In Response to Minister Norman Moore, Minister for Fisheries Article "The West Australian" 22nd January 2010

"Lobster Fishery Survival is Paramount"

Federal Government Please Help!
The "best available science" (by his admission, his own Department of Fisheries), has recommended a sustainable catch to the Rock Lobster Fishery for 2009/10 season substantially higher than the makeshift catch target currently being employed throughout the fishery. A catch target that has not achieved the best economical return to the state due to the blatant mis-management of the resource. A mis-managed catch allowance that continues to wreck havoc on the lives of seafood producers throughout the state. If the Minister is not listening to his own science, and the "best available science" at that, then it is time the public begin asking exactly who the Minister is receiving his advice from.
Whilst the MSC has ascertained the fishery as biologically sustainable for the forthcoming season, they have not judged the government's ability to ensure economical or social sustainability - if it did the government would dramatically fail. The MSC does not condone the current management approach undertaken by the government, if it did it would be condoning an uncertain management of the fishery that changes from week to week, it would be condoning the lack of comprehensive consultation clearly lacking within the fishery, and the total mis-management of a resource that is quite clearly failing to achieve the best economical and social return to the state. A key outcome of the MSC process, was a strict condition that an international independent peer reviewed assessment of the stock assessment models would need to be conducted before June 2010 to ascertain re-certification, a clear sign that the uncertain science currently being adopted as "best science" requires a dramatic review.
The Minister continues to imply a fisherman's sole ambition is to catch every last cray available. I can assure the Minister, after 2 sleepless fishing seasons under his helm, where greater than 35% of the fleet has been lost at the whim of poor management advice, the only guys left standing are the ones who are sincere in ensuring the industry is sustainable for years to come. With continued rapid fleet rationalisation being pursued as policy by our once "pro-small business" government, a monopoly control of the industry is now within reach. The Minister has quite clearly lost the trust, and the confidence of the industry, and the government has lost the votes of a core group of small family business owners who once celebrated their election win. The Nationals have failed to live up to their "pro-regional" billing as the continued demise of regional areas occurs unnoticed and unopposed, and the state labour government hasn't exactly provided a worthwhile opposition government a democratically elected parliament would require. Perhaps the Federal government would take a keen interest on the mis-management of a National resource, and perhaps they should step in to manage the fishery as a matter of urgency.

In response to The West Australian Friday January 15th 2010 - Letters "Little Sympathy" written by Janine Pierre of Bicton (Unpublished)

Ms Pierre of Bicton proclaims little sympathy for the Rock Lobster Industry. I'd invite any member of the community to spend one work day with a fisher on a boat. Demonstrable Ignorance on the sustainable methods of harvesting crayfish, and ignorance of the hard work and risky conditions these men and women of the sea endure, is the exact reason such insensitive comments have been made by Ms Pierre. Perhaps spending one day onboard a fishing vessel will change Ms Pierre's perception of the "Farmers of the Sea". Our Seafood Producers are now harvesting the seafood our local communities benefit from. Further Ignorance echoed by Government policy in refusing to question where our overseas seafood comes from in the consciousless consumption of imported inferior seafood products fished in unsustainable waters. Ignorance by the Government further echoed by policy that condones the continued mis-management of the states resource. We are harvesting a renewable resource, in an ecologically sustainable way (Marine Stewardship Council Certification attests), we invite the Government and the Community to turn ignorance into self-awareness, and find out for yourself the truth behind where your fresh, locally caught seafood comes from

