The latest status report on Western Australia’s fisheries and aquatic resources reinforces the State’s highly-regarded reputation for fisheries science and management.
Executive Director of Research for the
Department of Fisheries, Dr Rick Fletcher said the risks to most aquatic
ecological resources in WA continued to be at acceptable levels.
“This State is one of the only
jurisdictions in the world with a fully implemented, comprehensive and
practical, Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management framework,” Dr Fletcher said.
“A key part of this risk-based
comprehensive approach is that it examines the status of target species, plus
the broader impacts on the environment; including by-catch and habitats. It
also examines the impacts of external factors on the ecosystems within each of
the State’s Bioregions, such as changing climate and aquatic pests.”
Dr Fletcher said the latest reports showed
that approximately 97 percent of stocks targeted in WA’s commercial fisheries required
no new or enhanced management approaches.
“Most of the current risks to stocks and
the fisheries they support have been generated by adverse environmental
conditions,” he said. “Even though fishing-related activities have not been the
cause of the declines within these systems, adjustments to fishing activities
are often still required to ensure ongoing sustainability of these
resources.
“Past examples include management action to
protect the State’s iconic western rock lobster fishery, when it encountered a
series of poor recruitment years.
“Protecting the breeding stocks through
that period has seen beneficial returns for both the commercial and
recreational sectors after good recruitment levels returned.”
Dr Fletcher said current management actions
for the Australian herring and abalone stocks were aimed at taking the fishing
pressure off species that had been impacted largely by increased water
temperatures.
“Similarly, the series of poor recruitment
and adult survival levels observed for crabs and scallops in Shark Bay and the
Abrolhos Island region started after the marine heat wave in 2011, with these
fisheries still closed or facing additional restrictions,” Dr Fletcher said.
“This reinforces the importance of ongoing
research and adaptive management strategies, to both identify and respond to
any concerns that do arise in WA’s fisheries.”
Visit the Department of Fisheries website HERE.
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