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CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

I NTRODUCT I ON

DESCRIPTION OF SURVTY AREAS(a) WELLSTEAD ESTUARY

(b) BEAUFORT INLET

i4ET|-|ODS( a ) F I E L D I N F O R M A T I O N

(b) LABORATORY METHODS AND ANALYSES

RESULTS1. NET }- l SHI I$G INTENSITY

PAGE

9

9

t_1

I 1

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L 2

L 2

L 3

L 4

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L 1

1 5

I 5

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IV

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7

(a) WELLSTEAD ESTUARY

(b) BEAUFORT INLET

SPECIES COIVIPOSITION AND QUANTITIES CAUGHT

(a) WELLSTEAD ESTUARY

(b) BEAUFORT INLET

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MESH SIZEUSED, CATCH RATES AND SPECIES SIZE

1 .

5 .

6 .

C O M P O S I T I O N .

( a ) S E A M U L L E T

(b) SIX_SPINED LEATHERJACKET

(c) YELLoW-EYE MULLET

(d) BLACK BREAM

(e) AUSTRALIAN HERRING

( f ) C O B B L E R

LENGTH-WEIGHT RE LATlONSHI PS

SUCCESS RATE

OPINIONS ABOUT FISHING IN THE TWO

L7

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ESTUARIES L9

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TABLESPage

Frequency of gi I l net sets by f ishing part iesin Wel lstead estuary and Beaufort I r r t f et f rom5-3o January, 1981- . 25

The numbe r of sets by mesh size (mm) at s i tes in(a) Weltstead estuary (BR) and at (b) BeaufortInfet (PA) in January 1981' The cumuf at j -ve 7"f igures for use of net meshes befow the legal-mi i imum 76 mm and above this s ize are also shown' 26

Relat ive abundance and mean weight of f ishand crustacea caught by set nets at Wel lsteadestuary and Beaufort In let i r respect ive of meshs i ze used . Ed ib le spec ies a re marked by as te r i sk . 27

Dai ly net f ishing in Wel]stead estuary 'January 1981 . 28

Dai ly net f ishing in Beaufort In let , January L981 . 29

A comparison of the catcfres and catch ratesof sea muf let by 30 m monof i lament nets f romday sets at two l ight ly f ished si tes in BeaufortIn1et, January 1981 ' 30

Mean ca tch ra tes (No . pe r ove rn igh t se t ) o f f i shand crabs caught by di f ferent s ized mesh inWel lstead estuary, January 1981. Brackets denoteca tch f rom a s ing le se t . 31

Mean catch rates (No. per overnight set) bydi f ferent s ized mesfr used in the Beaufort In let 'January 1981-. Brackets denote catch from a singles e t . 3 2

Slze composit ion, mean lengthr and standarddeviat ion (S) of sea mul let caught by set nets ofd i f f e ren t mesh s i ze i n we l l s tead es tua ry (BR)and Beaufort Infet (pn), January 1981 . 33

Size composit ion ' meandev ia t i on (S ) o f s i x - sset nets of di f ferentestuary (BR), January

length and standardined leather jacket caught bY

1 9 8 1 .

Size composit ion, mean length and standarddeviat ion (S) of yel low-eye mulfet caught by setnets of di f ferent mesh size in Wel lstead estuary(BR) and Beau fo r t I n l -e t (PA) , January 1981 .

Size composit ion, mean length and standarddeviat ion (S) of black bream caught by setnets of di f ferent mesfr s ize in wel lstead estuary(BR) and Beau fo r t rn le t (PA) , January 198 l ' .

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FIGURESpage

Wellstead estuary and Bremer River ' showing netf ishing si tes and the relat ionship of th is systemto othEr south coast estuar ies. 41

Beaufort In let and Pal l inup River ' showingnet f ishing si tes and the relat ionship of th issvstem to other south coast estuar ies. 42

2 .

The number and statusamongst those Part iesWel l stead estuary andJanuary 19 81 survey.

of net f i .shing part iesin te rv iewed f rom (a )(b) Beaufort In let dur ing the

1. D is t r ibu t ion o f f i sh ing e f fo r t in respec t o f mesh 4 4s l - z e .

7 .

Coastal features of Beaufort In let and part of thePal l inup Ri-ver, for which a closure to net f ishingi s p roposed .

Catch rates of edible f lsh in Wel lstead estuary,January 1981, plot ted as mean I and range f forthree day intervals. The number of samples isshown at the maximum Point.

Ca tch ra tes o f ed ib le f i sh i n Beau fo r t I n le t 'January 1981, ptot ted as mean I and range I forthree day intervals ' The number of samples isshown at the maxj,mum Point.

Length composlt ion of the total measured catcho f se lec ted spec ies o f f i sh taken i n a l l s i zesof mesh combined from Wel lstead estuary (BRI )and Beaufort rnlet (PA E::= ) . MLS is minimumlegal s ize; the MLS for cobbler was est imated froman equat ion relat ing f i -n length to total length.

9. goastal features of the Bremer Bay area' showingaccess roads and part of the Bremer River c losed tone t f i sh inq .

4 3

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APPENDICES

Shire of Gnowangerup by-faws relat ing to f ishingwhich were in ef fect between l -958 and october 3 '1 9 8 0 .

Detai ls of the opening and closure to the sea ofwei l tstead estuary from al l avai lable records.

Surface sal in i ty samples taken from Wel lsteadestuary and Bremer River in January, 1981 .

Surface sal in i ty samples taken from Beaufort In letand Pal l inup River in January, 1981 .

The fet ter of introduct ion given to the f lshingpubl ic in the areas dealt wi th by t f le survey.

Fish catches reported by di f ferent f ishing part les

mainfy using 76 mm mesh set nets s ince L August '1981 i n Wef l s tead es tua rY .

Page

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net def ined as one no longer than 64 m (7o yards) with a.mlnimum mesh size of 76 rnrn (3") . A recommendat ion that thecontrol of f ishing in these two r iver systems revert to theState covernment, under the administration of the Departmentof Fisher ies and Wildl i fe was made after a tour ln L978 bythe South coast Parf iamentary Study commlttee ( HasseLl etal . f978). The recomrnendat ion which fol lowed resul ted ina decisj-on by Government to amend both the local GoverrrmentAct and the Fisher ies Act to enable responsibi l i ty for managementof Beaufort Intet and Weflstead estuary to be transferredto the Department of Fi-sher les and Wildl l fe.

