❓ The WA Government clarifies the extent of permitted fishing activities within State and Commonwealth marine parks, detailing specific zones and regulations. Monitoring of catches occurs at a bioregional scale, with finer-scale monitoring in newer marine parks.
AnsweredQoN 1624Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Government currently permit fishing in any State or Commonwealth marine parks? (2) If yes to (1): (a) in which marine parks is fishing permitted; (b) what is the nature of the permitted fishing; and (c) what methods does the Department of Fisheries use to monitor catches taken in marine parks?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 February 2014
Responded by
Minister for Fisheries
Response time
76 days
(1)
Yes
(2)(a)
With respect to State marine reserves, some types of fishing activities are permitted in specified areas of all existing marine reserves with the exception of the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve and the Barrow Island Marine Park.
With respect to Commonwealth marine reserves in Western Australia, some types of fishing activities are permitted in specified areas of the Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve and the Ningaloo Commonwealth Marine Reserve. Fishing is not permitted in the Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve or the Mermaid Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve.
(b)
With respect to State marine reserves, the nature of permitted fishing depends on the type of reserve and the zoning scheme in place. In general terms, the nature of permitted fishing activity is as follows:
·
all types of fishing activities are permitted in marine management areas;
·
all types of fishing activities are permitted in general use areas of marine parks;
·
some types of recreational and/or commercial fishing activities are permitted in special purpose areas of marine parks, depending on the purpose of the area;
·
most recreational fishing activities are permitted in recreation areas of marine parks, while commercial fishing is prohibited;
·
all types of fishing activities are prohibited in sanctuary areas of marine parks; and
·
all types of fishing activities are prohibited in marine nature reserves.
Specific detail about the permitted fishing activities in each State marine reserve can be found in the individual marine reserve management plans on the Department of Parks and Wildlife website.
With respect to Commonwealth marine reserves:
·
recreational fishing for finfish (for immediate consumption or consumption within one day's travel) is permitted in the Recreational Use Zone of the Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
·
all forms of recreational fishing (other than collecting) is permitted in the Recreational Use Zone of the Ningaloo Commonwealth Marine Reserve; and
·
commercial fishing is not permitted in any of the existing Commonwealth marine reserves in WA.
Where fishing is permitted in specified areas of Commonwealth and State marine reserves, existing rules under both Commonwealth law (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) and State law (Fish Resources Management Act 1994) apply (e.g. licensing requirements, bag limits, etc.)
(c)
The Department of Fisheries (Department) monitors fishing catch and effort at the bioregional scale, consistent with its Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management framework.
In recent years, the Department has received specific funding to undertake research and monitoring activities at a finer-scale within the newly created Ngari Capes and Lalang-garram/Camden Sound marine parks. This funding has provided capacity for the Department to consider options for monitoring and reporting of commercial and recreational catches specifically within these reserves.
Yes
(2)(a)
With respect to State marine reserves, some types of fishing activities are permitted in specified areas of all existing marine reserves with the exception of the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve and the Barrow Island Marine Park.
With respect to Commonwealth marine reserves in Western Australia, some types of fishing activities are permitted in specified areas of the Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve and the Ningaloo Commonwealth Marine Reserve. Fishing is not permitted in the Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve or the Mermaid Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve.
(b)
With respect to State marine reserves, the nature of permitted fishing depends on the type of reserve and the zoning scheme in place. In general terms, the nature of permitted fishing activity is as follows:
·
all types of fishing activities are permitted in marine management areas;
·
all types of fishing activities are permitted in general use areas of marine parks;
·
some types of recreational and/or commercial fishing activities are permitted in special purpose areas of marine parks, depending on the purpose of the area;
·
most recreational fishing activities are permitted in recreation areas of marine parks, while commercial fishing is prohibited;
·
all types of fishing activities are prohibited in sanctuary areas of marine parks; and
·
all types of fishing activities are prohibited in marine nature reserves.
Specific detail about the permitted fishing activities in each State marine reserve can be found in the individual marine reserve management plans on the Department of Parks and Wildlife website.
With respect to Commonwealth marine reserves:
·
recreational fishing for finfish (for immediate consumption or consumption within one day's travel) is permitted in the Recreational Use Zone of the Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
·
all forms of recreational fishing (other than collecting) is permitted in the Recreational Use Zone of the Ningaloo Commonwealth Marine Reserve; and
·
commercial fishing is not permitted in any of the existing Commonwealth marine reserves in WA.
Where fishing is permitted in specified areas of Commonwealth and State marine reserves, existing rules under both Commonwealth law (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) and State law (Fish Resources Management Act 1994) apply (e.g. licensing requirements, bag limits, etc.)
(c)
The Department of Fisheries (Department) monitors fishing catch and effort at the bioregional scale, consistent with its Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management framework.
In recent years, the Department has received specific funding to undertake research and monitoring activities at a finer-scale within the newly created Ngari Capes and Lalang-garram/Camden Sound marine parks. This funding has provided capacity for the Department to consider options for monitoring and reporting of commercial and recreational catches specifically within these reserves.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.