New fishing rules in WA

New fishing rules coming into effect in WA next month are the result of true community consultation and will, for the first time, see one set of standardised fishing rules for WA, says peak recreational fishing body Recfishwest.
 
Recfishwest Chief Executive Officer Dr Andrew Rowland commended the State Government for listening to the powerful voice of WA’s recreational fishing community. 
 
"Recfishwest played a key role in ensuring the voices of recreational fishers were heard and accounted for during the State’s review," Rowland said. 
 
"Our consultation on the review paper was systematic, with more than 900 recreational fishers having their say on what was being proposed and contributing invaluable grassroots advice and feedback to the government. 
 
"Recfishwest is pleased that the community had significant influence on the outcome of this review. The changes have removed much of the complexity from recreational fishing rules, making it easier for recreational fishers to know their bag and size limits.” 
 
The changes, which come into effect from February 2013, include:
• Large pelagic fish -- mixed bag limit of three fish across WA
• Demersal species -- mixed bag limit of five outside the West Coast Bioregion
• Near shore and estuarine fish -- mixed bag limit of 16 across WA
• Freshwater -- mixed bag limit of four
• Standard bag limit of two barramundi across WA
• Standard bag limit of eight for all rock lobster species across the State
• Possession limits -- no use of commercial couriers to transport unaccompanied fish
• Simplifying the rules of processing/filleting at sea and how they are landed.
 
Recfishwest advocates for sustainable fishing resources and policies that ensure long-term benefits to West Australia's recreational fishing sector.

More information on new recreational fishing rules visit www.fish.wa.gov.au.

Photos courtesy of Recfish.