In pract ical terms, changes to the f lshing regulat i -ons nowdefined a lawful net as having a length of not more than60 m and meshes of not less than 76 mm for Wel lstead estuary andBeaufort lnlet downstream from the southern boundary of Reserve8I7. Upstream from the Iat ter, a previous regulat ion whichstated that a fawful net could be no longer thantgz m (150 yds ) w i th a mes l r s i ze o f no t f ess than 70 mm(2 3/1" ) was cancel led by Not i -ce 25, Government GazetteNo. 7, 23 January 1981 which therefore made a lawfu1 net60 m. with a mesh of no fess than 76 mm in al l waters ofBeaufort In l-et , PalLinup River and their t r ibutar ies. Asecond not ice imposed a permanent cfosure to net f ishing in theBremer River upstream of the Narrows (see Figure 1). Except fora sl ight reduct ion in net length, both of these amendmentsto the Fisher ies Act perpetuated previously exist ing Shirer. .aarr l : l - i nnq R\/ \ / i r tue of the restr lct lon of net lengthprofessional f ishermen can only operate 1ega1]y in ei ther estuaryo r i t s r i ve r sys tem us ing a s ing le 60 m ne t pe r l i cence '

In 1980, i t was decided that a survey of set net f ishingln Weflstead estuary and Beaufort In let was required to evaluatet l re current status of net f ishing in those areas. The surveyob j ec t i ves were to de te rm ine :

1 . The number o f f i she rmen opera t i ng ( f i sh ing i n tens i t y ) .

2 . The spec ies and quan t i t y o f f i sh caugh t .

3. The size composit ion of f ish caught in the di f ferentmesh s i zes be ing used .

4. The success rate as compared to the expectat ion of amateurne t f i she rmen .

Tfr is survey was planned to coincide with the per iod of peakrecreat ional usage of these areas by f ishermen and hoLiday makersancl accordingly was conducted in January l-981 (Caputi andLenanton, L977), For the purposes of th is report the phrase'Wef l s tead es tua ry ' pe r ta ins on l y to the es tua ry p rope r ( i . e .no further up the tsremer River than the Narrows' Figure 1)

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t h e r i s i n g r i v e r i n J u f y 1 9 7 8 a n d r e m a i n e d o p e n t o t h e s e a

f o r 1 0 * e e k = , S i n c e t h a t c f o s u r e , f l o o d w a t e r s b r o k e t L r e b a r

o n 2 3 J a n u a r y I g a 2 , a n d i t c l o s e d a g a i n o n 1 0 S e p t e m b e r '

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c l o s i n g a r e u n a v a i f a b l e , b u t l o c a l k n o w l e d g e s u g g e s t s

that i i breaks through about once every 3-1* years, and

remains open to th ie sea for a few weeks to a few months '

Despi te the larger catchment area ' a much larger runof f and

r i v l r f l o w i s n e e d e d t o c u t t h r o u g h t h e O . 4 k m l o n g s a n d b a r

w h i c h h a s a n a p p r o x i m a t e h e i g h t o f 3 m a b o v e s e a l e v e 1 . T h e

p h y s i c a f e n v i r o n m e n t o f t h e o c e a n i c s i d e o f t h e b a r i s a

i t i g n e . r " " g y s i t u a t i o n ( L e n a n t o n , p e r s . c o m m . ) . A h y p e r s a l l n e

envi ronment usual ly ex is ts in the estuary in the surnrner( n p p e n d i x 4 ) . T h e s u r f a c e s a l l n i t y r e a d i n g s f o u n d a tgeaufor t In le t dur ing th ls survey, downr iver f rom Yate Rocks( F i g u r e 2 ) v i z , 4 5 - 4 6 % a w e r e w i t h i n t h e r a n g e o f v a l u e s f o u n d

o n p r e v i o u s s a m p l i n g o c c a s i o n s ( L e n a n t o n p e r s . c o m m . ) .W h e n t h e s y s t e m w a s c l o s e d i n t h e p a s t ' h i g h s u m m e r

evaporat ion has somet imes contr ibuted to tLre deaths

o f i a r g e n u m b e r s o f f l s h ( e . g ' 1 9 5 3 , D e p a r t m e n t o f F i s h e r i e s

a n d W i l d l i f e r e c o r d s * ) . G e n e r a l f y , t L r e s e m o r t a f i t i e s h a v e

b e e n p r e c e d e d b y a d e t e r i o r a t i o n i n f i s h c o n d i t i o n ( u l c e r s ,

f i s h s w i m m i n g a t s u r f a c e v , i i t - h m o u t h s g a p i n g ) d u e n o d o u b L t o

t h e c o m b i n e d e f f e c t s o f h i g h s a l i n i t y a n d t h e l o w d i s s o f v e d

o x y g e n l e v e f o f t h e e s t u a r y w a t e r . I n t h i s r e g a r d i t i s

i n t - r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t i a l t i n r . l p w a s f o r m e r l y c a l t e d S a l t

R i v e r ,

D u r i n g t h e s u r v e y , t h e w a t e r l e v e l f , e l 1 o . 3 m a n d i t scol -our was a uni form t ranslucent brown.

