WA fishers in the Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls Marine Park and Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park are reminded of new rules that come into effect on Saturday 11 June.
The marine parks off the Kimberley coast were created in late 2019 and early 2020 respectively, and new fishing prohibitions will now apply in designated areas of both parks.
Marine Parks are made up of four zones - general use, special purpose, recreation, or sanctuary zones - so knowing where people can fish is vital, or fishers will risk fines or prosecution. There are eight no-take sanctuary zones in the Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls Marine Park, and two no-take zones in the Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park.
Both marine parks have zones where all existing fishing, aquaculture and pearling activities will still be permitted. In the case of the Horizontal Falls Marine Park, 68 per cent of the park area is for general use, while general use zones cover 46 per cent of Camden Sound Marine Park
WA marine parks help protect and manage a region’s natural and cultural values for future generations, but at the same time they allow for sustainable use, like fishing and tourism.
The Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls Marine Park has three special purpose zones (recreation and conservation) where all fishing will be permitted, except for commercial trawling and commercial gillnetting.
Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park has three different types of special purpose zones, one for whale conservation, and another for pearling where fishing is allowed but not commercial coral, live rock and sand collection.
The third type of special purpose zone in the Camden Sound Marine Park is for wilderness conservation, where special recreational fishing rules will apply that allow a personal possession of only one whole fish or two fillets (with exception for baitfish like scaly mackerel, bony bream, sardine, anchovy, and hardy head where the current daily bag limit will apply).
Jess Ngeh, from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD’s) Aquatic Resource Management Team said there had been a 12-month grace period leading up to the application of fishing rules within these marine parks.
“It’s now time to apply the rules and for fishers to work within them, as for other WA marine parks around the State,” Ms Ngeh said.
If you plan to fish in either of these two Kimberley marine parks, it is best you know where you can and cannot fish and become familiar with the zoning maps at:
Recreational fishing in Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls Marine Park and Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park (fish.wa.gov.au)
Picture caption: Fisheries patrol vessel operating in Camden Sound
