Publication Date

3-2024

Series Number

337

Publisher

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

978-1-921845-31-4

ISSN

2202-5758

Abstract

Annual surveys of shore- and boat-based recreational fishers within the Metropolitan zone of the West Coast bioregion provide information on human dimensions and catch-per-fisher as well as mean length and weight of key recreationally caught species. For shore-based fishers, estimates of effort, catch and harvest are also presented for key nearshore species. This information is used to support ongoing assessments for key demersal and nearshore species and review the effectiveness of fisheries managements, such as Australian Herring and Southern Garfish.

A roving creel survey of shore-based fishers was used to collect data between Ocean Reef and Point Peron (30% of coastline within the Metropolitan Zone) from February to June 2023. Estimates of fishing effort and catch therefore align with the spatio-temporal sampling frame of this survey. An access point (boat ramp) survey was used to collect data from boat-based fishers at key boat ramps between Two Rocks and Mandurah from January to July 2023. These data are considered to be representative of the entire Metropolitan zone.

The highest proportions of shore- and boat-based fishers were aged between 30–44 (36%) and 45–59 (25%) years. Shore-based fishers predominantly fished less than ten days (38%) in the previous 12-months. Most shore- (85%) and boat-based (75%) fishers resided and fished within the Perth Metropolitan area.

Median kept catch for shore-based fishers on a fishing trip was 3 fish per fisher. Australian Herring (29%), Squid (12%) and Yellowtail Scad (8%) were the most frequently kept species. Toadfish, Tarwhine and Pink Snapper were the most frequently released species by shore-based fishers. Median kept catch for boat-based fishers on a fishing trip was 1 fish per fisher. West Australian Dhufish (10%), Silver Trevally (9%) and Squid (9%) were the most frequently kept species, while Wrasses (21%), Pink Snapper (16%) and West Australian Dhufish (6%) were the most frequently released species by boat-based fishers.

Fishing effort for shore-based fishers in the Metropolitan zone was 147,062 fisher hours (95% CI 126,276–167,847) in 2023. Effort remained consistent with all previous survey years (2010, 2014–22) (i.e., the 95% confidence interval overlapped between survey years), except 2016 (194,926–382,931 fisher hours). The kept catch (all species) for shore-based fishers was 190,941 fish (95% CI 27,053–354,828) in 2023, and 144,793 fish (103,945–185,640) were released. Annual kept catch was higher than the past 5 years, although this was not significantly different.

The annual mean shore-based harvest of Australian Herring was 13.6 t (95% CI 6.6–20.7 t) in 2023 which has been steady since 2018. The annual mean harvest of Australian Herring was lower in 2023 compared with 32 t (95% CI 19.9–44.3) in 2017 and 31.1 t (95% CI 19.8–42.3) in 2010 (shorter, 3-month survey period) although this was not significantly different. The shore-based harvest of School Whiting was 0.5 t (0.1–1.1) in 2023, which was consistent with the previous 3 survey years. The shore-based harvest in 2023 for Pink Snapper (0.7 t 95% CI 0–1.9), Tailor (0.9 t 95% CI 0–3.3) and Squid (3.6 t 95% CI 1.2–6) has been consistently low since 2014.

Number of Pages

62

Keywords

Recreational fishing, boat-based fishing, shore-based fishing, onsite survey

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries

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