Wilderness fishing in new WA marine park

Newly declared Kimberley marine park touted as ideal national model

Fishing lobby group Recfishwest has commended the WA government for introducing Australia’s first Wilderness Conservation Area following the recent release of final plans for the new Camden Sound Marine Park.

Located North West of Derby in the wild and remote Kimberley, the Camden Sound Marine Park was principally established to protect the calving habitat of humpback whales.

Recfishwest told the state government that the minimal amount of recreational fishing that occurred in the remote area had no impact on the whale calving habitat.

In its submission, the peak body outlined an approach whereby conservation of the marine environment and recreational fishing can coexist by adopting a concept developed by Recfishwest that outlined the commission of Wilderness Conservation Areas.

A Wilderness Conservation Area is a specified area within a marine park that protects wilderness values while allowing low-impact recreational fishing. Essentially, fish can be caught and consumed within the area but no fish can be taken away.

Chief executive officer Dr Andrew Rowland commended the state government for understanding the importance this area had to recreational fishing and setting the precedent for Wilderness Conservation Areas to be used in marine park planning in not only WA but throughout Australia.

“High quality recreational fishing is a key part of the wilderness experience and these areas provided the best of both worlds where the environment can be protected but recreational fishers were not locked out,” Dr Rowland said.

“The announcement presents a platform for the application of this concept into the greater Kimberley strategy and other places such as Exmouth Gulf and Rowley Shoals.”

Dr Rowland said most recreational fishers who visited remote areas of Western Australia’s North West engaged in catch and release style fishing and only kept a fish or two to be eaten that day or night.

Recfishwest attributed this Australia-first implementation of a wilderness conservation area to a recent change of membership at the state’s statutory marine planning body -- the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority (MPRA).

“We are pleased to see a fresh and professional approach taken following the appointment of MPRA chairman Dr Tom Hatton. This change will go a long way to ensuring that Western Australia will continue to lead the world in implementing effective stakeholder-driven conservation initiatives,” Dr Rowland said.

Despite conservationists saying they haven't gone far enough, WA Premier Colin Barnett and Environment Minister Bill Marmion are proud of their decision to create Camden Sound Marine Park, about 300km north-east of Broome.

“Camden Sound, covering nearly 7,000 square kilometres, is the first of four new marine parks to be created under the $63 million Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy.

“Other parks will be created at Eighty Mile Beach, Roebuck Bay and the North Kimberley,” Barnett said.

Camden Sound is internationally recognised as the biggest calving area for humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere with more than 1,000 humpbacks found there during the season.

“They are part of the biggest population of humpback whales in the world -- numbering almost 30,000 -- that migrate from Antarctica each year to give birth in the waters off the north of our State,” Barnett added

Marmion said a special-purpose zone would be created covering about 1,670 square kilometres to enhance protection of the humpback whale calving grounds.

“This zone will require vessels to remain at least 500 metres from humpback mothers and calves,” Marmion said.

“There will also be two sanctuary zones comprising about 20 per cent of the marine park area -- more than 1,300 square kilometres -- around Champagny Islands and Montgomery Reef, which is exposed on the outgoing tide to reveal a series of awe-inspiring waterfalls.

“Montgomery Reef sanctuary zone, at 761 square kilometres, will become the biggest sanctuary zone in the WA marine park system.

“We have also included a small general use zone covering the frequently visited area known as ‘The River’ at Montgomery Reef. This will allow some fishing and other activities to continue in this area.

The marine park’s zoning scheme is designed to help protect a unique marine environment, while allowing recreational and commercial fishing as well as aquaculture and pearling to occur in some areas.

And for the first time ever in Western Australia, there will be a zone which provides for a ‘wilderness’ fishing experience where recreational fishers (including charter boats) must either catch and release or eat their catch before leaving the zone.

Commercial fishing and other commercial activities will not be permitted nor will spearfishing. The latter is odd, given its targeted nature.

Pearling operations will be recognised in a designated zone and some commercial fishing operations will phased out, with 48 per cent of the marine park closed to commercial trawl fishing and 23 per cent closed to all forms of commercial fishing. If appropriate, compensation will be paid to fishing operations.

The Government has committed $10 million over four years to protecting and managing Camden Sound Marine Park, with ongoing funding of $2.3million a year from 2015-16.

The marine park will be created by mid-2012 followed by gazettal of the zone boundaries later in the year. Camden Sound Marine Park will have two sanctuary zones, three special purpose zones and four general use zones

Final management plan for Camden Sound Marine Park to be released later this year.

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Wilderness fishing in new WA marine park

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