1 Development of formal management arrangements for the G-net fishery is subject to the outcomes of the G-net fisheries adjustment scheme and the review of herring stock status and management arrangements (late 2016). The aim of the Review is to develop new and formal access and management arrangements for these South Coast fisheries. The development of formal management arrangements for these fisheries should be considered within the framework of ESD.
5 Development of formal management arrangements for the G-net fishery is subject to the results of the G-net fishery adaptation scheme and the revision of the herring stock status and management arrangements (to be expected in late 2016). The development of formal management arrangements for the south coast's commercial fish traps, G-net and open-access line and net scale fisheries and squid jig fisheries will provide stronger access rights for the commercial fishermen who gain ongoing access to these fisheries.
Review Process
Independent Access Panel The Independent Access Panel was engaged to review access issues related to the implementation of the Management Plans for the South Coast open-access line, nets and squid Deep-sea fish stock. Draft South Coast Longline, Fish Trap and Squid Management Plan and Draft South Coast Nearshore Fishing Net Management Plan released for public consultation. Publish this Fisheries Management Paper to introduce relevant issues and information for the Review and to provide the Department's proposed direction for the future management of these South Coast fisheries for consultation.
The Director-General of the Department will engage an independent Access Commission (Committee) to recommend criteria for determining access to commercial open-access, gillnet and squid fisheries on the South Coast. Draft Management Plans in accordance with the Minister's decisions regarding the outcomes of the pre-consultation on future management arrangements, the access criteria recommended by the Independent Access Council and the outcomes of the South Coast demersal stock assessment.
South Coast Bioregion Overview
The South Coast demersal crustacean stock assessment and report is expected to be completed towards the end of 2015 and will contribute to the development of more formal management arrangements for the South Coast demersal crustacean fishery under this review. Protected water areas on the south coast are limited to the waters around Albany and in the Recherche Archipelago off Esperance. The main commercial fisheries in the South Coast bioregion are abalone, purse seiners (targeted at sardines and other small pelagic species), and bottom gillnet and bottom longline fisheries (targeted at sharks and a small catch of crustaceans).
Other small-scale commercial fisheries include the beach seine fishery for Western Australian salmon, the crab fishery on the south coast and the occasional scallop fishery. There is also commercial fishing (with lines, nets and traps that catch scales and some crustaceans) in many of the estuaries of the south coast.
PROFILE OF SOUTH COAST FISHERIES UNDER REVIEW 3.0
South Coast line, fish trap and squid jig fishery
Total open-access handline catch by Catch and Effort Statistics (CAES) block on the south coast between 2000 and 2013. Open-access line catch recorded between 2000 and 2013 on the south coast has shifted from a focus on the use of droplines to handlines, with the most trawl catches in 2013 were recorded (Figure 7). Over 93% of the free-access trolling catch recorded on the south coast between 2000 and 2013 was Australian bonito.
Total South Coast open-access line fishing (handline, dropline, and trolling) and top 5 species by volume recorded between 2000 and 2013. A total of 164 FBLs recorded open-access line fishing on the South Coast between 2000 and 2013. of the FBLs who recorded open-access line catches on the South Coast ranged from 48–73 FBLs per year between 2000 and 2013 (Figure 8).
Annual South Coast open-access line catch (handover, release and trolling) by FBLs between 2000 and 2013. Annual number of FBLs that recorded South Coast open-access line catches ( hand line, release and trolling) between 2000 and 2013. Over 50% of the total South Coast fish catch recorded between 2000 and 2013 was caught between Augusta and Windy Harbor (Figure 9).
Total catch of fish trap in FBL status by CAES block on the South Coast between 2000 and 2013. Annual number of FBLs that recorded a catch of fish trap on the South Coast between 2000 and 2013. More than 85% open access for squid fishing on south coast, reported between 2000 and 2013 was caught in the waters around Albany and in King George Sound (Figure 12).
Total catch of open access squid jigs by CAES block on the south coast between 2000 and 2013. Annual number of FBLs that recorded open access catches of squid jigs from the south coast between 2000 and 2013.
South Coast Nearshore Net Fishery
Total open-access gillnet catch by CAES block on the South Coast between 2000 and 2013. The majority of open-access gillnet catches recorded on the South Coast between 2000 and 2013 consisted of Australian herring (89.9%) and southern halibut ( 6 %) (Figure 19). Strand sein dominated South Coast open-access net catches between 2000 and 2013, but open-access gill net catches have been higher than strand sein catches since 2011 (Figure 18).
