WA Recreational Boat Fishing Survey

The results from the latest WA Recreational Boat Fishing Survey have been released today (November 23, 2015) and it's good news for recreational fishers and the fishing future.

Almost 7500 fishers took part in the second major boat fishing survey, the most comprehensive of its kind in Australia.

The innovative format, using log books (3036 fishers kept them), boat ramp surveys (4425 interviews) and remote cameras, has been used to generate catch estimates covering the entire State.

Examining the catches of 7500 boat fisher in the State across the 2013-14 period, the biennial survey revealed blue swimmer crabs and school whiting were by far the most popular species.

This results underscore the important of maintaining access to WA waterways for the grassroots fisher, the family fishing and the majority of anglers chasing bread-and-butter species.

Funded by the more than 1400 WA rec-fishing-from-a-boat licences, the survey seeks to safeguard and enhance rec fishing by collecting essential data and applying management tools if and when necessary.

To this end, Fisheries Minister Ken Baston said the survey revealed recreational fisher's ongoing stewardship of fish resources.

He said more than 901,000 blue swimmer crabs had been caught during 2013-14, of which about 68 per cent were released. This marks an increase of about 20 per cent on the previous survey.

Mr Baston said for overall fish caught, more than half were released, showing that recreational fishers were respecting conservation measures.

School whiting proved to be the most popular finfish. About 352,000 school whiting were caught, as well as 173,000 Australian herring and about 148,000 pink snapper.

Boat fishing was most popular between Kalbarri and Augusta, where catches of pink snapper and dhufish (opening pic) have remained steady.

The Minister said the investment in this innovative survey recognised the importance the State Government had placed on the effective management of recreational fishing in Western Australia and it was another example of licence fees at work.

As part of the stock-recovery plan, the taking or landing of demersal finfish is prohibited between Kalbarri and Augusta from October 15 to December 15 (inclusive) each year and any such fish caught from a boat or from shore during the closed season must be returned to the water as soon as possible.

For more information check out this information-rich PDF flyer on the WA fishing survey and visit www.fish.wa.gov.au.

 WA Recreational Boat Fishing Survey: Fact File
>> The biennial WA Recreational Boat Fishing Survey is funded from the Recreational Fishing Boat Licence
>> The WA Recreational Boat Fishing Survey engaged 7500 people fishing from boats
>> The Department of Fisheries has started the 2015-16 survey

Photo credit: IFISH and True North charters.