F i l a m e n t o u s a l g a e a n d s e a g r a s s b e d s p r e d o m i n a t e d i n

a r e a s s u c h a s M u l l e t t s a y ( F i g u r e 2 ) , b u t d i d n o L h a m p e r b o a Lpassage t l . rough the estuary or up r iver . Abundant cofonies

of the tube worm, t r lezc l enel la enlgm(t t ) ca were encounteredt h r o u g h o u t t h i s r i v e r s y s t e m a t , a n d b e l o w , w a t e r l e v e l

a long the shore l - ine and on sunken branches-

I I I lvlETHODS

( a ) F i e l d i n f o r m a t i o n

A b o u t 2 w e e k s w e r e s p e n t i n e a c h a r e a , j n t e r v i e w i n gs e t n e t f i s h e r m e n a n d s a m p l i n g t h e i r c a t c h e s . T h e f i r s tand th i rd weeks were at WeI ls tead estuary and the secondand four th weeks were at Beaufor t In le t . Dur ing the weeksi n r e s i d e n c e a t e a c h e s t u a r y , i t w a s b e l i e v e d t h a t a 1 lc a c c h e s w e r e s a m p L e d d a i l y . H o w e v e r , d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d s o fa b s e n c e f r o m a n e s t u a r y , t h e o n l y c a t c h d a t a c o l l e c t e d f r o mr l - \ a n 6 , r a n a r \ \ / r h . r e a n ^ r t i c q . r ^ r h o r r n l r r n t e e r e d t o k e e n r e c o r d sy u r v r ! r

f o r m e . T o m e e E a s m a n y p a r t i e s a s p o s s L b I e , e x t e n s - i v e u s ew a s m a d e o f l h e B r e m e r B a y c a r a v a n P a r k H o l i d a y R e g i s t e r a sw e l f a s r e g u l a r v i s i t s t o c a m p e r s , c a r a v a n e r s a n d l o d g e r sboth in Bremer Bay and around Beaufor t In le t . At the

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1 .

U s e o f t h e w o r d ' f i s h ' f o r W e I l s t e a d e s t u a r y m a y i n c l u d e

b l u e m a n n a c r a b s . S e t n e t s a r e d e f i n e d a s g i l l n e t s w h i c ha r e f e f t i n a s e t p o s i t i o n t o f i s h f o r a g i v e n p e r i o d ' I tshould be noted that data f rom 60 m nets set overn ightwas used to ca lcufate the catch rates of amateur netse x c e p t f o r T a b l e 6 w h i c h c o m p a r e s c a t c h e s o f 3 0 m n e t s f r o md a y l i g h t s e t s . I n T a b l e 3 , % e d i b l e f i s h i s c a l c u l a t e d a st h e p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e t o t a l e d i b l e f i s h ( t h o s e m a r k e d b ya s t e r i s k ) f r o m t h e t o t a f n u m b e r c o u n t e d f o r a l l s p e c i e s. . . \ m h i n c d A h j . r h n r n n , r y . F i n n n f f i s h c o r r n t e d f o r e a c h- r r r v r 'e n e r - i o q r ^ r a q a l q o m e a S u r e d .

S t a f f a t t h e W . A . M u s e u m a s s i s t e d w i t h i d e n t i f i c a t i o no f t h e f i s h s p e c i e s a n d t h e i r d i e t a r y i t e m s .

IV RESULTS

N e t f i s h i n g i n t e n s i t y

l a , w e j t s l e a o e s L u d r y

Tf ie number and status of hol iday ing par t ies encountered ine a c h e s t u a r y i s p r e s e n t e d i n F i g u r e 3 . o f t h e 4 4 3 p a r L i e s

met at Wel ls tead estuary, tour is ts outnumbered res identsb y 4 8 : 1 , T h e r e w e r e 2 9 p a r t i e s ( 6 % o f t h o s e m e t ) w h o u s e ds e t n e t s i n t h e e s t u a r y f r o m 3 - 2 9 J a n u a r y , 2 7 o f w h i c h w e r et o u r i s t a n d 2 w e r e l o c a l r e s i d e n t s . N e t f i s h i n g p a r t i e sh a d 1 - 3 n e t s w i t h t h e m w h i c h t h e y u s u a l l y s e t o n c e o r+ L i ^ 6 1 r ) ^ d 6 1 - 2 t r ' : r . ' o r . : a i n . r j 1 f i m e s ) d r r r i n r r ' i h ^ i rr o r r l l e r

s t a y ( T a b l e 1 ) . T h e d i s t r i b u t i o n i n T a b l e I i sp o s i t i v e l y s k e w e d b y b h e f i s h i n g a c t i v i t y o f a s i n g l ep a r t y w h i c h s e t a n e t 2 6 t i . m e s . I f t h i s i s e x c l u d e d f r o mF l r 6 ^ r ' l a r r ] = * . i a n c . ' \ + 2 7 q F t q n o 7 . n F r ' l - \ / - q f a vu v v v !

ob ta ined i s p robab ly a be t te r es t ima te o f ne t f i sh ingi ^ l - a h c i l - \ ' T h a . l i q + n i l i r r + i n n n f f i c . h i n n - C F . \ r f h r r m c q hf I I U c ' r o r u y . v r J - r r l r r v

s i ze fo r WeI l s tead es tua ry i s compared w i th tha t o fBeau fo r t I n le t i n F igu re 4 . Tab le 2 shows usage o fd i f f e ren t mesh s i zes a t t he va r lous s i t es i n eache q t r r a r i n e s v s t e m a n d l h a n r c l n ^ r t i o n o f n e t S W i t hu n d e r s i z e d m e s h . I n W e l l s t e a d e s t u a r y , n e t f i s h i n g w a sc o n c e n t r a t e d a t s i t e s 1 7 ( 2 9 % ) , 1 5 ( 2 2 % ) a n d 1 2 ( 1 8 % )( F i g u r e 1 ) . 8 5 % o f f i s h e r m e n u s e d n e t s o f 7 6 n n n m e s l r .o r l a r g e r a n d 1 5 % u s e d u n d e r s i z e d m e s h ( T a b f e 2 ) .

