returned to shore and was found with 127 abalone in a backpack. He did not have a Recreational fishing licence for abalone and had taken his haul from waters closed to abalone fishing. Read more in the media release. 

Be SharkSmart

Join more than 100,000 people who have already downloaded the SharkSmart WA app. Report shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600 or download the SharkSmart WA app for near real time updates of the latest reported sightings.

FishWatch and Aquatic Biosecurity

If you see something that looks a bit fishy, please report it so we can investigate.

• Information about illegal fishing activities should be reported to FishWatch on 1800 815 507 or report it online at: https://www.crimestopperswa.com.au/organisation-report/fishwatch/.
• If you see or catch any ornamental or pest species, please do not release them into the water - instead, report them to Aquatic.Biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au. 

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 © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2023.