What is it
In response to community concerns about fishing for large sharks at popular swimming beaches, the Minister for Fisheries banned the use of wire trace within 800 metres of the shore at all Perth metropolitan beaches in October 2023. Several regional councils are looking to have this ban extended to their areas.
Why it matters
The Minister’s decision unnecessarily impacts on fishers who use small wire trace to fish for species with sharp teeth like tailor and mackerel or those trolling lures in boats close to shore. A better approach would be to simply limit the diameter and length of wire trace which would effectively prevent the landing of large sharks onto the beach. This would solve the issue without impacting other fishing activities.
What Recfishwest is doing about it
Fishing for large sharks from popular Metropolitian swimming beaches does not meet communities’ expectations around responsible fishing, however it is bad public policy as to solve one small problem only to create another. Recfishwest put forward a viable alternative solution to limit the diameter and length of wire trace at popular swimming beaches rather than an outright ban that penalizes tailor and mackerel fishers. Recfishwest has contacted to the Minister for Fisheries and local councils explaining the problem with simply banning wire trace and why limiting the diameter and length of wire trace is a better solution.
What you can do
- Contact your local member of Parliament and ask them to support our better way to deal with this issue. Click here to see how you can do this
- Contact your local council urging them not to accept the Minister’s half-baked solution to this issue.
- Share our position on social media.
- Join the cast of thousands as a Recfishwest member