A s f o r e s h o r e a c c e s s w a s n o t a p r o b l e m a t W e l l s t e a d- c + r r r h \ / = r r o h i r - l e u r : q r r q c d c x t e n q i r r e l w o a r - h a f t e r n o o n

l / , u v s r r f u

f ^ , r r f ^ h F i < h i n a a r - l - i r r i l - \ / f r . r m \ / e n l - a . 1 F n - \ ' i n f q ^ n . lr r J , r r r r l j v j ! a v t t r' i n l - a n a o n F h r r + i a q r a F r r n n i n r r f n o m s e f l - i n r r I - h e i r: ' r v u r U L } J uh 6 l - c F n l l n u r i n a n r o a F i n r r e a n d I - h F h : n d i n n r r r t o fr v r r v v v r r r v 9 r L U U r r l Y r

t h e l e t t e r o f i n t r o d u c L j o n , ( A p p e n d i x 5 ) a n a r r a n g e m e n tt o s a m p l e t h e c d t c h o n b h e f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g w a s m a d ew h i c h w a s f e a s t d i s r u p t i v e t o t h e n e t o w n e r . o n d a y sw h a n n n l r r . a f a w n o f q r ^ r a n c q c i i l : r n r a q o f 1 - a n n n e s i l - r I cv ! r r u r r v , r ! . ) ,

t o c o l l e c t a l l t h e i n f o r m a t i o n r e q u i r e d b u t o nb u s y d a y s w h e n d i n g h i e s w e r e I a n d i n g s i m u l t a n e o u s l y2 + . l i f f ^ r ' ^ n t n l , a c A q n n l r r : . . r r r r ' + h \ / q n e c j e S W a S! r g r r v y r s v ! r t v L L L J

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t r e n d w h - t c h m a y h a v e b e e n p r e s e n l , t h e m e a n a n d r a n g eof ind iv idual catch rates over consecut ive 3 day' i n ' t - a r ^ r ra l < r ^ re ra n l a1 -J -a , . 1 i n t r i n r r r - A Max imum CaLChv r ! r ! P r v !Y ' i l - a q r . r a F c h i r r h F r a a r . l i 6 Y . i n ] - h - - t n t h b u t b h e r e w a su | | r 9 r r ! r

n o s l g n i f i c a n t t r e n d i n m e a n c a t c h r a t e . T h e d e p r e s s e dmean catch rate about 20 January may have resuf ted f romi n c r e a s e d a v o i d a n c e o f t h e n e t s d u r i n g t h e n i g h t b y t h ef l s h i n c l e a r e s t u a r i n e w a t e r d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d o ff u f l m o o n .

W i n t e r f r e s h w a t e r i n f f o w l n t o t h e e s t u a r y c o n s i d e r a b l yr a i s e d t h e w a t e r l e v e l . T h e a v e r a g e c a t c h r r a t e i n f a t ewinter had improved to 26 f ish per set f rom datas u p p l i e d b y a l o c a l f i s h e r m a n ( A p p e n d i x 6 ) a l t h o u g ht h i s w a s n o t n e c e s s a r i f y r e l a t e d t o t h e i n f f o w .

( b ) B e a u f o r t I n l e t

S e a m u l l e t d o m i n a t e d c a t c h e s i n t h i s e s t u a r y a n dc o m p r i s e d 8 4 % o f f i s h c o u n t e d . T h e y w e r e m o r e n u m e r o u sin catchres f rom Beaufor t In le t than they were an, ^ r a l l c t a : ^ ^ c + r r ^ n . \ / . - ^ r r - h o q \ i r - q . i n c d I e r r h e r i ^ . : k e f s ,

a n d b l u e m a n n a c r a b s w e r e a b s e n t f r o m c a t c h e s ( T a b l e

3 ) , A t o t a f o f L 6 1 6 e d i b l e f i s h w e r e c a u g h t ( T a b l e 5 )w h i c h w a s e q u i v a f e n t t o a r e m o v e d b i o m a s s o f 5 7 2 k g o ff i s h b a s e d o n m e a n w e i g h L s ( T a b l e 3 ) . T h e a v e r a g eo v e r n i q h t c a l c h r a t e w a s 2 0 e d i b l e f l s h p e r s e L ( 7 . 2

k g ) . c i t c n e s r a n g e d f r o m I t o 1 o 4 f i s h p e r s e t ( T a b f e( t ( ' : f r - h n a t c r j , r f a ^ i ^ , r ^ ^ . 1 i h { - ̂ ? d = r , C O n S e C U t i V eJ J '

i n t e r v a l s s h o w e d t h a t n o t o n l y t h e r n e a n s b u t a l s o t h em a x i m u m s ( F i g u r e 7 ) w e r e h i g h e r t h a n a t W e f l s t e a d 'S w a l l o w C a v e ( s i t e 3 1 , F i g u r e 2 ) y i e l d e d t h e h i g h e s Lc a t c h o f a n y s i t e v t z . 7 a 4 f i s h / s e t . A s t h e P a l l i n u pR i v e r i s o n l y a b o u t 5 o - 7 o m w i d e h e r e , l t c a n b ec r r h i 6 - f + n r r n f : i r f i q h i r r . r n r a r - t i c F s . l t c h : c . 2 n - t c l l p i n ns v u J U U U P r u r v ! ! e

a n a n r { - a r { ^ 1 ^ c a + ^ ^ F l - h a r : n . l k r i f h n . r l ^ r o f . h - , : 1 l - q . l r h e a F i n a tv l J s r q u s u u r v J L v v v v v

r - a ^ ] - i ^ j f i c h c a n b e d r i v e n i n t o n e t s . A l L h o u g hl - h a n o l c n r 1 / h o n F l a a : 1 m a c h c i z e a r r c f a l i q t ^ n . c ^ n F n lL " u j u L

( s O m ; s u c h a p r a c t i c e c a n e f f e c L l v e l y t r a p m o s t o ft h e f i s h o f v u l n e r a b l e c a p t u r e s i z e f r o m t h a t t r a c t o fr i v e r u s i n g t h e s e m e t h o d s . r t i s n o t k n o w n f l o w1 ^ r i . i F q n r c ^ d f h i s n a n t i ^ r r l : r n r a { - l i r - c i e n O r h O w o f t e n i Lw r s r J P ri < r - n c a l - d h r r t r r n a f h i n f l i q c F r l . a i n - t h e l e l L e r o f

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+ h a n i n r ^ ' i . l o ^ n A l ^ t c o f l h e r i V e r o r L h e e s t u a r y . I t i sr t i F f i n r r ' l + t ^ . ' - 1 m n i r . ^ f h a - f f i . - i F n . v o f c l i f f e n e n t s i z e d

m e s h i n c a t c h i n g b l a c k b r e a m b e c a u s e t h e r e w e r e t o o f e w

s e t s i n m o s t m e s h s i z e c a t e g o r i e s .

