West Coast abalone season ends this weekend

7/12/03: The Department of Fisheries has commended recreational abalone fishers for abiding by fishing rules but reminds them to take only legal sized abalone from reefs on the last day of the 2003 West Coast abalone season this Sunday, December 7.

Recreational Fisheries Policy Officer Nathan Harrison said numbers of legal sized animals on tops of reefs were reducing as the season draws to a close and fishers are reminded to abide by the 60 mm minimum legal size limit.

Fishers are also urged to not to 'high grade' their catch - taking larger abalone in favour of smaller ones then discarding the unwanted catch - a practice that affects the future of precious fish stocks.

"Because abalone have no clotting agent in their blood, any injury is fatal so it is important to remove sized abalone very carefully, Mr Harrison said.

"While many people have observed bag and size limits, a number of fishers face prosecution for exceeding bag limits and not possessing a recreational abalone fishing licence."

One individual faces almost $30,000 in fines and possible imprisonment for obstructing Fisheries Officers and allegedly taking 156 abalone in excess of the possession limit of 20. The individual faces court later this month.

The bag possession limit for Roe's abalone is 20 per fisher per day and the new possession limit of 80 Roe's abalone per person at their place of residence also applies.

Mr Harrison said good fishing conditions experienced on most days, so far this season, had enabled fishers to collect their bag limits easily.

"We remind fishers to measure abalone before removing them from the reef," he said.

Extra Fisheries and Marine Officers will be patrolling to enforce new recreational fishing regulations that came into effect on October 1.

The Department's land based mobile patrol is targeting popular fishing spots, boat ramps and "hotspots" to make sure fishers are complying with fishing and marine regulations.

"Fisheries and Marine Officers, with the help of community volunteers, have a vital public education role to help fishers ensure that there are fish for the future," Mr Harrison said.

Important recreational fishing changes in the Leschenault Estuary

4/12/03: Recreational fishers are reminded that new recreational netting rules were introduced for Leschenault Estuary on October 1.

"Estuaries are important fish nursery areas for a range of species so it is important we manage the impacts of netting to ensure the long term sustainability of our estuarine fisheries," Southern Region Manager Phil Shaw said.

"Set netting is an indiscriminate method that will catch a range of species, including crabs, and quantities of schooling fish - many of which can be undersize."

To manage the impacts of netting the following rules have been introduced for the Leschenault Estuary:

· Set netting in the Leschenault estuary is restricted to Wednesday and Friday nights only.

· Netters can set nets one and a half hours before sunset and must remove their nets one and a half hours after sunrise on the following morning.

· Recreational netters must attend their net at all times and lift and clean the net hourly.

· Using metal stakes to anchor nets is prohibited. Sand bags are recommended for this purpose.

· Prawn drag netting is now banned in the Leschenault Estuary due to bycatch of crabs and small fish. Fishers can use dip nets to collect prawns in the estuary.

Recreational netters are reminded that set nets are not permitted gear for catching crabs.

Any crabs caught in a set net must be carefully returned to the water.

The Leschenault Estuary is open to recreational set netting from November 1 to July 31. This season is in place to protect Cobbler during its breeding cycle between August and October.

Recreational netters are reminded a netting licence at $26 from Fisheries offices or Australia Post is required and all recreational licence fees go towards research and management of recreational fisheries.

Extra Fisheries and Marine Officers will be conducting land and sea patrols along the South West coast during the recreational fishing season.

The public can report illegal fishing activity on the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline: 1800 815 507.

Fisheries and Police patrol Rottnest waters during school celebrations

A joint operation between the Department of Fisheries and WA Water Police started this week on Rottnest Island in response to school leavers' celebrations.

Fisheries and Marine Officers (FMOs) and Water Police will deliver marine safety messages, while FMOs will ensure fishers and boat users abide by fishing, boating and diving regulations.

Since July, the Department's FMOs have been responsible for enforcing both fishing and marine safety rules in coastal waters around the State.

Authorities said visitors to Rottnest Island will increase during the school leavers' celebrations - which are held between November 20 and 27 - and it is expected that a large fleet of recreational vessels will be moored and operating in the waters around the island.

"We urge school leavers and others fishing around Rotto to do the right thing and observe fishing and marine safety rules," Fisheries Metropolitan Region Manager Tony Cappelluti said.

FMOs will be inspecting recreational rock lobster and other fish catches, to ensure fishers comply with new bag and size limits which came into effect in October.

Fisheries' Patrol Vessel Guardian and other boats will be on patrol around Rottnest working with a Police vessel to make sure recreational boaters have adequate sea safety gear, including life jackets, flares and radios on board.

Skippers are reminded that they are responsible for the safety of their passengers, and should ensure that everyone on board can operate the radio, safety equipment and vessel in the event of an emergency.

Water Police spokesman Senior Sergeant Greg Knott said: "Water Police will be patrolling the waters around the island ensuring the safe operations of vessels and we will be dealing with inappropriate behaviour and breaches of marine legislation.

"Vessels conveying large quantities of liquor to the island will be subject to scrutiny and enforcement of the Liquor Act will occur."