❓ Mr. Punch asks about the McGowan government's fishing initiatives and their impact on WA jobs. The Minister responds by highlighting the deployment of fish aggregating devices and their economic benefits, particularly in regional areas.
AnsweredQoN 1063Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RECREATIONAL FISHING
1063. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Fisheries:
I
refer to the McGowan government's delivery of more world-class fishing
opportunities for locals and tourists. What opportunities have been
delivered, and what does it mean for Western Australian jobs, particularly in
our regions?
1063. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Fisheries:
I
refer to the McGowan government's delivery of more world-class fishing
opportunities for locals and tourists. What opportunities have been
delivered, and what does it mean for Western Australian jobs, particularly in
our regions?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for the question and for his continuing interest in jobs
growth in regional Western Australia, and in particular in Bunbury. Last
week, I was very pleased to be down at Fremantle with Recfishwest and a number of representatives from various fishing clubs and
tackle shops to announce expenditure of over $400 000 on a number of
fish aggregating devices that will be deployed off the WA coast.� There are
currently six off Perth and we will be deploying another six off the
metropolitan area. There will then be 20 of these devices deployed throughout regional Western Australia including—Mr
Speaker, you would be interested to know—off Albany, Bunbury, Cape Naturaliste,
Geraldton, Exmouth and Broome. These floating devices attract small baitfish,
which then attract larger sportfish such as
marlin. They really enhance the fishing opportunity. They will be deployed up
to 50 kilometres off the coast, in the metropolitan area, to the west of
Rottnest, so a medium to large boat will be needed to access them. It is very
exciting for the sportfishing community. We know that recreational fishers
spend a considerable amount of money when they go on their fishing trips. The
member for Scarborough looks a bit quizzical about this; she has probably never
heard of these.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : She runs a tackle
shop.
Mr D.J. KELLY : I know.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr D.J. KELLY : She has woken
up!
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition,
I know you are fishing for a compliment!
Mr D.J. KELLY : The work that
we have done with Recfishwest indicates that recreational fishing delivers
almost $2 billion each year into the Western
Australian economy, much of it in regional Western Australia. As a government, we are committed to looking for new
opportunities through the recreational fishing initiatives fund to enhance that experience. I was talking to Recfishwest at the press conference last
week and it is extremely excited about this program. The representatives from
tackle shops who were there, again, were extremely excited about this
development. As I said, there will be an additional six aggregating devices off
the metropolitan coast, and 20 more throughout
regional Western Australia. They will be closely monitored over the next two or
three years to see how they operate and how the fishing opportunities
develop off those devices. Sportfishers throughout WA can look forward to some
excellent enhanced opportunities. It is not just a great fishing experience, it
is actually growing jobs in regional WA.
thank the member for the question and for his continuing interest in jobs
growth in regional Western Australia, and in particular in Bunbury. Last
week, I was very pleased to be down at Fremantle with Recfishwest and a number of representatives from various fishing clubs and
tackle shops to announce expenditure of over $400 000 on a number of
fish aggregating devices that will be deployed off the WA coast.� There are
currently six off Perth and we will be deploying another six off the
metropolitan area. There will then be 20 of these devices deployed throughout regional Western Australia including—Mr
Speaker, you would be interested to know—off Albany, Bunbury, Cape Naturaliste,
Geraldton, Exmouth and Broome. These floating devices attract small baitfish,
which then attract larger sportfish such as
marlin. They really enhance the fishing opportunity. They will be deployed up
to 50 kilometres off the coast, in the metropolitan area, to the west of
Rottnest, so a medium to large boat will be needed to access them. It is very
exciting for the sportfishing community. We know that recreational fishers
spend a considerable amount of money when they go on their fishing trips. The
member for Scarborough looks a bit quizzical about this; she has probably never
heard of these.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : She runs a tackle
shop.
Mr D.J. KELLY : I know.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr D.J. KELLY : She has woken
up!
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition,
I know you are fishing for a compliment!
Mr D.J. KELLY : The work that
we have done with Recfishwest indicates that recreational fishing delivers
almost $2 billion each year into the Western
Australian economy, much of it in regional Western Australia. As a government, we are committed to looking for new
opportunities through the recreational fishing initiatives fund to enhance that experience. I was talking to Recfishwest at the press conference last
week and it is extremely excited about this program. The representatives from
tackle shops who were there, again, were extremely excited about this
development. As I said, there will be an additional six aggregating devices off
the metropolitan coast, and 20 more throughout
regional Western Australia. They will be closely monitored over the next two or
three years to see how they operate and how the fishing opportunities
develop off those devices. Sportfishers throughout WA can look forward to some
excellent enhanced opportunities. It is not just a great fishing experience, it
is actually growing jobs in regional WA.
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