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( d )

c m T . L . ) t h a n t h o s e a t B e a u f o r t I n l e t ( m o d e 2 8 c m

T . L . ) . o n l y I f i s h c a u g h t w a s b e l o w t h e m i n i m u m l e g a l

s l z e ( T a b l e 1 1 ) . r n b o t h a r e a s , t h e n u n b e r s o f f i s h

c a u g h l d e c r e a s e d w i t h i n c r e a s i n g m e s h s i z e ( T a b L e s

z , e ) e . g . i n W e l l s t e a d 6 3 m m m e s f r u s e d o n 1 5 % o f

occaslons cal rght 56% of f ish sampled wher- 'as 76 mm

r n e s h ( 5 5 % u s a g e ) c a u g h t 4 0 % o f f i s h s a m p l e d . N e t s o f

83 mJn or larger mesh d id not capture tLre s ize

range of ye l low-eye mul le t present at the t ime as

e f f e c t i v e l y a s t h e s m a l f e r m e s h e s . Y e l f o w - e y e m u l f e t

w e r e m a i n f y f e e d i n g o n s e a g r a s s e s c o n t a i n i n gH g d n o c o c c u z b t a S ) e a i a n d k e n c i e t t e . L l a e n ) g m a t t c a .

Many of the yel Iow-eye mul1et measured appeared to be

i n p o o r c o n d i t i o n , p o s s i b f y d u e t o t h r e i r e x p o s u r e t o

s a l i n i t i e s u p t o 6 5 % o . T h e f i s h a f f e c t e d w e r e c o a t e d

in a heavy secreted s l ime and f in rays were ragged

edged, which may f rave been in response to h igh

s- l i . t i ty . F ish measured exceeded 90% of those counted

i n e a c h e s t u a r y .

Bf ack bream A cctntho p cLg.zuz butcLtez i Munro, 1949( F T a E e 5 ; T E 5 f e s 7 , 8 , 1 2 , F i g u r e 8 ) . o v e r a f f ' f i s h

caught in Wef ls tead estuary tended to be unders ized

whi fs t a greater propor t ion of those caught in

B e a u f o r t I n l e t t e n d e d t o b e l e g a 1 s i z e d ( F i g u r e B '

T a b f e 1 2 ) . I n t h e f a t t e r a r e a t h e r e w e r e d i s t i n c tmodes at 22 cm and 29 cm. This b lmodal d is t r ibut ion

w a s e f f e c t i v e t y p a r t i t i o n e d b y t h e m i n i m u m l e g a l s i z e

o f 2 5 c m ( T a b l e 1 2 ) . B l a c k b r e a m s t o m a c h s c o n t a i n e d1 4 e z c i e t e l ) - a e n i g n a t i c a , m u d s k i p p e r s r t h e s o u t h r e r nanchovy and t f ie t iny gastropod #. bzctSiez i . In eacharea, the most ef fect ive mesh s ize used was 1o2 mrn 'o f the f ish counted the propor t ions which were afsomeasured were loo% at Wel- l -s teacl ar , .d 91% at Beaufor tI n 1 e t .

A u s t r a f i a n h e 4 ! r 4 g t t z z i p i z g e o z g i o n u z ( C u v . e t V a l ) '

1 8 3 1 l T a b l e s ? J 3 , F l g u r e 8 ) . A 1 l f i s h c a u g h t w e r e o r

I e g a l s i z e ( F i g u r e 8 ) . T h e m o d a l s i z e w a s 2 1 - 2 5 c m

T . i . T h e r e w a i n o t r e n d s h o w n b e t w e e n m e a n f i s h s i z e

and mesLr s ized used, Lrowever i t was obvious that

s m a l l - e r m e s h c a p t u r e d f i s h j u s t a s e f f e c t i v e l y a s

I a r g e r m e s h ( T a b l e 7 ) . a 1 % o f f i s h c o u n t e d w e r e

m e a s u r e d .

( f ) C o b b f e r C n i d o g t - a n i z m a c . t o c e p h a l u z ( C u v . e t V a I ) 'TEZb- - ( t ab les 7 ,8 ,11 ' , F igu re 8 . i Two d i s t i nc t s i zec lasses o f cobb le r were p resen t i n WeI I s tead es tua ryc a t c h e s , 1 2 c m T . L . a n d I a r g e r a d u f t s > 5 o c m T ' L .( T a b l e 1 4 ) . T h e p r e s e n c e o f j u v e n i l e s a n d l a r g eadul ts in Wef ls tead estuary suggests that breedingwi th in the system has probably occurred s ince November1979 when the bar c losed. The totaf measured catchw a s t o o f e w f o r a c l e a r m o d e t o b e s e e n . I n c o n t r a s tto Wel fs tead estuary, f ish f rom the Beaufor t In le t

system were medium s ized wi th a d is t inct mode at 46 cmT . L . I n l e g a l s i z e d m e s L r s o m e f i s h w e r e c a u g h t i n 7 6

rnm net but the most ef f ic ient mesh s ize was theunders ized mesh 63 nrrn in Wel ls tead estuary and 70 mm

( e )

1 8

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uo11.rodo"rd L{6Tq e 'JseJluoc uJ 'slau ?es ^Jenlsa peelsTlaMuT paralunocue saTlred Jo Jequnu Tefo? aql Jo %9 dTuo

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€L{f qrlrrq

B .

7 3 % o f p a r t i e s s e t n e t s a t B e a u f o r t I n l e t w h i c h c o n f i r m e dl L : + n a l F i c h i n ^ u , : < I - h o m n < 1 - n n n r r ' l : n n a n r a r r i ^ n a - i i U i f \ /

u n d e r t a k e n t h e r e . F i s h i n g i n t e n s i t y ( n u m b e r o f s e t s i n t h es r r r \ / F 1 / n e r i o d ) w a s a b o u t t h e s a m e i n b o t h a r e a s . T h em a j o r i L y o f p a r t i e s r e L w e n e f o u r i s L s ( F i g u r e 3 ) .

F r q h r r r . r - F r ^ T i F q ' r q | , a | l v c , e ] - l - n p r r . F j - q . r n C e t O t W i C e a t

Wel l s teac i es tua ry bu t tw i ce to th ree t imes a t Beau fo r t I n le td e n o n . l i n - r e . n - . r c r . r h a | . \ n 1 n r . r I o n n I h e r s t a r r 9 6 l i n t h e a r e a .

