State of Fisheries Report
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SOUTH COAST BIOREGION South Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Finfish Resources Status Report K. Smith and J. Brown Management input from N. Chambers Main Features Status Current Landings (2009) Stock levels : Commercial total 618 t (finfish only) Australian herring Uncertain South Coast Salmon Fishery 257 t (salmon only) Australian salmon Acceptable South Coast herring trap net fishery 124 t Sea mullet Acceptable South Coast Estuarine Fishery 217 t (finfish only) Black bream (Stokes Inlet) Acceptable Black bream (Beaufort Inlet) Acceptable Recreational not available for current year. Black bream (Wilson Inlet) Acceptable Most recent survey was in 2000/01. Black bream (Oyster Harbour) Acceptable 2000/01 finfish catch 368 t (key species only) Black bream (Walpole-Nornalup Inlet) Not assessed Cobbler (Wilson Inlet) Acceptable Cobbler (Oyster Harbour) Acceptable Fishing Level Acceptable Fishery Description Commercial - Nearshore open to commercial fishing as part of the South Coast Beach-based commercial fishers in nearshore waters of the Estuarine Managed Fishery. This is a multi-species fishery South Coast Bioregion target various finfish species, mainly targeting many finfish species, with the main fishing methods using trap nets (herring only), beach seines, haul nets and gill being gill net and haul net. The main target species are nets. The main targets are the western species of Australian cobbler (Cnidoglanis macrocephalus), black bream salmon (Arripis truttaceus) and Australian herring (Arripis (Acanthopagrus butcheri), sea mullet (Mugil cephalus) and georgianus), with small quantities of southern sea garfish Australian herring. (Hyporhamphus melanochir) also taken. Recreational Australian salmon form large migratory schools, particularly Most finfish caught recreationally in South Coast estuaries during the autumn spawning season, that move along the and nearshore waters are taken by line fishing. Shore and coast in nearshore waters between South Australia and boat-based fishing are both popular. The most commonly Kalbarri (WA). The species is targeted in WA by 2 captured recreational species include Australian herring, commercial fisheries – the South Coast Salmon Managed whiting (various species), trevally (Pseudocaranx spp.), black Fishery and the South-West Coast Salmon Managed Fishery bream (estuaries only), Australian salmon and southern sea (see later in this report). Fishers target schools of migrating garfish. fish mainly during late summer and autumn. Salmon fishing A relatively small amount of recreational net fishing occurs is conducted by teams of fishers setting beach seine nets in the South Coast Bioregion. Recreational net fishing is using either row boats or small jet-powered boats. mainly used to target sea mullet. Most of the commercial catch of Australian herring in WA is taken on beaches along the south coast using herring trap nets (also known as ‘G’ trap nets). Trap nets are used principally Governing legislation/fishing authority during the autumn migration of this species. Seine nets, gill Commercial nets and line fishing in the South Coast Bioregion and West South Coast Estuarine Fishery Management Plan 2005 Coast Bioregions take the remainder of commercial herring landings. South Coast Estuarine Managed Fishery Licence Commercial - Estuarine Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and subsidiary Approximately 25 major estuaries exist in the South Coast legislation Bioregion, extending from Black Point in the west, to the Fisheries Notice No. 478 of 1991 (Section 43 Order) (Herring WA/SA border to the east. Of which, 13 are conditionally ‘G’ nets) STATE OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES REPORT 2009/10 229 SOUTH COAST BIOREGION Fishing Boat Licence Condition 42 (Herring ‘G’ nets) time closures, area closures and size limits. South Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan 1982 The South Coast Salmon Fishery management plan provides for licence holders to operate from assigned beaches between South Coast Salmon Managed Fishery Licence Shoal Cape and Cape Beaufort, with each fishing team Proclaimed Fishing Zone Notice (South Coast) 1975 having access to a single nominated beach only. These are the Salmon Block Net Prohibition Notice 1996 only fishers with authority to land and sell Australian salmon in the South Coast Bioregion. Salmon and Snapper Purse Seining Prohibition Notice 1987 The Herring Trap Net Notice (Order 478 of 1991) prohibits Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and the use of herring trap nets except by licensed commercial Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Export Exemption) fishers using a fishing boat with the appropriate fishing boat Recreational licence condition (Condition 42). Holders of fishing