Archived page, Casting Around the Internet with Recfishwest
Issue 81, 27 January 2010

Here is a version formatted for printing on a single page:- CastingAroundIssue81.pdf (33 kilobyte PDF file)

Notes about using the links on this page.

Legislative changes to allow recreational fishing for mako sharks

Recreational fishermen ran a coordinated campaign by to phone, email and write to Ministers, 5000 signed petitions to postpone the ban and conduct genuine consultation with recreational fishing groups, and hundreds packed public meetings. The Government will introduce legislative amendments as a priority on the resumption of Parliament to ensure that international changes to the status of mako sharks would not affect Australian recreational fishing, avoiding a disproportionate impact on fishers for no demonstrable conservation benefit.

http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2010/mr20100125.html (link opens in a new window) and
http://www.liberal.org.au/news.php?Id=4576 (link opens in a new window)

Albany Harbour dredging plan a toxic risk

EPA considers that the dredging and disposal would need to be comprehensively monitored and proactively managed to ensure that the predicted impacts are not exceeded, and that the ecological values of Princess Royal Harbour, King George Sound and Oyster Harbour are not compromised. A Community Stakeholder Reference Group should be established prior to the commencement of dredging and meet regularly during the dredging.

http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/article.asp?ID=3104 (link opens in a new window) and
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/6692633 (link opens in a new window)

Copper, lead found after port dredging

Environmental monitoring has shown the dredging operation in Fremantle port has exceeded guidelines for copper and lead contamination at three sites. Laboratory processing times have been lengthy due to testing of water samples for an extensive range of chemicals to microgram levels to accurately measure some of the very low levels within the sediments. Earlier test results from samples from the river, harbour, vicinity of the dredge, in and near the Rous Head reclamation area and at Preston Point Beach were below safe levels for swimming.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/6697585/ (link opens in a new window) and
http://www.fremantleports.com.au/Planning/5651.asp (link opens in a new window)

Rock lobster industry gets Minister's approval for alternative lobster management plan

In an encouraging display of unity, representatives from the six major processors, the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council and the Western Rock Lobster Council have offered an alternative management plan for the rest of this season. The Minister has agreed to arrangements involving a mix of non-fishing days and additional pot reductions on condition these do not adversely affect the season's 5,500 tonnes total catch target. An independent Marine Stewardship Council report has confirmed stock sustainability but raised concerns about the way the Fisheries Department monitored stock levels, and has called for an urgent review of methods.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=133045 (link opens in a new window) and
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/14/2792660.htm (link opens in a new window)

Wave energy project powers up at Garden Island

Installation of a prototype wave energy converter demonstration plant which will convert energy from waves into zero-emission electricity has commenced with a mooring 2km west of Garden Island in 20m of water.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=133024 (link opens in a new window) and
http://www.carnegiecorp.com.au/index.php?url=/projects (link opens in a new window)

Fish length stickers leave fishers unstuck

Fishers have been warned not to rely on the accuracy of the size limit stickers as issued by the various state fisheries departments after a fish measured as legal on the sticker was found to be undersize. Stickers are provided free of charge as a service to anglers, but are a guide only and are not a legal measure of length. Some reports say stickers may be affected if stored at high temperatures for an extended period of time, but do not shrink once attached to a hard surface. Others claim it is a production or a material quality control problem.

http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/stickers-get-fishos-unstuck (link opens in a new window)

Note about using the links in "Casting Around"

The links to external websites, shown in this page by the symbol are all checked to be correct, valid and working at the time these documents are prepared.

Rearrangements of external websites at some time in the future may remove or change some of these external links. Such changes are outside the control of Recfishwest, and will not be corrected in this page or the PDF version.


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This page last updated on 27 January 2010.