The total open access beach seine catch between 2000 and 2013 was dominated by Australian herring (90%) and southern halibut (7%). Over 74% of open access gillnet catches on the South Coast between 2000 and 2013 consisted of Australian herring, King George whiting, pike, leatherjacket species and flathead species. More than 79% of open-access seine on the South Coast between 2000 and 2013 consisted of Australian herring and western sand whiting.
Total south coast open access catch of seines, seines and trawls recorded between 2000 and 2013. A total of 74 FBLs recorded open access net catches on the south coast between 2000 and 2013. The number of FBLs recording the open access net catch on the south coast ranged from 21- 33 FBLs per year between 2000 and 2013 (Figure 20).
Annual South Coast open-access net catch (beach seine, trawl and gill net) by FBLs between 2000 and 2013. Annual total number of FBL caught by South Coast open-access net (beach seine, gillnet and trawl) between 2000 and 2013. The number of FBL that Recorded G-net herring catches on the South Coast ranged from 2-9 per year between 2000 and 2013 (Figure 23).
KEY ISSUES FOR MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTH COAST 4.0 BIOREGION
- Status of South Coast Scalefish and Squid Stocks Demersal scalefish stocks
- High Latent Effort
- Cost of Management
- Resource sharing
- Access
All holders of unlimited FBL in WA have the opportunity to line, net and jig squid with open access on the South Coast. The majority of these FBLs (up to 72% per year) recorded catches of less than 2 tonnes (Table 6) in the south coast open access, seine and squid fishery. Total number of FBLs that recorded open access catches (line, net and squid) on the South Coast between 2000 and 2013.
Since there are a large number of FBLs that have reported open access line, net, trap and squid catches on the South Coast, there is the potential for a significant number of E-1 forms to be submitted. However, a small number of vessels associated with fisheries in other parts of the state are known to operate on the South Coast. CAES Fishing Blocks 3415 and 3515 overlap between the WCDSIMF and the South Coast Open Access Area.
Any catch history used to access the WCDSIMF cannot be used to access the South Coast open line fishery once it comes under formal management. The use of demersal gillnets in south coast waters with a mesh size less than or equal to 114mm is not regulated (open access). The Director General of the Department will commission a panel to recommend criteria for determining access to the South Coastline fisheries, fish traps and squid, and South Coast net fisheries.
Commercial fishermen operating from licensed fishing boats on the south coast have historically been able to catch scalefish by open fishing methods (ie line, net and gillnet). Free access fishing remains essentially an aspect of the "commons" that is not yet restricted (beyond limiting the catch of fish for sale to licensed commercial fishermen) on the south coast. The Department also notes that the conditions of operators in terms of involvement in open fisheries on the South Coast may have changed over the past decade.
CURRENT FISHERY PROPOSALS 5.0
- South Coast line, fish trap and squid jig fishery
- South Coast Nearshore Net Fishery
- INVESTMENT WARNING ISSUED TO ALL FBL 6.0 HOLDERS IN 2013 6.0HOLDERS IN 2013
- ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT 7.07.0
Oceanic fish traps will be specific to target fish species from the class Osteichthyes (bony fish). There will be a maximum number of lines or lines that can be used at any one time. There will be a maximum number of hooks allowed to be used on each line or lines.
Fish trap design (volume, length, width, height, number and size of openings, escape holes, etc.) will be specific to the marine and King George Sound zones. A maximum of 10 fish traps will be permitted to be used for each permit holder in the waters of King George Sound, as currently permitted under FBL Condition 192. There will be a maximum number of oceanic fish traps that may be used at any one time.
There will be gear labeling requirements for any dropline or fishing trap used in the fishery. There will be a limit on the number of handlines and/or droplines that may be used at any one time to fish for squid using squid jigs. There will be a maximum number of squid jigs that may be used on any hand line or drop line.
Subject to the planned herring management review at the end of 2016 and the outcome of the G-net fishing regulation scheme, specific G-net areas will be introduced for the 10 beaches previously accessed by holders of FBL Condition 42. 21 The development of formal management arrangements for the G-net fishery is subject to the outcomes of the G-net fishery regulation scheme and review of the herring stock status and management arrangements (finally in late 2016). 22 The development of formal management arrangements for the G-net fishery is subject to the outcomes of the G-net fisheries regulation scheme and the review of herring stock status and management arrangements (due late 2016).
