❓ A parliamentary question regarding the mortality rates of protected species due to commercial fishing activities in WA waters. The Minister provides a detailed response, tabling a document with available information and acknowledging data gaps.
AnsweredQoN 525Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FISHING ACTIVITIES - MORTALITY RATES OF PROTECTED SPECIES
The minister is to be congratulated for his recent interest in whale entanglements. I refer to the mortality of species, protected under the Conservation and Land Management Act, as a result of interaction with commercial fishing activities in Western Australian waters. (1) What is the estimated average annual mortality of the following species as a result of commercial fishing activities, and in which fisheries are these mortalities occurring - (a) leatherback turtles; (b) fleshy-footed shearwaters; (c) loggerhead turtles; (d) hawksbill turtles; (e) Australian sea lions; (f) New Zealand fur seals; (g) bottlenose dolphins; (h) common dolphins; and (i) sea snakes? (2) If the minister is unable to provide an answer to (1), why is he unable to do so? (3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
The minister is to be congratulated for his recent interest in whale entanglements. I refer to the mortality of species, protected under the Conservation and Land Management Act, as a result of interaction with commercial fishing activities in Western Australian waters. (1) What is the estimated average annual mortality of the following species as a result of commercial fishing activities, and in which fisheries are these mortalities occurring - (a) leatherback turtles; (b) fleshy-footed shearwaters; (c) loggerhead turtles; (d) hawksbill turtles; (e) Australian sea lions; (f) New Zealand fur seals; (g) bottlenose dolphins; (h) common dolphins; and (i) sea snakes? (2) If the minister is unable to provide an answer to (1), why is he unable to do so? (3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(1) What is the estimated average annual mortality of the following species as a result of commercial fishing activities, and in which fisheries are these mortalities occurring - (a) leatherback turtles; (b) fleshy-footed shearwaters; (c) loggerhead turtles; (d) hawksbill turtles; (e) Australian sea lions; (f) New Zealand fur seals; (g) bottlenose dolphins; (h) common dolphins; and (i) sea snakes? (2) If the minister is unable to provide an answer to (1), why is he unable to do so? (3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(a) leatherback turtles; (b) fleshy-footed shearwaters; (c) loggerhead turtles; (d) hawksbill turtles; (e) Australian sea lions; (f) New Zealand fur seals; (g) bottlenose dolphins; (h) common dolphins; and (i) sea snakes? (2) If the minister is unable to provide an answer to (1), why is he unable to do so? (3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(2) If the minister is unable to provide an answer to (1), why is he unable to do so? (3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
[See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(1) What is the estimated average annual mortality of the following species as a result of commercial fishing activities, and in which fisheries are these mortalities occurring - (a) leatherback turtles; (b) fleshy-footed shearwaters; (c) loggerhead turtles; (d) hawksbill turtles; (e) Australian sea lions; (f) New Zealand fur seals; (g) bottlenose dolphins; (h) common dolphins; and (i) sea snakes? (2) If the minister is unable to provide an answer to (1), why is he unable to do so? (3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(a) leatherback turtles; (b) fleshy-footed shearwaters; (c) loggerhead turtles; (d) hawksbill turtles; (e) Australian sea lions; (f) New Zealand fur seals; (g) bottlenose dolphins; (h) common dolphins; and (i) sea snakes? (2) If the minister is unable to provide an answer to (1), why is he unable to do so? (3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(2) If the minister is unable to provide an answer to (1), why is he unable to do so? (3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(3) Is it an offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act to injure or kill these animals? (4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(4) What powers does the minister have to intervene with regard to wildlife interactions with fishing operations? (5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(5) Where are these powers expressed in law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is an old saying: when it rains, it pours. I have a three-page response to this question. Therefore, I seek leave to table the document and have it incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
Leave granted. [See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
[See paper 1633.] The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
The following material was incorporated - I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) is not the principal Act under which wildlife is protected in this State. The CALM Act affords protection to fauna only on CALM-managed lands. Wildlife protection is afforded throughout the State under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. 1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
1. There is no requirement under the Wildlife Conservation Act for fishers to report incidental catches of protected fauna, often referred to as by-catch, nor is there any protocol for such catches to be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Fishers operating in Commonwealth waters must report interactions with listed species to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
