Western Blue Groper. Photo: DPIRD.
Esperance Shire Council has raised concerns about the “threatened” status just given to several key species of demersal fish.
Esperance Shire President Ron Chambers put a private member’s motion to Council last week.
He said studies of the fish now said to be threatened were based on catch data from gill net fishermen, who were not actively fishing for those species so they reported low numbers of the fish in question.
President Chambers said one such boat was out of the water for maintenance during one of the periods quoted, so it showed “zero” catch data.
“Catch data is not reflected in fish stocks,” he said.
“It is not an accurate way of determining the biomass of fish.
He moved that Council write to WA Fisheries minister Jackie Jarvis and shadow Fisheries minister Kirrilee Warr with two requests.
The first was that further appropriate research be carried out to correctly determine the true level of fish stocks, and not rely on catch data alone, before any changes were made.
The second was that the impact the implementation of the South Coast Marine Park would have on professional and recreation fishers was considered before any changes were made.
“I would like to see better science, even if is an opportunity to do study around the Marine Park,” President Chambers said.
“It is an opportunity to get way more accurate data.”
The motion passed 6-1, with Cr Gemma Johnston voting against the motion because she said she did not understand it.
Last month WA Fisheries minister Jackie Jarvis issued a statement saying scientific stock assessments for WA’s demersal resources showed the future of the State’s demersal species was at risk.
“Several species are under serious threat from continued fishing pressure, including pink snapper, red emperor and the iconic dhufish,” she said.
“These species are at severe risk, while Kimberley red emperor, Pilbara goldband snapper and South Coast pink snapper, bight redfish and Western blue groper have been assessed as at high risk.”
Ms Jarvis said the stock assessments had been independently reviewed by international expert and CSIRO scientist Professor André E Punt.
