❓ A parliamentary question addresses the impact of increased commercial crayfishing in the south-west of WA, particularly within the Cape to Cape region being assessed for a marine park. The Minister's response indicates a negligible environmental impact due to increased lobster abundance and quantifies fishing effort in the proposed marine park area.
AnsweredQoN 393Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the increased presence of crayfishing boats in the south west of Western Australia. (1) What is the impact of increased crayfishing by commercial fishing boats on the environment and crayfish stock in the area? (2) What is the impact of increased crayfishing by commercial fishing boats on the crayfish stock available to recreational fishers in the area? (3) How much of the commercial fishing is occurring in the cape to cape area, currently being assessed for a marine park? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(1) What is the impact of increased crayfishing by commercial fishing boats on the environment and crayfish stock in the area? (2) What is the impact of increased crayfishing by commercial fishing boats on the crayfish stock available to recreational fishers in the area? (3) How much of the commercial fishing is occurring in the cape to cape area, currently being assessed for a marine park? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(2) What is the impact of increased crayfishing by commercial fishing boats on the crayfish stock available to recreational fishers in the area? (3) How much of the commercial fishing is occurring in the cape to cape area, currently being assessed for a marine park? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(3) How much of the commercial fishing is occurring in the cape to cape area, currently being assessed for a marine park? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(1) What is the impact of increased crayfishing by commercial fishing boats on the environment and crayfish stock in the area? (2) What is the impact of increased crayfishing by commercial fishing boats on the crayfish stock available to recreational fishers in the area? (3) How much of the commercial fishing is occurring in the cape to cape area, currently being assessed for a marine park? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(2) What is the impact of increased crayfishing by commercial fishing boats on the crayfish stock available to recreational fishers in the area? (3) How much of the commercial fishing is occurring in the cape to cape area, currently being assessed for a marine park? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(3) How much of the commercial fishing is occurring in the cape to cape area, currently being assessed for a marine park? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(1) Negligible. Due to the influence of a stronger Leeuwin current three to four years ago, there has been an unusually large settlement of rock lobster puerulus in the capes area over the past few years. Consequently there is an increased abundance of rock lobsters in the area overall, which has resulted in a greater number of commercial fishers targeting these additional lobsters. (2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(2) The increased abundance has been advantageous for both the commercial and recreational sectors, resulting in increased catches for both groups. (3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
(3) There has been a significant commercial fishing effort in the area of the proposed marine park, which extends three nautical miles offshore. I assume it is “nautical miles”, although the printed answer says only “miles”. The extent of this is being quantified and will be compiled as information for the Capes Marine Park Advisory Committee. It is also important to note that some fishing effort has occurred further offshore in deep water during the “whites” migration.
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