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Description

The State of the Fisheries document is designed as an essential supplement to the Annual Report to Parliament and provides a more detailed level of information to support the Department of Fisheries' non-financial performance measures. By summarising management changes, compliance activities and research data including stock assessments and breeding stock levels, this document provides a valuable reference point for Western Australian fisheries of major importance to the commercial and recreational sectors. Information relevant to the State's aquaculture industries and the Department's Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program is also provided. In keeping with the Department's significant 2000/2001 initiative to begin implementation of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) principles in fisheries management, this year's State of the Fisheries has been extensively restructured. The document now reflects the nationally developed ESD reporting framework and provides, where available, assessments of the ESD performance of fisheries activities under Western Australian jurisdiction. These reports for 2000/2001 indicate that the majority of the State's fish stocks are in a healthy condition, and although fully exploited are producing catches at sustainable levels. The exceptions to this in 2000/2001 continued to be the southern pilchard stocks which are now showing good signs of recovery from the exotic virus attack which occurred in 1998/99. The recovery of these severely depleted stocks has however been assisted by timely management action which resulted in low or zero quotas being set for the 2000 season. While the overall status of our fish stocks reflects the Department's historical success in managing the major commercial fisheries and recreational activities, the continuing growth in population will inevitably require a more holistic approach to fisheries management and aquaculture development. This will require that the Department continue to undertake its extensive research and monitoring projects to ensure that there is a strong scientific basis underpinning our future integrated management initiatives. Similarly, the policy development and field management activities reported here are essential to ensure that all fishers understand the reasons for, and comply with, the controls necessary to sustain our fisheries resources in the future.

ISSN

ISSN (Print): 1446-5906, ISSN (Online): 1446 - 5914, ISSN (CD): 1446 - 5922

Publication Date

30-6-2001

Publisher

Department of Fisheries, Western Australia

City

Perth

Keywords

fisheries, Western Australia, status reports, compliance, fish stocks

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Environmental Monitoring

State of the Fisheries Report 2000/2001

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