Email forwarded from a guy who knows the guy who was involved in that great white encounter yesterday in Rocko. Happy diving tonight
yesterday was another beautiful Perth day. until every divers worst nightmare occurred. after hanging out for dive for a week the weather was good and had a dive buddy that was keen to dive in the forties. headed out of rocko to a spot 21km west of p/peron in 41m. when we got there the water looked clean and little swell. geared up straight away and went straight in. Paul and I been at the bottom for 15min we had to come up for deco. we started our accent up the anchor rope I was in front Paul was behind. when I got to 9m I stopped holding the anchor rope.( this is the worst feeling in the world sitting there for 10min at 10m in 40m of water, you mind plays tricks on you your always thinking what if, trying to convince yourself it will never happen. ) after stopping I looked over my right shoulder to look if Paul was with me but he wasn't there, then turning to my left to see if he was on that side, but he wasn't, instead there was 4 to 6m g/w eyeballing less than a foot my face. I didn't want to believe what was next to me was real, but it was. to describe how I felt at this time was fear. if I wanted to give him a pat on the head I could of, he was that close) the g/w swam 3m away towards the boat then turned around started heading back towards me. at this time I was thinking this is it I'm dead) as he swam towards me i was thinking of bolting for the boat. but I decided just to play dead and stay still. he swam past me again this time a bit further away maybe a 1m, he started to swim down towards the bottom got about 8m away from me still heading down. at this point I decided I forgo my deco and get the **** out of here) it was the longest 10m swim I ever done. I swam as fast as I could heading for the tunnel of the cat hoping it might offer some protection. getting to the back of the boat I was just hoping my dad was there to help me in.( he normally has a rod in and you have to yell for him to take your gear of you) I looked up to see him leaning over the back with his arm out screaming its behind you, its behind you get in the ****ing boat. I was absolutely ****ting myself at this point, he was trying to pull me but it didn't feel like I was getting anywhere, but some how I lying in the back of boat on my back gasping for air. that was an unusual feeling I felt relieved but scared. I guess it was shock. it seems likes ages I was lying on the floor but was probably only seconds then thinking of Paul was still out there. getting my gear of as quick as I could to help Paul, he still hadn't come up, I was taking my wetty off when I heard a scream of help( it was the scariest and most desperate scream I have ever heard) I looked out and Paul was 20m from the boat and the shark was next to him. my wetty was round my ankles and wouldn't come off so I just cut it off. screaming at my dad to start the engines I raced up the front to cut the anchor. as I was cutting the rope I heard my dad scream it got him, its got him. I looked over to Paul and the shark was in a frenzy and Paul was screaming for his life. at this im yelling at dad drive, we got to Paul and I don't know how I pulled him over the side of the boat. he was lying on his back as I did seconds earlier gasping for air with a tear in his eye. Paul told us afterwards the g/w meet him at his deco and pushed him to the surface, when we first heard the screams then it kept coming in and having a go at him. every time it came at him he would hit it with his spear gun. at one point he had the gun in its mouth.
I feel for dad, only two minutes after we had descended this shark came around the boat. for 20min he was in panic mode, normally he would start the motors if there was a problem and we would come up. but this time there was a problem he didn't want us to come. I think he has suffered more than us, we only had a few seconds to react he had 20minutes of this monster swimming around the boat knowing you son and friend was down there. how would you feel what could you do.
at the end of the day where alive, no benz, just a sleepless night and a happy family.
will post some pics later got to go and clean some **** out the boat.
by the way the 40th is on like donkey Kong now.

Credit where it is due boys, it looks like the factories were going to pocket the profits again before GFC raised the beach price. That's about the fourth time this season where theyve directly increased all fishermens income by a huge margin. I wonder what price we would be on without them? Its a question Im sure we all wonder about , but this year its the difference between profit and loss, survival and death for many of us. I hope everyone who ahs benefited from this (which is everyone) gives them a few crays so they can keep it up. If we dont reward this, we'll get what we deserve. Give them a few baskets, and get a few free boxes of bait as part of the deal, and encourage them to keep the beach price up so that everyone benefits.

Portfolio: Fisheries

A complete review of Western Australia’s valuable rock lobster fishery has resulted in independent and international endorsement of the State Government’s management of the resource.



Fisheries Minister Norman Moore today welcomed the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) renewal of certification for WA’s rock lobster fishery following an expanded annual assessment of lobster stocks.



“The MSC renewal of certification is a vote of confidence in how the State is managing our most valuable fishery,” Mr Moore said.



“WA’s rock lobster fishery was the world’s first fishery to gain global MSC certification in March 2000.



“Following recent declines in puerulus (juvenile lobster) settlement and tough decisions by the State Government to cut fishing levels, the MSC insisted on an unprecedented complete rescoring of the way it applied certification.



“It is my understanding that the MSC was fully satisfied that the rock lobster fishery continues to meet its stringent standards of management and overall stock viability. This endorsement reflects the Government’s tough decisions to protect the long-term sustainability and economic viability of the fishery.”



The Minister said an example of the State Government’s unflinching leadership was the extension of recently announced closure periods.



“I supported the rock lobster industry advisory committee’s decision to extend the closure period and ensure the overall catch target was not reached before the lucrative Chinese New Year,” he said.



“It must be noted that the industry is also under pressure as a result of high exchange rates and reduced demand in international markets for their product, which has resulted in lower beach prices for fishermen.



“As a result of my decision to close the fishery over the Christmas period, the industry has seen the beach price rise from $22kg to $32kg - reflecting the Government’s efforts to smooth the catch over a longer period.”



Mr Moore said the decision to extend the closure was made as part of the adaptive management approach adopted by the State Government to ensure the overall catch remained around 5,500 tonnes (down from traditional averages of about 11,000 tonnes).



“The most immediate change will be closure of C zone, which includes the port of Jurien, the Perth coast and South-West waters to Cape Leeuwin,” he said.



“C zone will be closed to rock lobster fishing from January 18 until January 31, following the existing weekend closure.



“Fishing will resume in C zone on February 1 through until March 11, using the balance of the catch target for the full C zone season. There will be a further C zone closure from March 12 to April 11, with fishing resuming on April 12 if that target has not been exhausted. When C zone is open, fishing will be restricted to four days per week.”



The Minister said in B zone, which stretched from north of Jurien to North West Cape, the current closure was due to end on January 24, when additional management changes would apply.



“A zone commercial rock lobster fishers will fish in B zone from January 25 until the catch target for the first half of the season is exhausted,” he said.



“After that, A zone licensees will then cease fishing until the Abrolhos Islands (A zone) season opens on March 15.



“B zone commercial fishers will fish from January 25 until March 11. B Zone will then be closed from March 12 to April 11, with fishing allowed again from April 12.



“I will continue to consult with the industry to achieve the best possible outcome for the remainder of the season.”


Minister's office - 9422 3000