What’s Recfishwest’s role in this marine park planning process?
As the State’s peak recreational fishing body, Recfishwest’s purpose is to ensure great fishing experiences for all in the WA community, forever.
Our commitment is to protect, promote and develop sustainable, accessible, enjoyable and safe fishing for the benefit of the community.
Recfishwest will advocate directly to decision-makers to ensure that recreational fishing values are understood throughout the planning process.
In this capacity, our role in the proposed marine parks public comment process is to:
- Meet with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction (DBCA) and Traditional Owners to gain a better understanding of what the proposed park is to achieve and discuss the importance of the waters in the proposed marine park to recfishers, particularly from a local perspective;
- Be guided by the Esperance, Hopetoun and Bremer Bay fishers, and wider fishing communities, to work for the best outcome possible for ongoing recreational fishing access. It should be noted, Recfishwest is not part of the Government and our independent, apolitical status places us in the best position to freely represent the interests of the recreational fishing sector;
- Regularly communicate with fishers to keep them up to date with opportunities to best engage in the process; and,
- Provide clear and comprehensive advice on how best to make a submission to DBCA.
Additionally, Recfishwest convened the recreational fishing sector advisory group (SAG) that provided input to be considered in the development of the marine park plan.
For any fisher who loves fishing on the south coast, it’s very important to get involved in the process to outline to DBCA as to why fishing along this spectacular coastline is so special. It’s up to south coast recfishers to get involved and be heard.
Please speak up and make sure the fishing experiences you value are protected, enhanced and celebrated in this new marine park.
Recfishwest has been visiting the south coast to speak with fishers about specific areas of importance within the marine park planning area.
This information has gone through the SAG process to DBCA as they draft the indicative management plan due for release in August 2023.
Read our fishing SAG advice on the south coast marine park outer boundary to the DBCA from February, 2022.