This discussion paper proposes a way to address issues related to the long-term sustainable management and sharing of fish in south coast estuarine fisheries. Through these schemes and management measures, reductions in effort (including hidden effort) have been achieved in each of the estuary fisheries by reducing the total number of participants. This has led to the development of a number of management proposals based on the following objectives;
FISHERY OVERVIEW
Regulatory Approach
Current Definition of Fishing Unit
Transferability Status
Monitoring Catch Trends
MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Resource Sharing
Assessment of Recent Fishery Adjustment Schemes The success of these well-targeted Fisheries Adjustment Schemes is clearly
Latent Effort
Optimum Number of Fishing Units
Transferability
Boat Length and Boat Replacement
Permitted Fishing Gear
Management of Specific Estuaries
Management Costs
PROPOSED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Introduction Of Consistent Legislation And Management to Effect Structural Adjustment
- Legislative Base
- Definition of the Fishery
- Definition of a Fishing Unit
- Identifying Key Catch and Effort Reference Points
- Weekend and Public Holiday Closures
- Daytime Set Net Closures
- Permitted Gear
The fishing boats that make up these units are also approved for use in the South Coast Salmon Managed Fishery. To achieve the above objectives, it is intended to introduce a closure to all commercial fishing in the South Coast Estuarine Fishery between Saturday morning and Monday morning. That all estuaries in the South Coast Estuarine Fishery are subject to weekend closures for commercial fishing activities.
That all estuaries in the South Coast Fishery Estuary be subject to closure to all commercial fishing activity on designated public holidays. Daytime closures for set nets exist at the Peel Harvey, Swan-Canning, Leschenault, and Hardy Inlet Estuarine Fisheries (Table 3). All other estuaries in the South Coast Fishery Estuary do not have daytime closures for set net (although there are seasonal closures for some estuaries).
That the permitted fishing gear in the southern coastal estuary fishery be limited to gill nets, trawl nets, drift nets, fish traps, crab nets, handlines, shrimp trawls and hand collection of certain species of shellfish. In 1995, the South Coast Estuarine Fishery Working Group (Fisheries Management Paper 76) reported concern about the steady increase in the length of nets used by commercial fishermen and recommended a maximum combined net length of 1500 m for set nets and 600 m for trawl nets . The maximum combined length of purse seiners or trawls allowed in the fishery is 500 metres.
That the minimum mesh size for set nets permitted to be used in the South Coast estuary fishery is 63 mm. The South Coast Licensed Fishermen's Association sought to include fishing traps as a permitted means in the South Coast Estuarine Fisheries and King George Sound, based on traditional use. It is therefore considered in the best interest of the fishery to encourage the use of crab pots when targeting crabs.
Determining The Optimum Number Of Commercial Fishing Units and Mechanisms for Achieving Transferability
Optimum Number of Fishing Units for Each Fishery
Only commercial fishermen who are currently authorized by special permit conditions are allowed to take certain shellfish species in the fishery. Shellfish harvesting will be limited to manual harvesting by the permit holder in designated areas and the use of any tools or auxiliary equipment will be prohibited. The rate of decline in entrants due to natural attrition versus offering economic incentives to abandon fishing was discussed in Section 3.2.
Reducing participants to a certain number can also be achieved by introducing catch history criteria into the management plan. The South Coast Estuary Fisheries Working Group proposed such a mechanism and recommended that participants who are unlikely to meet the access criteria be allowed to withdraw their approval of the fisheries adjustment scheme. Fishermen may prefer to use a combination of catch criteria and adaptation schemes to reduce numbers over a period in order to progress towards portability.
Fishermen who are currently considering retirement can approach the General Fisheries Adjustment Scheme, or specific schemes if they are available to seek funds for the surrender of their fishing authorisations. As previously discussed, the South Coast Estuarine Fisheries Voluntary Fishery Adjustment Scheme 1997 which was open for applications between January and May 1998 was successful in removing 17 percent of participants. Therefore, in addition to the proposed management measures, a Voluntary Fisheries Adaptation Scheme specific to the Fisheries should be considered to parallel the management arrangements.
That a voluntary fisheries adaptation scheme be reactivated in fisheries to match the proposed management schemes.
Transferability
The reduction in numbers is greatly amplified by the introduction of specific fisheries adaptation schemes. That portability provisions be considered when fishing units are reduced to the optimum number and appropriate legislation is implemented to limit fishing effort.
Issues and Options for Area Specific Management and Further Resource Sharing
- Wilson Inlet - Resource Sharing Issues
- Stokes Inlet: Resource Sharing Issues
- Irwin Inlet - Resource Sharing Issues
- Future Management: Restocking of Natural Waterways Fisheries WA have received requests from recreational and commercial fishers
- SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Incorporate the ban on all commercial fishing activity into the existing net area closure from the mouth of the fjord to Poison Point in Wilson Inlet. Extend the period of the existing commercial seasonal closure, December 1 to April 31 of the following year, by closing the Inlet earlier or later in the year. Although Irwin's Inlet is only open to commercial fishing for six months of the year, it generates significant resource sharing problems.