Consequently CALM does not have definitive information on the estimated annual average mortality due to fishing activities for the species listed in the question. The information available to CALM is as follows. (a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(a) Several leatherback turtles have been disentangled and released from nets and ropes in the last 20 years, however mortality from fishing activities appears to be rare. Long lines have been identified as a significant threat to loggerhead and leatherback turtles in other parts of the world. (b) In their application to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , the Department of Fisheries has stated that 4 to 6 fleshy-footed shearwaters are killed per boat each day by the south coast purse seine managed fishery, which comprises eight boats all based in Albany. This indicates that over the peak three month breeding season approximately 2,900 to 4,300 shearwaters are killed through fishing operations. This figure does not include any chick deaths in burrows. (c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive. 2. Not applicable. 3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
(c) and (d) There is anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers catch hatchling and small juvenile turtles off Ningaloo and at offshore island oil and gas bases. There is no information on mortality. Commercial net fisherman in Exmouth Gulf reported 1,019 turtles caught between 1989 and 1998, according to data gathered by a CALM research scientist. 890 were green turtles, with over half of these being juveniles; 94 loggerheads were caught, with 62% of these being sub-adult; and 35 hawksbills were caught, with most being adults. The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
The Kimberley Barramundi Managed Fishery regularly catches turtles but they are normally released alive as the fishers attend and clean nets regularly. The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
The WA north coast shark fishery 2005 state of the fisheries report states “No turtle captures have been observed or reliably reported in the northern shark fisheries and as the amount of gear used is small relative to the fisheries’ operational area, the risk of interaction is low.” Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
Turtle exclusion devices have been introduced to all prawn trawl fisheries in WA, but CALM is not aware of any data that indicate what sort of reduction in turtle by-catch there has been. The 2005 state of the fisheries report includes the statement “The Nickol Bay prawn fishery has on rare occasions previously caught turtles and sea snakes, but the very low effort levels and targeted coverage of the fishery suggest that such interactions would not have been significant. By-catch reduction devices (grids) are now fully implemented in the fishery, minimizing the capture of large animals including turtles.” (e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(e) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of sea-lion mortalities around the south-west coast are very low. Some pup mortality is attributed to the rock lobster industry on the mid-west coast near breeding islands. Sea-lion exclusion devices are to be required to be fitted to pots in this area from next season. (f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(f) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of fur-seal mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(g) The anecdotal evidence is that the numbers of bottlenose dolphin mortalities due to fishing activities are very low. (h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(h) CALM has published information on past dolphin mortalities (Coleman, J., 1997, South Coast Terrestrial and Marine Reserve Integration Study: Project #713, National Reserves System Cooperative Program: Final Report) The data indicate a number of mortalities and interactions around Bremer Bay between 1990 and 1996. Over this time two interactions were recorded with dolphins and purse seine nets, four mortalities were associated with purse seine nets and eight mortalities were associated with unidentified nets. Some 15 carcasses were found badly decomposed on beaches and the cause of death was unknown. It is considered likely that at least some of these mortalities were a result of adjacent purse seine fishing activities. During 2004/2005 fishermen reported four dolphin mortalities. So far this year four dolphins have been reportedly killed as a result of purse seine fishing operation and a further three dolphins were located on beaches within the Albany area. (i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
(i) There are no definitive data, however it is understood that most sea snakes are returned to the sea alive.
3. Yes, on CALM-managed lands and waters. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, however, it is an offence to kill or injure (“take”) protected fauna anywhere in the State without the authority of a licence or other authorisation under the Act or Regulations. 4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
4. A wide range of powers is available to investigating officers including the power to stop, detain and search under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Rather than reacting to alleged specific offences involving the taking of protected marine fauna however, there is a strong preference to anticipate problem areas and work with industry to find a solution as has occurred in the rock lobster industry with large whales entangled in fishing gear. Similarly, as part of national accreditation, individual fisheries have adopted gear and fishing practices that have reduced by-catch. The current level of reporting of fauna mortalities and interactions by some sectors of the fishing industry may need improvement, as there is an apparent reluctance to do so. 5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
5. Sections 16, 16A and 20 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as amended.
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