A quality future for recreational fishing on the West Coast.

The West Coast Region between Kalbarri and Augusta offers a wide range of recreational fishing opportunities.The West Coast Region also receives more fishing pressure than any other, with an estimated 380 000 anglers fishing each year. Already, the signs of a fishery under pressure are showing. Catch rates of dhufish around inshore reef systems such as the Three-mile are a far cry from the 1950s and 60s when people beachlaunched wooden dinghies to fish the inshore waters for these highly prized fish. Increasing pressure on stocks has led to growing community concerns that the future quality of recreational fishing is under threat. The West Coast Working Group visited regional centres and met directly with recreational fishers to gain a better understanding of community views and issues surrounding the management of recreational fishing

A five-year management stategy for recreational fishing on the west coast of Western Australia

In its discussion paper (Fisheries Management Paper No. 139), which was widely distributed and publicized, the working group put forward a range of management proposals for community discussion. These were developed after meeting directly with recreational fishers in key regional centres and receiving feedback from fisheries scientists and managers. The discussion paper attracted widespread comment, with more than 1,200 written submissions received from recreational fishers, angling clubs and other stakeholders. The working group would like to thank all those individuals and organisations that took the time to provide this valuable feedback. It was recognised that some of the most pressing concerns raised during public meetings - and in submissions - related to interaction between the commercial and recreational fishing sectors and how to effectively manage the total catch and, within that, the catch by each sector. The West Coast Recreational Fishing Working Group acknowledged strong public opinion on these issues and recognised the need to take community views into the development of its final recommendations

A quality future for recreational fishing on the West Coast.

The West Coast Region between Kalbarri and Augusta offers a wide range of recreational fishing opportunities.The West Coast Region also receives more fishing pressure than any other, with an estimated 380 000 anglers fishing each year. Already, the signs of a fishery under pressure are showing. Catch rates of dhufish around inshore reef systems such as the Three-mile are a far cry from the 1950s and 60s when people beachlaunched wooden dinghies to fish the inshore waters for these highly prized fish. Increasing pressure on stocks has led to growing community concerns that the future quality of recreational fishing is under threat. The West Coast Working Group visited regional centres and met directly with recreational fishers to gain a better understanding of community views and issues surrounding the management of recreational fishing

A five-year management stategy for recreational fishing on the west coast of Western Australia

In its discussion paper (Fisheries Management Paper No. 139), which was widely distributed and publicized, the working group put forward a range of management proposals for community discussion. These were developed after meeting directly with recreational fishers in key regional centres and receiving feedback from fisheries scientists and managers. The discussion paper attracted widespread comment, with more than 1,200 written submissions received from recreational fishers, angling clubs and other stakeholders. The working group would like to thank all those individuals and organisations that took the time to provide this valuable feedback. It was recognised that some of the most pressing concerns raised during public meetings - and in submissions - related to interaction between the commercial and recreational fishing sectors and how to effectively manage the total catch and, within that, the catch by each sector. The West Coast Recreational Fishing Working Group acknowledged strong public opinion on these issues and recognised the need to take community views into the development of its final recommendations