Recreational fishers have come to know about the new sustainability rules now apply, to protect highly vulnerable finfish species on the West Coast. The West Coast Bioregion, extends from Black Point, east of Augusta, to the Zuytdorp Cliffs, north of Kalbarri and is the Western Australia’s most popular fishing zone, attracting around 80 percent of the State’s recreational fishers.
According to Department of Fisheries Principal Policy Officer Nathan Harrison research paper showed the popular demersal (bottom-dwelling) species, such as dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper, were being overfished on the West Coast. He told that the new rules came into effect fron New Year’s Day in which reduced bag and boat limits as well as increased size limits for high-risk scalefish, so recreational fishers need to make themselves aware of the new regulations.
Harrison also informed that there have also been significant reductions in the effort for the commercial demersal gillnet and longline fishery and the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery (formerly the “wetline” fishery). He said that from January 1 commercial wetline fishers have been operating under amended management plan arrangements to further reduce their catch of the at risk species.
Harrison said the two independent experts, with substantial experience in fisheries research and management, are assessing the current scientific advice and proposed options to manage recreational fishing of WA’s highly vulnerable finfish species in the future.
