Perth's shortest fishing season over in hours -
Abalone 2002 Season Opens Nov 3

The immensely popular Perth metropolitan and Greenough season is limited to 9 hours per year, and operates on each Sunday between 3rd of November and 8th of December inclusive. Permitted fishing times are between 7am-8.30am within 800m of the shoreline.

The short fishing time, licensing, a 60 mm legal size, and possession limit of 20 per person, has contained the recreational share of the catch to a sustainable level - between 30 and 50 tonnes a year - and ensured the future of the fishery.

These strategies for recreational fishing have complimented equally strict controls on commercial fishing for Roe's abalone, which operates under a quota of 108 tonnes a year, of which only 36 tonnes may be taken in the Perth region.

"Like many sea snails, Roe's abalone are highly vulnerable to fishing due to their sedentary nature and preference for shallow reef habitats," said Recreational Fisheries Program Manager Andrew Cribb.

"Abalone stocks elsewhere in the world have been seriously denuded due to uncontrolled fishing. WA's approach to managing this fishery is a major success story."

Last year an estimated 7,300 recreational licence holders went fishing in the Perth Metro area last season and kept 46 tonnes (approximately 500,000) Roe's abalone.

"The incidental mortality of discarded abalone is the major concern in this fishery," said Mr Cribb.

"It is important that fishers realise that abalone have no clotting agent in their blood, and often die once they are removed from the reef, particularly if they are damaged in the process".

"Fishers should ensure that they measure abalone before removing them."

Last year Department of Fisheries research estimates that up to 20 per cent of the recreational season catch was discarded. Some areas were better than others.

"Fishers at Mettam's Pool won the fish for the future stamp of approval," said Mr Cribb.

"The discards in this area were less than five per cent of the catch, while the discards at Beaumaris, for instance, were as high as 20 per cent of the total catch."

"High-grading, when fishers replace small abalone with larger ones is completely unacceptable and fishers may expose themselves to prosecution for taking more than their bag limit, even if they don't keep the abalone they remove from the reef."

Those taking part in the 2002 season are reminded that they need a recreational fishing licence to take abalone, and are also warned to be wary of weather conditions and wear proper footwear and swimming gear.

Swell height and wave conditions can make abalone collecting hazardous, and fishers should use open weave mesh bags to collect their catch - not something that can fill with water.

Licences can be renewed through the internet or purchased from Australia Post and Fisheries Department offices.

The Perth fishery runs from Cape Bouvard, near Mandurah to the northern tip of Wedge Island, near Lancelin, and the Greenough fishing zone runs from the Greenough River mouth to the Flat Rocks Car Park with the same fishing rules as the metropolitan fishery.

Fees have been raised this year with a license increase to $35 and $17.50 for concession holders. An all category seasonal licence (rock lobster, abalone, marron, SW freshwater angling, net fishing) is available for $70.

Fishery Facts

- Possession limit (Roe's Abalone) - 20 per person
- Minimum size (Roe's Abalone) - 60mm
- Abalone may NOT be taken using SCUBA or hookah gear.
- Fishing for abalone requires a $35 ($17.50 concession) licence available from any Department of Fisheries (WA) office or Australia Post outlets
- No shucking (removing animal from shell within 200m of the seaward and landward side of the high water mark)

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Andrew Cribb Recreational Fisheries

Program Manager Ph: 9482 7334 Hm: 9306 4276(Mob): 0419 952576

Jenny Hodder

Senior Public Relations CoordinatorPh: 9482 7235 (Mob): 0418 901 767