Big changes for WA recreational fishers

A science-based review of WA Fisheries regulations is underway with the aim of ensuring size limits contribute meaningfully to the sustainable management of individual species.

A Discussion Paper titled A Review of Size Limits for Finfish in Western Australia (Fisheries Management Paper No. 280) has been released.

The paper proposes that a range of species, such as baldchin groper which often do not survive post-capture release due to barotrauma (burst air bladder), have their minimum size limits abolished.

There are lots of proposed zero size limits for pelagics species like mackerel, too. For common fish like Australian salmon and Samson fish, which are often not retained and targeted more often as sports fish, it is also proposed the minimum size limits are removed.

Finfish size limits will remain where necessary to ensure ongoing sustainability but, where possible, they will be simplified and standardised for many commonly caught species — a win for both fishers and sustainable management, says WA Fisheries.

Comments on the review of size limits for finfish are now sought from all stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishers, relevant community interest groups, Government agencies and interested members of the public.

Once the public comments have been considered, the Minister for Fisheries will consider feedback and make decisions on the size limits for a range of finfish species.

To see what's proposed see the Discussion paper.
More at the WA Government public comment and consultation page. Recfishwest are running a lot of info on it all, too. Have your before December 23, 2016, with the changes to the size limits planned early to mid-2017.