Recreational fishers are reminded that new management arrangements will be introduced for pink snapper fishing in the inner gulfs of Shark Bay on 1 March.

Stocks of pink snapper in Denham Sound, Freycinet Estuary and the Eastern Gulf are separate from the wide-ranging oceanic stock, have a limited "home range" and require special management arrangements.

Recreational Fishing Manager Andrew Cribb said the new management measures were based on extensive scientific research and advice from a community-based working group that was established to review the management of the pink snapper fishery in the inner gulfs of Shark Bay.

For the first time in the history of Australian fisheries management a total allowable catch (TAC) will be set for a fishery which includes explicit catch allocations for the commercial and recreational sectors.

Mr Cribb said: "The level of recreational fishing activity in Shark bay exceeded 43 000 fisher days last year."

"Even with a low daily bag limit the potential catch is not sustainable. Consequently, an absolute limit on the total catch is the only way to rebuild stocks and ensure their long-term sustainability."

The following TAC will be set for each area of the fishery:

· Eastern Gulf - 15 tonnes (about 5000 fish)
· Denham Sound - 10 tonnes (about 3300 fish)
· Freycinet Estuary - 5 tonnes (about 1200 fish)

The recreational sector will be allocated 75 per cent and the commercial sector will be allocated 25% of the available catch.

Once the allowable catch has been reached, the take of pink snapper in each area will be prohibited until the following year.

The following recreational fishing regulations will be introduced for pink snapper in Shark Bay from 1 March 2003.

Eastern Gulf

Bag limit 1
Minimum legal size 50cm
Maximum legal size 70cm
Closed season 1 April - 31 July

Denham Sound

Bag limit 1
Minimum legal size 50cm
Maximum legal size 70cm

Freycinet Estuary

Bag limit 1
Minimum legal size 50cm
Maximum legal size 70cm
Closed season 15 August - 30 September

To limit the total take of pink snapper to only 1200 fish in Freycinet Estuary a limited number of snapper tags will be available to recreational and commercial fishers.

"Only fishers in possession of 'snapper tags' will be able to catch pink snapper in Freycinet Estuary," Mr Cribb said.

"These new management arrangements are essential to allow pink snapper stocks to rebuild in the Estuary."

900 tags will be available to recreational fishers and 300 to commercial fishers. The design of the tag ensures it can only be used once.

From 7 March 2003, 400 tags will be available from Department of Fisheries offices in Denham and Carnarvon and Perth head office at a cost of $10 each. Fishers must apply in person for the tags and only two tags per month are available to any one fisher.

For the peak period of June and July, the remaining 500 recreational tags will be distributed via a lottery system. Lottery forms are available from Department of Fisheries offices, on the Department's website or by telephoning 9482 7333. Applications open on 7 March and close on 15 May.

Andrew Cribb
Recreational Fishing Program Manager
Ph: 9482 7334
(Mob): 0419 952 576