❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about increased commercial fishing pressure off Augusta following the closure of the metropolitan fishing zone. The Minister outlines monitoring measures and future management plans to address these concerns.
AnsweredQoN 977Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WEST COAST FISHERY
Following the minister’s recent announcement of the closure of the metropolitan fishing zone to the commercial fishing of demersal fish from November - (1) Is the minister aware that several additional commercial fishermen are now operating in the west coast fishery, particularly off the coast of Augusta? (2) How is the minister monitoring and policing this additional pressure on fish stocks in this region? (3) What measures are in place to properly manage this fishery into the future? Hon JON FORD
Following the minister’s recent announcement of the closure of the metropolitan fishing zone to the commercial fishing of demersal fish from November - (1) Is the minister aware that several additional commercial fishermen are now operating in the west coast fishery, particularly off the coast of Augusta? (2) How is the minister monitoring and policing this additional pressure on fish stocks in this region? (3) What measures are in place to properly manage this fishery into the future? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(1) Is the minister aware that several additional commercial fishermen are now operating in the west coast fishery, particularly off the coast of Augusta? (2) How is the minister monitoring and policing this additional pressure on fish stocks in this region? (3) What measures are in place to properly manage this fishery into the future? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(2) How is the minister monitoring and policing this additional pressure on fish stocks in this region? (3) What measures are in place to properly manage this fishery into the future? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(3) What measures are in place to properly manage this fishery into the future? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(1) Is the minister aware that several additional commercial fishermen are now operating in the west coast fishery, particularly off the coast of Augusta? (2) How is the minister monitoring and policing this additional pressure on fish stocks in this region? (3) What measures are in place to properly manage this fishery into the future? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(2) How is the minister monitoring and policing this additional pressure on fish stocks in this region? (3) What measures are in place to properly manage this fishery into the future? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(3) What measures are in place to properly manage this fishery into the future? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(1) My department has advised me that it is not aware of any recent increase in the number of fishing boats operating off the coast of Augusta. (2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(2) The activities of commercial fishers are monitored in accordance with legislative requirements and are subject to inspection by fisheries and marine officers. Commercial fishers are required under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 to make records of their fishing activities. The records must be submitted each month to the department, where they are used by the department’s research and management officers to monitor and manage catch and effort in the commercial fisheries. Failure to make, submit or retain the records carries significant penalties under the act. (3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
(3) The honourable member may recall my announcement of 29 May regarding the outcomes from the wetline fishing review. My wetline review decisions, which are to be implemented in the coming months, will reduce the number of fishing boats currently permitted to wetline on the Western Australian coast from around 1 250 to approximately 70. Those 70 will operate under a new management plan for the west coast demersal scalefish fishery and will be restricted by zone. This means that each zone of the fishery will be accessed only by a limited number of operators, and commercial fishers affected by the metropolitan zone closure will not be able to fish in any other zone of the fishery unless they are permitted to operate in that zone. As the south west zone of the fishery extends from around Tims Thicket, 33 degrees south, to Black Point, 115 degrees, 30 minutes east of Augusta, the level of fishing effort in waters adjacent to Augusta, Margaret River and other important centres will be capped, and catches will be managed to target catch levels. Until the outcomes of the wetline review are implemented, the existing management arrangements will continue to apply to the commercial wetline fishery. There is a risk that some fishers may exploit the existing arrangements prior to the implementation of the new management plan. However, if this becomes apparent, I am prepared to implement a temporary closure of the fishery under section 43 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
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