Shark Bay pink snapper bag limit to rise thanks to stock recovery
by RecFish West on 17 Sep 2012
Pink snapper. http://www.fish.gov.au SW
Recfishwest has welcomed the State Government’s decision to increase the bag limit of pink snapper in Shark Bay from one fish per angler a day to two.
The bag limit increase will apply to all pink snapper, Pagrus auratus, caught within Denham Sound and Eastern Gulf.
The Department of Fisheries increased the pink snapper bag limit after it had determined the stock in these areas had demonstrated a strong recovery.
Within Freycinet Estuary, however, the pink snapper bag limit will remain at one while the Hamelin Pool Marine Reserve will stay off limits to all forms of fishing.
Chief executive officer Andrew Rowland said the recovery was largely a result of anglers fishing responsibly and complying with the rules in Shark Bay.
'Recreational fishers should be commended for putting up with the years of painful restrictions and be delighted to see the stocks return to such a healthy state,' Dr Rowland said.
'Recfishwest is very pleased that the department has recognised the importance pink snapper has to the recreational fishing community and conscious of the fact that the stocks here will remain sustainable when the daily bag limit increase is implemented.'
The Department of Fisheries says necessary regulations will need to be gazetted which will take a few months and an announcement will be made at the time to inform fishers of the new bag limits.
More at www.recfishwest.org.au
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