Archived page, Wetline Review; will it be worth the wait?

In 2002, the former Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Kim Chance, announced plans to review the management of the 'wetline' or open access sector of the Western Australia's commercial fishing industry in the West Coast and Gascoyne regions. Since this announcement, the 'Wetline' Review has probably been the most highly anticipated management reform by recreational fishers as it would bring commercial 'wetline' fishing under formal management.

'Wetline' fishing is basically the commercial hand-line and/or drop-line fishing for deep-water species such as dhufish, pink snapper (excluding Shark Bay), goldband snapper, baldchin grouper e.t.c. A large proportion of the industry are only occasional 'wetline' fishers and mostly 'wetline' as a supplement to their managed fishery e.g. Rock Lobster Fishery.

Currently any Licensed Fishing Boat (LFB) that operates under a Commercial Fishing Licence (CFL) can 'wetline'. This essentially allows the open access for all CFL holders to fish for demersal species without any restrictions on the number of fish that can be taken. This has been the last remaining 'open access' commercial fishery and one that is of vital importance to most recreational fishers

For nearly 10 years Recfishwest has been lobbying the Minister for Fisheries for formal management arrangement for 'wetline' fishing as the total annual take has increased each year. The target commercial catch for the West Coast demersal managed commercial fishery is estimated to be about 760 tonnes. The actual commercial catch has been in excess of 1000 tonnes for several years now (1155 tonnes in 2002/3 and 1288 tonnes in 2003/4) and the general belief is that the fishery is under significant pressure. These numbers are quite alarming and pose significant sustainability questions for the resource.

Recfishwest believes that the recreational sector will also require tighter management in the future to ensure the sustainability of the wetfish resource. However, before recreational fishers can accept tighter controls it is important that the open access commercial fishery is brought under management.

The 'Wetline' Review community consultation phase culminated last month with the now Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Jon Ford, releasing for final comment, the outcomes from the review. After five years, two Ministers, seven Fisheries Management Papers and two independent review panels, the process is finally at the stage of allocating entitlement to the fishery. So will it be worth the wait?

Recfishwest certainly hopes so. However, the whole process relies on a swift implementation and the smooth introduction of management reforms, many of which won't be particularly popular amongst commercial operators that don't gain an entitlement.

The 'wetline' review proposes to determine entitlement through history of 'wetfish' catch both before a benchmark period (financial years from 1991/92 to 1996/97) and post a benchmark period (financial years from 1997/98 to 2002/03). Access will only be granted to operators with a minimum average of 2,000 kg of demersal scalefish (when averaging the best three annual catches) with a history of catch both pre and post the benchmark. CFL holders that qualify for entitlement will then be granted access based on fishing days to ensure a Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) is adhered to.

Although this might sound confusing it can be quite simply explained as, 'commercial operators that have always had a history of wetlining will be granted entitlement and those that have no history or have only occasionally fished will lose their capacity to 'wetline'.

Formal management for the 'wetline' fishery has a number of advantages for both commercial operators in the industry and recreational sector. Under formal management, commercial catch and effort can be tightly controlled which makes fishing to a TACC more attainable. This is reassuring for recreational anglers given that we have undergone a number of reviews and reductions in bag limits whilst during the same period the commercial catch has remained open access.

One of the foremost issues with the implementation of formal management for the 'wetline' fishery will be the capacity of those who do not obtain an entitlement to take or retain 'wetfish'. A number of commercial fishers that were once able to 'wetline' will no longer be allowed to take these fish if they did not have adequate history for an entitlement.

As a concession for those commercial operators that don't gain an entitlement, the outcomes of the 'wetline' review have made an allowance for a personal consumption limit. The personal consumption limit proposes to allow;

• One fish of any species of category 1 fish relevant to that bioregion
• The equivalent of the existing bag limit for category 2 or 3 fish relevant to that bioregion
• A boat limit of two category 1 fish (when the boat is being used for fishing by more than two persons)

During the formal consultation of the 'Wetline' Review, Recfishwest has been consistent in its view that, unless endorsed under the 'wetfish' management plan, no commercial fishing boat or commercial fisher should be allowed to have in their possession fish, or the implements for the taking of fish (i.e. fishing gear).

Although on first impression this may be seen as being harsh, you need to consider this from a pure numbers perspective. Allowing operators without a 'wetline' entitlement to have a personal consumption limit will have a significant cumulative impact on the resource when the take of as little as one fish per day per operator is multiplied across all commercial fishing boats at all times.

Around 400 rock lobster boats are unlikely to gain a 'wetline' entitlement. A massive 100 tonnes could be taken if each boat in the rock lobster fleet without an endorsement takes only one dhufish a week, at an average size of 5 kg, over a total of 50 weeks. It is expected that the total commercial allocation for this important species will be in the order of 250 tonnes, meaning that the formally authorised commercial 'wetline' fleet cannot possibly access this fish for commercial gain and that the potential to obliterate the recreational fishery is enormous.

Allowances for the take of 'wetfish' outside entitlements of the 'wetline' managed fishery would go against the precedents of regulations for all other managed fisheries. For example, no commercial fisher unless fishing under a western rock lobster managed fishery entitlement may retain a western rock lobster or use the gear specified in the management plan. A similar position was adopted with the Spanish mackerel management arrangements, where only those persons with an entitlement to take Spanish (and other similar) mackerel may be in possession of these fish while on a licensed commercial fishing boat. Recfishwest has strongly supported a consistent principle applying with respect to 'wetfish' as a managed fishery.

Recfishwest's stance on personal consumption limits is by no means an attack on commercial fishers; simply what we believe is necessary for the sustainability of the 'wetfish' resource. We fully support a small and carefully managed, but profitable commercial 'wetline' fleet.

Recfishwest in its 'wetline' review submission strongly supported that a CFL holder should be allowed to hold a Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) provided they are not a licensed fisher in the nominated fishery or use a licensed fishing boat to fish using their RFL. In the past all CFL holders were not entitled to hold any RFL. We also supported the a person will be permitted to a use a licensed fishing boat to fish solely for recreational purposes provided operators nominate prior to commencing the trip and don't have in possession rock lobster pots or other specified commercial fishing gear on board the boat.

So as Recfishwest waits for the Minister to make his final decisions in regards to 'wetline' fishery management arrangements, Recfishwest believes it will be worth the wait. However, the 'wetline' review has the opportunity to be not only a good outcome for future resource and recreational fishers, but a great outcome if tight controls on the personal take of 'wetfish' on commercial fishing boats not gaining an entitlement.

For those interested in finding out more detail regarding Recfishwest's past submissions relating to the 'Wetline' Review please check out our website.



This page last updated on April 2007.