T h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f m e s h s r z e s u s e d r e v e a f e d t h a t 7 6 m m w a sm o s t o f t e n u s e d i n b o t h a r e a s a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e m o s t p o p u l a rm e s h s i z e ( T a b l e 2 ) . l \ e x t m o s t p o p u l a r m e s L r s i z e w a s 8 3mm. Combined data on net t i .ng f rom both areas has shown thata 7 % o f n e t s s e t w e r e o f l e g a l s i z e ( 7 6 m m - 1 f 4 m m ) a n d 1 3 %w e r e o e l o w 1 e g a 1 s r z e m e s h ( 5 / m m - 7 0 n r n ) . U s e o f i l l e g a lm e s h w a s a b o u t t h e s a m e f r e q u e n c y i n e a c h a r e a ( T a b l e 2 ) .

C a t c h e s o f d i f f e r e n t s p e c i e s

F r o m f a b l e 2 a n d F i g u r e a , i t i s a p p a r e n L L h a L L n e r . t s a g ef n e n r r a n n ' z o f r l i f f a n a n l n e s h S i z e s W a S e S S e n t t a l l v s i m i l a n

f o r t h e t w o e s t l r a r i e s o v e r t h e p e r i o d o f t h e s u r v e y .T - l F r c w a s r r e n e r a l I v l i L b l e d i I f e r e n c e i n l a ^ r - i i ' i r - \ /a n d f i e . n i n n c f f n r F . \ . L h a q . c . i e q r - ^ r r f l h l O L h e r f a c t o f ss u c h a s d i f f e r e n c e s i n w a t e r c l a r i t y a n d s a l i n i t y w e r et h e r e f o r e c o n s i d e r e d . D i f f e r e n c e s w e r e f o u n d i n :

( i ) q n F . ' ; e q . l i \ / F r q i 1 - v - 1 - h a r ^ a u r : q : h i n h a n r ' l i i , a h c i + ! 'l n W e l l s t e a d e s t u a r y ( 1 6 s p e c i e s ) c o m p a r e d w i t hR e a r r f n r r T n l c . r ( 7 q . a . i a q ] '

s - L z e c o n p o s r L i o n ( s e e F i g u r e 8 ) ;

c a t c h r a t e s .

( i i )

( i i i )

T h e t o t a l n u m b e r s o f f i s h c o u n t e d f r o m e a c h s y s t e m f o rs p e c i e s m a r k e d ( t ) i n T a b l e 3 s h o u l d o e c o m p a r e d . T h ed r f f e r e n t c o u n t s m a y r e f l e c t r e a l d i f f e r e n c e s f n a o u n o a n c eo f f i s h n o n u l a l - . i o n q i n l h e r u , r l q \ / q i F m q n r . \ n ^ h l r r = q a r a q r r ' l +

of recrur tment f rom the sea and are most l ike ly re lated tothe recent envi ronmenta l h ls tory of each system. Theh r s t o r y i s m a n i f e s t i n t h e s e a s o n a l t i m l n g , d u r a t l o n a n dr n t e r ^ v a f o e L w e e n c o n s e c u t i v e o p e n i n g s o f t h e b a r s ( A p p e n d i x2 ) 1 n r e l a t i o n t o t h e a v a i l a b i l l t v o f r e c r u i t s f r o m t h eo c e a n .

In the above comparrson of numbers of f ish caught in eachs y s t e m . D I a c k b r e d - n w a s d e l i b e n a L e l y e x c l u d e d . ' I h i s w a sbecause the mean length of bLack bream taken by 76 mm mesh( i h e n . | \ / ' n c q h q i - a q F t f r e c r r r c n l - l \ / F n . \ r r d h + a : l l q P P r v -

n r ' r . a l a r - n r r n : r i q n n ) , . , . r c . s i . r n i f i r - : n F l r r I : n n a n i h R a ^ r r F ^ F tr u r Y L r ! "

I n f e t ( 2 7 , 2 c m ) t h a n t h e m e a n l e n g t h o f b l a c k b r e a m c a p t u r e di n W e l f s t e a d e s t u a r y . D i f f e r e n c e s 1 n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o fthose mesLr s izes which ef fect ive ly caught b lack bream didn o t a l f o w a n u n b i a s e d c o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n L h e s y s t e m s o f t h en u m b e r s o f b l a c k b r e a m c a u g h t .

20

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D .

of f ish at that t ime, the level of usage found at Wel lsteadestuary exerted a moderate pressure on some speclesand a signi f icant pressure on otfrers over the sunmerperiod. l4hi lst winter catch rates indicated that adeplet ion of f ish stocks did not occur (ApPendix 6) 'tn l importance of the closed area up r iver of the Narrowsshould not be underest imated. I t serves as a refugefrom net f ishing for some of the f ish dur ing the summerperiod of extensi-ve nett ing in the estuary, and not onlyhelps to ensure f ish catches in the fol lowing tour ist season

tprbvided the bar has not been broken ln the meant ime) butalso al lows l - ine f ishermen to at tempt to catch black breamwithout compet i t ion from nets.

Poss ib le sou rces o f b ias

Those sources of bj-as which may have affected the est imat ionof the l -evel of net f j "shing ln each area incfude:

(a ) The poss ib i l i t y t ha t ca tches m issed i n one a reawhen the of f icer was in tLre other area were nottypical of catches examined.

(b ) The poss ib i l i t y t ha t f i sh ing ope ra t i ons were a l sovery much greater dur ing such absences.

(c) The l ikefy reduct ion in f ishing ef fort by residentf ishermen dur ing this per iod due to the presenceo f t he o f f i ce r and tha t o f t ou r i s t s .

(d) Thre exclusion from samples of iL legal professionalnight net f ishing operat ions of short durat ionwhich woulci not have been detected and which areal leged to have occurred once or twice dur i 'ng thesurvey.

Vi REC0r' l t ' IENDATI0NS

Although they are beyond the scope of the str ict object ivesof th is survey I wouLd nevertheless l ike to make somerecommendat ions :

A. Wel lstqad estuary

1 . Tha t s rgns be p faced a t va r i ous s t ra teg i c s i t es 'to fami l iar ize the net f ishing publ ic wi- th regulat ionswhich apply to net f ishing. Those regulat j -ons of tenabused were }egal length of net and mesh size andthe required distance apart for sett ing nets.

