The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s community education team has headed to the North West to spread key messages on recreational fishing.
Following the Kununurra Agricultural Show last week, the team is heading to the Pilbara to speak with hundreds of fishers from July 26-27 at the Spinifex Spree Carnival in Port Hedland and the FeNaCING festival in Karratha from August 3-4.
Community education co-ordinator Jessamy Bennett said the team attended the community festivals in the Kimberley and Pilbara to promote WA’s recreational fishing rules to interstate travellers and residents in the regions.
“We spoke to more than 300 fishers at the Kununurra show, mostly people visiting from interstate who may be unfamiliar with our recreational fishing rules, so it was a great opportunity to educate and promote sustainable fishing,” Mrs Bennett said.
“Our display aims to educate recreational fishers on WA’s fishing regulations, and this year we have a particular focus on licences, release weights, possession limits, marine parks, fishing for barramundi requirements, rules around filleting at sea, and why fish traps are illegal.
“In Kununurra, the most frequently asked questions were about barramundi and mud crab size and possession limits, and as we make our way south, we expect the questions will change to reflect the fishing in those areas.”
Mrs Bennett said the team was expecting to be kept busy over the two-day festivities in Port Hedland after they engaged with up to 600 people the previous year.
“We encourage anyone with an interest in recreational fishing to come and visit us at Spinifex Spree and FeNaCING in Karratha, where they can chat directly to our expert staff to ensure fishing sustainability in the North Coast region,” she said.
Source Agencies