boat Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and subsidiary licences with this condition may take Australian herring legislation using ‘G’ trap nets on 10 separately nominated south coast beaches. There is a closed season for the use of ‘G’ trap nets (10 February to 25 March each year) that closely matches the Consultation processes peak Australian salmon migration season along the south coast. Australian herring may also be commercially caught Meetings between the Department of Fisheries, industry and by beach seine, set net and line methods by any licensed peak body members (e.g. the Western Australian Fishing commercial fisher holding an unrestricted Fishing Boat Industry Council) and Recfishwest Licence, provided the use of this method is permitted in the particular area and the waters being fished are not subject to Boundaries other fishery management arrangements. Recreational Commercial - Nearshore Recreational fishers in South Coast estuaries and nearshore Australian herring can be taken commercially by holders of waters take a diverse array of finfish species. South Coast an unrestricted fishing boat licence on the south coast, east of size and possession limits apply to these species when caught Black Point. The use of trap nets is restricted to holders of recreationally in the Bioregion. Refer to the 'Recreational fishing boat licenses with Condition 42, who operate at 10 Fishing Guide - South Coast Bioregion' for details. specific beaches along the south coast. As many of the recreationally targeted species are also The South Coast Salmon Managed Fishery: WA waters from targeted by the commercial sector, resource-sharing issues Cape Beaufort to the eastern boundary of the State on the are a major consideration in these fisheries. south coast of Western Australia. Key species Commercial - Estuarine Australian herring and sea mullet are assigned to the ‘low The South Coast Estuarine Fishery encompasses ‘the waters risk’ category. Australian salmon and black bream are of all estuaries on the south coast of Western Australia assigned to the ‘medium risk’ category. Cobbler is assigned between Cape Beaufort and 129º east longitude, including to the ‘high risk’ category. Princess Royal Harbour and Oyster Harbour, and all the rivers, streams and all the tributaries that flow into those estuaries.’ The areas that are open to commercial fishing are Research summary (from west-to-east) Broke Inlet, Irwin Inlet, Wilson Inlet, Princess Royal Harbour, Oyster Harbour, Waychinicup Inlet, Monitoring of fisheries and fish stocks in South Coast Beaufort Inlet, Gordon Inlet, Hamersley Inlet, Culham Inlet, estuaries and nearshore waters is based on commercial catch Jerdacuttup Lakes, Oldfield Inlet and Stokes Inlet. and effort statistics (CAES) from compulsory monthly returns, recreational catch and effort data from recreational Recreational fishing surveys and fishery-independent surveys to monitor Recreational line fishing is permitted in most areas within annual juvenile recruitment by various fish species (including estuaries and nearshore waters of the South Coast Bioregion. herring, salmon, whiting, mullet and cobbler). Some spatial closures exist, including closures around Dive Wrecks. While commercial fishery catch levels are determined annually from data reported in compulsory monthly A limited number of areas within estuaries and nearshore commercial returns, recreational catch levels are estimated waters of the South Coast Bioregion are open to recreational only occasionally when recreational fishing surveys are netting. Recreational net fishers must hold a licence. conducted. Relevant surveys include a shore-based creel Recreational net fishing regulations are complex – please survey on the west and south coasts in 1994 and 1995 refer to the 'Recreational Net Fishing Guide' for details. (Ayvazian et al. 19971), a national phone survey in 2000/01 Management arrangements Commercial 1 Ayvazian SG, Lenanton RCJ, Wise B, Steckis R and Nowara The south coast nearshore and estuarine commercial fisheries G. 1997. Western Australian salmon and Australian herring are managed primarily through input controls in the form of creel survey. FRDC Final Report. Project No. 93/79. 93 pp. limited entry and gear restrictions, as well as seasonal and WA Fisheries, Perth 230 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES SOUTH COAST BIOREGION (Henry and Lyle 20031) and an estuary creel survey in species in the following sections and in individual stock 2002/03 (Smallwood and Sumner 20072). assessments. Fishery-independent surveys of juvenile Australian herring, In 2009, the total commercial catch of finfish by estuarine salmon, whiting and mullet species are conducted annually at and beach-based fisheries in the South Coast Bioregion 6 beach sites along the south and lower west coasts of WA. included approximately 29