That the ban on net f lshing up r iver of the Narrows(i ' i rnrre q ) nemain in f orce and that the exist ingsign be replaced with a Department of Fisher j-esanO wi l -dt i fe s ign to communicate the condit ion ofthe c losu re .

2 .

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laluJ lJoJnesg's

VI I i REFERENCTS

E d z w a l d , J . K .i -n recent

Capu t i , N .G . and Lenan ton , R .C ' J . (L977) ' A su rvey o f t he

recreat ional usage of the ^south , ,coastal estuar ies of

Wes te rn Aus t ra l i i ' F i zh . f ?ep i ' ' l ez t ' Auz t ' 27 , L -4L '

a n d O ' M e 1 i a , C ' R . ( l - 9 7 5 ) . C l a y d i s t r i b u t i o n s

estuarr -ne sedrments . C)-ay and C lay lY i inenal -z

Z ) , J Y - 4 4 .

H a s s e l L , W . R . B . e t a 1 . ( 1 9 7 8 ) . S o u t h C o a s t F i s h e r i e sParl-iamentary Study cornmittee Report '

Lenan ton , R .c . J ' ( rg71a) . F i sh and c rus tacea o f t he wes te rnAustral i -an south coast r ivers and estuar les' Fizh'13u l ) - , r , l ea l ' Auz t , 1 ) , L - t7 .

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T A B L E 4 . D a i l y n e t f i s h i n g i n W e l l s t e a d e s t u a r y ' J a n u a r y 1 9 8 1 .

DATEEDIBLESPEClES

NETFlSHlNGPARTIES

NETSSET

NUMBER OF FISHCAUGHT PER SET

S I Z E S O FMESH USED

0 5 0 1 8 1

0 6 0 1 8 1

0 7 0 1 8 1

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1 0 0 1 8 1

1 1 0 1 8 1

1 2 0 1 8 1

1 3 0 1 8 1

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1 7 0 1 8 1

1 8 0 1 8 1

- 1 9 0 1 8 1

2 0 0 1 8 1

2 1 0 1 8 1

220187

23 0.181

24018r

260181

270r8t

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1 8 , 2 6 , 4 , 9 ' 6 , 3 , 1 7 , 3 2 "

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2 4 , t 3 , 2 6 -

2 6

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2 , 1 , 1

1 , 0 , 0 , 4 , 1

7 , 1 . , 6 , 4 , 5 , 2 , 7 , 3 , 2 , 3 , 9

t6c , toc ,rzc7 3 , 2 4 , 2 4 , 5 , 3 , 2 , 2

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1 1 , 1 8 , 3 , 6

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1 6

63 ,83

6 3 , 7 6 , 8 3 , r o 2

6 3 , 7 6 , 8 3 , 1 O 2

6 3 , 1 6 , 8 3

7 6 , 8 3 , r O 2

83

83

83

1 6 , 8 3

7 6 , 8 3

76 ,83

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7 6 , 8 3

1 6 , I O 2

6 3 , 1 6 , 8 3 , r O 2

7 6 , 8 3

7 6 , 8 3

7 6 , 8 3

7 6 , 8 3

7 6 , 8 3

4

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9

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3

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2

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8

7

4

4

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2 -

2 -

TOTAL 1 3 r " 1l* " ^ D 89

E x c l u d e s c r a b s ,

Tota l number o f

Catch o f two or

Tota l nurnber o f d i f fe ren t f i sh ing par t ies encounEered dur ing

u n d e r e s t i r n a t e d d u e t o o f f l c e r ' s

p r a w n s o r i n e d i b 1 e s p e c i e s .

d i f fe ren t spec ies encountered in month .

m o r e n e t s c o n b i n e d .

N u m b e r o f n e t s s e t p o s s i b l y

survey.

absence.

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TABLE 8. Mean f ish catch rates (No. Permesh s izes used in the Beaufor tdenote catch f rom a s ingle set .

overn ight set )In Iet January

by d l f fe ren t1981 . Bracket s

MESH SIZE (mm) 83/ o706357 89 toz !14

SPEClES

C o b b l e r

King George whl t ing

Black bream

Sl lver bream

Sea mul le t

Yel low eye mu 1 le t o . ) r . J

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- u . )

2 7 . 4 5 . O

0 . 1 0 , 5

4 . 0 o . 7

. o . 1

1 . 1

0 . 1

1 4 . 5

0 . 9

Sufthed mean catchrates for edib les p e c i e s

1 0 , 7 2 5 . 6 3 3 , 5 c a . 1 7 . 2 2 8 ( 1 0 )

N o . o f s e t s I J50

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12DAYS OF

17 20JANUARY

estuary January 1981t P lo t tedintervals . The number of

C a t c h r a l e s o f e d i b l e f i s h i n W e l l s t e a d

as mean ! and range I for three daY

samples i.s shown a! the maximum Point.

F i g u r e 6 .

4 6

LN

.1urod urnurxeurJaqurnu aqJ .sI"AJafuT t(pp aarqf ro1

Pallold 'I861 ,{rEnuef '?aluI froJneag ul

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S E A M U L L E T

N : 2 3 6 { B R ) -

N : 5 9 5 ( P A ) :

BLACK BREAI,'N = 4 2 ( B F ) N = s 4 ( P A )

COBBLER

N = 1 8 ( B R )t 0

ul t0

rr.t 2o

r l"'''t ll----'r-A.\-{-

21 34o

16 5 81 Z 5 0 6 2

Y E L L O W - E Y E M U L L E T

N - 47(gR) | { . 68 ( PA)

S I X - S P I N E D L E A T H E R J A C K E T

N : l 1 9 ( B R )

I

38 40

AUSTRALIAN

1 2

HERR IN G

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G E O R G E W H I T I N G( B R ) N . 2 ( P A )

30 32 34 36

L E N G T H t c m . )

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L e n g t h c o m p o s i t i o n o f t h e c o t a l m e a s u r e d c a t c h o f s e l e c t e d s p e c i e so f f i s h t a k e n i n a l I s i z e s o f m e s h c o m b i n e d f r o m W e l l s t e a d e s t u a r y( B R f ) a n d B e a u f o r t I n l e r ( p A r - r ) . M . L . S . i s m i n i m u r nl e g a l s i z e . T h e M . L . S . f o r c o b b l e r w a s e s t i m a t e d f r o m a n e q u a t i o nr e l a t i n g f i n l e n g t h t o t o t a l l e n g t h .

