It is said that several of WA’s popular fish species are under threat and so the authority has decided to change the existing regulations. According to scientists species along the West Coast Bio-region (north of Kalbarri and to the east of Augusta) are ‘at risk’ of collapse unless recreational and commercial fishing is drastically reduced by at least 50 percent. Under new regulations from October 15 to December 25, fishing for dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper is now banned. The limits for recreational fishing have also be slashed and catch size restrictions increased. The changes are expected to stop WA fish from going under.
Fisheries Minister Jon Ford told that although there will be some adjustments for people to make, the benefits will outweigh the initial loss and $7.8m will be committed to making sure people comply with the new rules. He added that the main aim of these changes is to ensure the survival of some of the most popular species so that Western Australians can continue enjoying their most favourite pastime.
According to Ford the drastic changes means recreational fishing will become far more sustainable, ensuring a quality experience for more fishers and their families for generations to come. However, the new package will not apply to people fishing for the usual fish species caught from beaches, jetties and groynes and nor will it apply to a large number of species which can be caught from boats, such as herring, whiting, skippy, tailor or squid, told Ford.
Ford said that the new changes will help to achieve a workable balance between the social value of recreational fishing and the need to save WA’s fish for the future. These changes would improve sustainability of recreational fishing.