It is being considered to implement a closure for all types of net activity from the inner mouth of the channel to the delta head/bar of Irwin Inlet. As a result, any reintroduction program for naturally occurring species into a wild environment should be considered an experiment and must be carefully monitored against predetermined goals and performance criteria, and the results of the reintroduction must be evaluated before any commitment to further releases can be made. At this stage it is not intended as a management tool and therefore will not replace any of the proposals discussed elsewhere in the discussion paper.
That fishing units exceeding the proposed number may extend their FBLs for the remainder of the boat's life, but not after January 1, 2005. Auxiliary boats may only be used within defined areas of the fishery unless otherwise permitted. That commercial catch and management arrangements for crabs within the fishery's demarcated waters remain within the scope of the South Coast Estuarine fishery.
That only commercial fishermen who are currently authorized by specific license conditions are allowed to harvest certain shellfish species in the Fishery.
Determining The Optimum Number Of Commercial Fishing Units and Mechanisms for Achieving Transferability
SUMMARY
This discussion paper has identified a number of key issues that need to be addressed within Fisheries. Key issues relate to the adequacy of current management arrangements in providing a suitable regime for a sustainable and viable managed commercial fishery, while ensuring that all user groups have access to fish resources through equitable resource sharing arrangements. resources. The management strategies presented in this discussion paper have been developed to stimulate discussion on these important issues, particularly issues related to resource allocation.
In doing so, the report recommends a number of strategies that can be implemented through governance arrangements and opportunities for further consideration and consultation with key stakeholder groups. With this in mind, the report identified those areas of management that need to be reassessed and recommended strategies to address some of the key issues by introducing consistent management arrangements across all estuarine fisheries and implementing strategies to sustain commercial effort. and fishing at traditional and sustainable levels and the implementation of strategies aimed at ensuring the equitable sharing of fish resources among user groups. This was a complex task as this fishery consists of many unique estuaries, rivers and bays with different and unique characteristics and environmental qualities. In the long term, it is envisaged that the report will result in a change that will result in a management regime that will lay the foundation for a long-term sustainable management plan for the benefit of all direct and indirect stakeholder groups.
Fisheries WA encourages key stakeholders and the general community to forward submissions to the agency in response to this discussion paper. The process is detailed under "Submissions for this discussion paper" at the front of this paper.
SUMMARY OF GEAR RESTRICTIONS CLOSURES AND CATCH FOR THE MAJOR ESTUARIES
IN ACCORDANCE WITH Article 17 of the Fisheries Act, I hereby give the following directions to licensing officers with respect to the granting and renewal of commercial fishing licenses and fishing boat licenses for fishing on the South Estuarine Coast. All commercial fishing licenses issued for fishing on the South Coast Estuary must be approved as follows:-. 34;The holder of this license is authorized to catch fish for sale in the South Coast Estuarine Fishery.
34;The boat described herein is licensed to be used for taking fish for sale in the South Coast Estuarine Fishery." Where the fishing performance of the unit has been such that it can be determined that the members of the unit have the greatest fish part of their working hours in, and have not earned a substantial part of their income from fishing on the south coast of the Estuarine within the last two years. Subject to the approval of the Director of Fisheries, fishing units may be transferred from grandfather/grandmother/ father/mother of grandson/granddaughter/son/daughter.
A commercial fisherman who has been authorized to take fish for sale in the southern estuary fishery and who wishes to fish commercially in another fishery for a period must first obtain approval from the Director of Fisheries, who may specify the conditions. regarding the right to return to the South Coast Estuarine Fishery as a commercial fisherman. The holder of an approved license who surrenders the license or endorsement or withdraws from the South Coast Estuarine Fishery shall not be replaced by any other fisherman except in accordance with this notice or with the approval of the Director of Fisheries who may grant or refuse a such approval after examining the potential of the fishery. The holder (if an approved license for one of the fisheries listed below shall not hold an approved license to fish in the South Coast Estuarine Fishery--. i) Shark Bay Beach Seine and Mesh Net Fishery;. ii) Seine fishing in Exmouth Gulf Beach;. (iv) Swan/cannery, (v) Leschenault estuary fishery. vi) Hardy Inlet Estuarine Fishery.
South Coast Estuary Fisheries Notice published in Government Gazette No.
CURRENT LEGISLATION APPLICABLE TO THE SOUTH COAST ESTUARINE FISHERY
NETTING CATCH AND EFFORT RETURN
VOLUNTARY RECREATIONAL FISHING LOG SHEETS
CATCH SPECIES IN ESTUARIES
ESTUARIES OPEN TO COMMERCIAL FISHING
ESTUARIES CLOSED TO COMMERCIAL FISHING
MAP SHOWING ESTUARIES OF THE SOUTH COAST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
