Demersal gillnet fisheries' closure starts today
16 August 2010
The two month closure, from 16 August to 15 October, to all demersal gillnet fishing between Steep Point (north of Kalbarri) and Albany starts today.
This closure has been in place now for the fourth consecutive year and was supported by the members of the WA Demersal Gillnet and Longline Association earlier this year.
The closure was put in place in 2006 as part of a suite of management arrangements to ensure the long term sustainability of Western Australia’s shark species. The aim of this closure is to provide specific protection to whiskery sharks during their September pupping phase.
Glen Brodie, commercial licence holder from Geraldton said “We received quite a bit of criticism last year by some within the recreational sector that we were able to fish after 15 October at the same time as they were starting their own two month closure to demersal scalefish fishing off the west coast”
“Many people didn’t realise that we had just finished our own closure for two months. It is important to bear in mind that our fisheries have extremely stringent management rules in place, even though these closures aren’t at the same time”.
There are about twenty vessels in the fishery operating between Geraldton and Esperance. These fisheries supply shark and scalefish mainly to Perth and WA regional markets with some supply to the Eastern States.
Licence holders in these fisheries will be meeting with the Department of Fisheries next month during the closure to review their research and management for coming years.
Media contacts:
Felicity Horn – WA Fishing Industry Council – 9492 8829
Jeff Cooke – Licence Holder (Augusta) 0427 991 269
Glen Brodie – Licence Holder (Geraldton) 0429 681 640
