•Daily recreational bag limit lifted to two for Shark Bay inner gulf pink snapper
•Fisheries management and community stewardship has ensured stock recovery
•Recreational fishers praised for support to rebuild inner gulf snapper stocks
Pink snapper stock recovery in Shark Bay’s inner gulfs will enable recreational fishers to soon increase their daily bag limit to two.
Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said effective management strategies for pink snapper had enabled stocks to recover sufficiently to enable the increased bag limits.
“Inner gulf pink snapper has been the focus of vital Department of Fisheries’ research and monitoring programs, since the mid to late 1990s,” Mr Moore said.
“Management strategies were developed through the Shark Bay Inner Gulf Pink Snapper working group and Recfishwest, which included some tight measures such as closed seasons and a daily bag limit of one snapper.
“Those strategies have proven effective and an assessment of the Eastern Gulf Zone and Denham Sound stock last year revealed the stocks have recovered to a healthy state.
“Now that the decision has been made, necessary regulations will need to be gazetted which will take a few months and an announcement will be made at the time to inform fishers of the new bag limits. In the meantime, the current limit of one pink snapper will continue to apply and all other rules remain the same.”
The Minister said the Freycinet Estuary stocks were also recovering, but not as quickly.
“While the bag limit will go to two, the snapper tag lottery system remains in place and will be reviewed again in 2014,” he said.
Mr Moore praised members of the local community, the Shark Bay Shire Council and Recfishwest which had participated in the working group, and supported the high level of local stewardship in the Shark Bay region that was now delivering benefits for recreational fishers.
“As a result, I am happy to accept the recommendation of the working group to lift the daily bag limit for recreational fishers to two pink snapper for inner gulf waters,” he said.
“The Shark Bay region is a great example of how sound research and sustainable fisheries management can work well when the community also plays its part in ensuring the sustainability of local fish stocks.”
Fact File
•More details on current Shark Bay fishing rules: See Gascoyne Region Recreational Fishing Guide
Minister's office - 6552 5400
