According to the press communiqué released by the government Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said that the recreational harvesting of the marine creatures would be prohibited under the changed regulation. He added that Weedy Sea Dragons currently fall under the default recreational fishing daily bag limit of 30 which applies to any fish species that does not have a prescribed bag limit.
Moore also said that the fishing practice of Weedy Sea Dragons exposes to unsustainable harvests and unnecessary risk, which is easily managed by declaring them a protected species. He told that an exemption will allow licensed commercial operators in the Marine Aquarium Fish Managed Fishery to continue to take Weedy Sea Dragons for the aquarium trade.
The Department of Fisheries has monitored the commercial collection of the species and this would continue to ensure catches remained at historically low levels. Moore said that this fishery has been assessed as sustainable, so it is important it continues to be managed sustainably and that this unique species is protected for future generations. The Minister said that Weedy Sea Dragons are related to sea horses and considered by some cultures as highly valuable for alternative medicine. Making them a protected species removes any risk of this becoming an issue in WA waters and I was happy to support the change.
