❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on the sustainability, catch volumes, and economic value of the South West bait fishery, including both commercial and recreational fishing impacts. The answer provides some data on commercial catches but acknowledges gaps in knowledge regarding recreational fishing.
AnsweredQoN 2059Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What research has been carried out to determine the sustainable annual catch of the South West bait fishery (blue bait, white bait, etc)?
(2) Has a sustainable annual catch been determined for this fishery and, if so, what is the figure?
(3) For bait fish caught by commercial fishers, what has been the average tonnage of such fish catch each year for the past 10 years and what has been the tonnage caught for each of the last five years?
(4) Are bait fish targeted by recreational fishers and, if so, what has been the average tonnage of such fish catch each year for the past 10 years and what has been the tonnage caught for each of the last five years?
(5) What is the estimated number of recreational fishers, if any, who target bait fish each year in Western Australia?
(6) How many commercial fishers are licensed to catch bait fish and how many of these have been actively catching bait fish over the past five years?
(7) What has been the average annual value of the total tonnage of bait fish caught by commercial fishers over the last five years?
(2) Has a sustainable annual catch been determined for this fishery and, if so, what is the figure?
(3) For bait fish caught by commercial fishers, what has been the average tonnage of such fish catch each year for the past 10 years and what has been the tonnage caught for each of the last five years?
(4) Are bait fish targeted by recreational fishers and, if so, what has been the average tonnage of such fish catch each year for the past 10 years and what has been the tonnage caught for each of the last five years?
(5) What is the estimated number of recreational fishers, if any, who target bait fish each year in Western Australia?
(6) How many commercial fishers are licensed to catch bait fish and how many of these have been actively catching bait fish over the past five years?
(7) What has been the average annual value of the total tonnage of bait fish caught by commercial fishers over the last five years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 October 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
29 days
(2) Yes. The acceptable catch range for whitebait stocks for the whole of the State is 106 tonnes to 331 tonnes. (3) For the Bunbury area (Cape Naturaliste to Preston Beach) the catches were as follows: The average annual catch of whitebait for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 152.2 tonnes. The catch of whitebait for each of the last 5 years was (1998) 66.8 tonnes, (1999) 87.4 tonnes, (2000) 86.9 tonnes, (2001) 111.6 tonnes and (2002) 64.9 tonnes. The average annual catch of bluebait for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 15.8 tonnes. The catch of bluebait for each of the last 5 years was (1998) 15 tonnes, (1999) 23.2 tonnes, (2000) 11.8 tonnes, (2001) 8.5 tonnes and (2002) 11.5 tonnes. (4) Yes. Baitfish are targeted by some recreational anglers. The annual recreational catch of baitfish is not known. A national survey in 2001/2002, undertaken by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of small baitfish in all of Western Australia as 29,626 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. (5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(3) For the Bunbury area (Cape Naturaliste to Preston Beach) the catches were as follows: The average annual catch of whitebait for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 152.2 tonnes. The catch of whitebait for each of the last 5 years was (1998) 66.8 tonnes, (1999) 87.4 tonnes, (2000) 86.9 tonnes, (2001) 111.6 tonnes and (2002) 64.9 tonnes. The average annual catch of bluebait for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 15.8 tonnes. The catch of bluebait for each of the last 5 years was (1998) 15 tonnes, (1999) 23.2 tonnes, (2000) 11.8 tonnes, (2001) 8.5 tonnes and (2002) 11.5 tonnes. (4) Yes. Baitfish are targeted by some recreational anglers. The annual recreational catch of baitfish is not known. A national survey in 2001/2002, undertaken by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of small baitfish in all of Western Australia as 29,626 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. (5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(4) Yes. Baitfish are targeted by some recreational anglers. The annual recreational catch of baitfish is not known. A national survey in 2001/2002, undertaken by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of small baitfish in all of Western Australia as 29,626 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. (5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
A national survey in 2001/2002, undertaken by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of small baitfish in all of Western Australia as 29,626 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. (5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(3) For the Bunbury area (Cape Naturaliste to Preston Beach) the catches were as follows: The average annual catch of whitebait for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 152.2 tonnes. The catch of whitebait for each of the last 5 years was (1998) 66.8 tonnes, (1999) 87.4 tonnes, (2000) 86.9 tonnes, (2001) 111.6 tonnes and (2002) 64.9 tonnes. The average annual catch of bluebait for the last 10 years (1993-2002) was 15.8 tonnes. The catch of bluebait for each of the last 5 years was (1998) 15 tonnes, (1999) 23.2 tonnes, (2000) 11.8 tonnes, (2001) 8.5 tonnes and (2002) 11.5 tonnes. (4) Yes. Baitfish are targeted by some recreational anglers. The annual recreational catch of baitfish is not known. A national survey in 2001/2002, undertaken by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of small baitfish in all of Western Australia as 29,626 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. (5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(4) Yes. Baitfish are targeted by some recreational anglers. The annual recreational catch of baitfish is not known. A national survey in 2001/2002, undertaken by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of small baitfish in all of Western Australia as 29,626 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. (5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
A national survey in 2001/2002, undertaken by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, reported the average annual recreational catch of small baitfish in all of Western Australia as 29,626 fish. It should be noted however that the Department’s researchers have raised some questions about the results obtained in this survey. (5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(5) The number of recreational anglers targeting baitfish is not known. (6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(6) Every person who holds a commercial fishing licence in Western Australia may take baitfish, provided that the person is not operating in an area and is not using gear that is the subject of some other form of management or prohibition (i.e. the West Coast (Beach Bait Fish Net) Managed Fishery in Cockburn Sound). In the south west of the State, 19 commercial fishing vessels have been used to take bait fish at some time in the past 5 years. (7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
(7) The average annual value of the catch of whitebait and bluebait (combined) from the south west of the State for the last 5 years is $425,000.
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