❓ A parliamentary question seeks data on the sustainable catch, commercial and recreational fishing impact, uses, and economic value of the South West herring fishery in Western Australia. The response provides some data, but acknowledges gaps in recreational catch information.
AnsweredQoN 2058Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What research has been carried out to determine the sustainable annual catch of the South West herring fishery?
(2) Has a sustainable annual catch been determined for this species and, if so, what is the figure?
(3) For herring caught by commercial fishers, what has been the average tonnage of herring catch each year for the past 10 years and what has been the tonnage caught for each of the last five years?
(4) For herring caught by recreational fishers, what has been the average tonnage of herring catch each year for the past 10 years and what has been the tonnage caught for each of the last five years?
(5) What are the common uses for herring that are sold by the commercial fishers in Western Australia?
(6) What is the estimated number of recreational fishers who target herring each year in Western Australia?
(7) How many commercial fishers are licensed to catch herring and how many of these have been actively catching herring over the past five years?
(8) What has been the average annual value of the total tonnage of herring caught by commercial fishers over the last five years?
(2) Has a sustainable annual catch been determined for this species and, if so, what is the figure?
(3) For herring caught by commercial fishers, what has been the average tonnage of herring catch each year for the past 10 years and what has been the tonnage caught for each of the last five years?
(4) For herring caught by recreational fishers, what has been the average tonnage of herring catch each year for the past 10 years and what has been the tonnage caught for each of the last five years?
(5) What are the common uses for herring that are sold by the commercial fishers in Western Australia?
(6) What is the estimated number of recreational fishers who target herring each year in Western Australia?
(7) How many commercial fishers are licensed to catch herring and how many of these have been actively catching herring over the past five years?
(8) What has been the average annual value of the total tonnage of herring caught by commercial fishers over the last five years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 October 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
29 days
2. Yes. The acceptable catch range for herring on the west coast of the State is calculated to be between 60 tonnes and 125 tonnes per year. 3. For the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE), the catches were as follows: The average catch for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 84.0 tonnes. The catch for each of the last 5 years is (1998) 66.8 tonnes, (1999) 87.4 tonnes, (2000) 86.9 tonnes, (2001) 111.6 tonnes and (2002) 64.9 tonnes. 4. Recreational catch information is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recent creel survey (survey of actual catch) of salmon and herring fishing in the South West of the State was carried out in 1994 and 1995. Catches of herring accounted for an estimated 49% of the recreational catch over the whole survey area (lower west and south coast). The estimated recreational shore based catch of herring for the Bunbury, Busselton and Augusta areas (combined) were 323,000 fish (25.7 tonnes) in 1994 and 569,600 fish (75 t) in 1995. Boat based anglers took an estimated 52,800 herring (7 tonnes) in 1994 and 45,800 (6.7 t) in 1995. A more recent national survey in 2002/2001, undertaken as Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of Australian herring in all of Western Australia as 3,873,411 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. Nonetheless Australian herring is acknowledged as a key species targeted by recreational fishers in Western Australia. 5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
3. For the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE), the catches were as follows: The average catch for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 84.0 tonnes. The catch for each of the last 5 years is (1998) 66.8 tonnes, (1999) 87.4 tonnes, (2000) 86.9 tonnes, (2001) 111.6 tonnes and (2002) 64.9 tonnes. 4. Recreational catch information is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recent creel survey (survey of actual catch) of salmon and herring fishing in the South West of the State was carried out in 1994 and 1995. Catches of herring accounted for an estimated 49% of the recreational catch over the whole survey area (lower west and south coast). The estimated recreational shore based catch of herring for the Bunbury, Busselton and Augusta areas (combined) were 323,000 fish (25.7 tonnes) in 1994 and 569,600 fish (75 t) in 1995. Boat based anglers took an estimated 52,800 herring (7 tonnes) in 1994 and 45,800 (6.7 t) in 1995. A more recent national survey in 2002/2001, undertaken as Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of Australian herring in all of Western Australia as 3,873,411 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. Nonetheless Australian herring is acknowledged as a key species targeted by recreational fishers in Western Australia. 5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
4. Recreational catch information is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recent creel survey (survey of actual catch) of salmon and herring fishing in the South West of the State was carried out in 1994 and 1995. Catches of herring accounted for an estimated 49% of the recreational catch over the whole survey area (lower west and south coast). The estimated recreational shore based catch of herring for the Bunbury, Busselton and Augusta areas (combined) were 323,000 fish (25.7 tonnes) in 1994 and 569,600 fish (75 t) in 1995. Boat based anglers took an estimated 52,800 herring (7 tonnes) in 1994 and 45,800 (6.7 t) in 1995. A more recent national survey in 2002/2001, undertaken as Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of Australian herring in all of Western Australia as 3,873,411 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. Nonetheless Australian herring is acknowledged as a key species targeted by recreational fishers in Western Australia. 5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
A more recent national survey in 2002/2001, undertaken as Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of Australian herring in all of Western Australia as 3,873,411 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. Nonetheless Australian herring is acknowledged as a key species targeted by recreational fishers in Western Australia. 5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
3. For the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE), the catches were as follows: The average catch for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 84.0 tonnes. The catch for each of the last 5 years is (1998) 66.8 tonnes, (1999) 87.4 tonnes, (2000) 86.9 tonnes, (2001) 111.6 tonnes and (2002) 64.9 tonnes. 4. Recreational catch information is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recent creel survey (survey of actual catch) of salmon and herring fishing in the South West of the State was carried out in 1994 and 1995. Catches of herring accounted for an estimated 49% of the recreational catch over the whole survey area (lower west and south coast). The estimated recreational shore based catch of herring for the Bunbury, Busselton and Augusta areas (combined) were 323,000 fish (25.7 tonnes) in 1994 and 569,600 fish (75 t) in 1995. Boat based anglers took an estimated 52,800 herring (7 tonnes) in 1994 and 45,800 (6.7 t) in 1995. A more recent national survey in 2002/2001, undertaken as Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of Australian herring in all of Western Australia as 3,873,411 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. Nonetheless Australian herring is acknowledged as a key species targeted by recreational fishers in Western Australia. 5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
4. Recreational catch information is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recent creel survey (survey of actual catch) of salmon and herring fishing in the South West of the State was carried out in 1994 and 1995. Catches of herring accounted for an estimated 49% of the recreational catch over the whole survey area (lower west and south coast). The estimated recreational shore based catch of herring for the Bunbury, Busselton and Augusta areas (combined) were 323,000 fish (25.7 tonnes) in 1994 and 569,600 fish (75 t) in 1995. Boat based anglers took an estimated 52,800 herring (7 tonnes) in 1994 and 45,800 (6.7 t) in 1995. A more recent national survey in 2002/2001, undertaken as Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of Australian herring in all of Western Australia as 3,873,411 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. Nonetheless Australian herring is acknowledged as a key species targeted by recreational fishers in Western Australia. 5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
A more recent national survey in 2002/2001, undertaken as Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of Australian herring in all of Western Australia as 3,873,411 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. Nonetheless Australian herring is acknowledged as a key species targeted by recreational fishers in Western Australia. 5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
5. It is understood that the majority of herring taken by commercial fishermen is sold for human consumption. 6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
6. The number of recreational anglers targeting this particular species is not known. 7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
7. Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take herring, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management (i.e. estuaries under the South Coast Estuarine Interim Managed Fishery Management Plan). In the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE ) in the south west, 23 vessels have reported catches of herring at some time during the past 5 years. 8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
8. The average annual value of the catch of herring from the area between just south of Tim's Thicket (33 ºS) and Cape Beaufort (116ºE) for the last 5 years is $34,000.
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