KIN GN = t l

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Plate 4. A view of Swal- low Cave,shore lookinq downriver

Pal l inup River( re fe r a l so to

from the oppositeF i g u r e 2 ) .

Plate 5. An above averageWellstead EstuaryBurche 11 .

an amateur net set in1981 by Ken and I sobe l

catch fromin January

5 2

t9

'1a4ce [.req1ea1 pautds-xrs aq1 '?+au?cfLadi

.1aT Inu eas er{4 . sn.IDqd.ao 1?bnw . g eleTd

Pl "a te 8 , ALdz t i che t l ; a f ovsbe r ' 1 : , t he ye l l ow-eye mu l l e t .

P l a t e 9 . A c a n t h o p q g r u s b u t c h e r : i ,

l>

'atulrll auo uaql arour Jo Japfoq aql aq ol palt1tua aq lou IIBIIB uosrad V .g

'uoEJad Jaqlo AUB ol JoaJaql raplotl aql Aq parJaJEUBJt aq 1ou flBqs a5uecll V .,

.Joaraql an8sI Jo al8p

aql 6ufnoffoJ lxau Jaqualdas Jo iBp qqOC aqt Tllun p!IE^ aq ITEqE aouas1l v .9

.aguacTI Aug Jo ana6I

ar{l aroJaq lrcune! aql {.rt pIBd aq IIBr]s (00.2S) guvt]oo o|l|l Jo aal V .l

.ulaJaql palJTrads Euolllpuoc aql 01 lracqnspuE olataq afnpaq3s aql uI Z urJoJ qllt! acuBpJo3ae uT pana8l aq flsq6 633u3t1'l .tl

.EmsI-Aq aeaql ol afnpeqgE

8r]l uI L rlrlol qlIo acuBpJo33B ul apsur aq tfBq6 Eagua5lf roJ suoTlBJIfddV .C

.€nsT-Aq aaoql tapun pen€ET aouaell e

Jo rapTor.l aql €I aq EEaTUn lau EulqsTJ s Jo Eueau Aq a^rasar g uo Eralsn uI'qBIJ dsrl ro ttolBe alBl ot lduellB ro dEJt ro qclBc aiBl lteqe uoErad oN .Z

.TTounoS 3ql Jo rorluscgr.ll itepun ro uI pal8a^ a.Ialgrr laqlo ro rlBerl8 laal3 ra^Tt AUE augau/ rGralqlo

.IlcunoS aq1 Jo ryaT3 aJTqS aql suBaq ,tlrarg a.rlqs,r.flaunog aql Jo forluo3 aql rapun ro lrl pa+€a^ a^Jaaal AuB suaau r a^t€aeg .

.acro! atTTod

aql J0 E{aquiaur FUB EneI-Aq asaql Jo suoTsI^oJd tsql acroJua 01 to rapun

illroqlnB a€1cJaxa 01 I!3uno3 aLn Aq paluToddE uosJad Aue ffeuno3 sql Jo3I! aJI[tS aql llcuno3 aql Jo .raquaur AUE sapnfeu! puB 6usau rJesTJJO,l

.6OBI-Aq e6aql Japun 1I3UnO3 8q1 Aq ptsnEE! ACuaCIr e auBaUr ra9ua9llr.qEIJ Jo EulqelBo aql 6u!lelITTeBJ ro Eurqclec JoJ luaualdul paxlJ

Aus Jo dB.rl tau-aials rlalr acual a6paq /,ue Eapnfcul ,,au16u3 pax13 ,.aJTI IBUjIUB aulrsul ro saselEnrc puB gaq8lJ ra+en qeatlJ

ro aulJBur Jo gaIlIJg^ aql Jo AUB Jo TIe sapnlcuT pug BuBat! .qaIJ r.dnra6uBiloug Jo arlqs aql Jo TIcuno3 aql EuBauJ

rrlaunot ,l

-:aaltrJaqlo BaJInbal lxatuoe aq1 aEalun €nBI-Aq aBaq4 uJ.!

-:sf'r€r-Aq 6u1r'ro11o3 aql rouJa^og aql Aq uolleurlJuoc roJ lTu/qns puB alBur 01!16! 'AInC Jo ABp qlgZ aql uo pa^Tosar 6u!^Bq apJorar Aqataq IlIfedIeIunhl

pauolluaua^oqB atll Jo TT3unog aql 1T EurlqBua sranod raqlo TTB Jo puBl!u Pauollualu-a^oqe aql Aq 1! uodn paJraJuoc sJanod aql Jo eguangJnd uI

'9NIHS1-J 0.t 9f!Itu't3u Strlv'l-Ag'dr]ulgNufloNg J0 3uIHs lHr J0 AII'lUdI3If{nbl

lt4l

(pap'raurE 8v ) 096f lru lN3|.lNu3nug .lv90.l

uI'lvBIsn! NU3l.s3rrl

'Og6I .€ faqo?o0outqs!J ur

Pue 8e6I uaa&faqtullelar sr'1eI -dq

lrafJa uI a:an qslqlldnra8uer'oug lo arT qS.1 xlpuaddg

9. No peleon unde! the aqe or' aeventaen ( 1? ) years thall be entit led

to hold E tlcence. The Councit or 6ny offlqe! may lequire an sFpllcant

f o ! E l l c c n c e t g f u r n l s h U i ' t h h l g a p P l i o s t l o n s u c h e v i d e n c 8 o f h i E d a t e

o f E l l th 6a l t o r he sh6 l l th lnk f i t '

10 . A l l cence sha l l en t i t le the ho lder thereo f to take Eatch o ! t lap f19h

ln u8 terg on a leae lve by means o f a f i sh ing ne t no t more than seventy yardg

in ]enqth and having mesh not 1e35 than three inches and not othuerl 'se'

11 . The ho tde ! o f a l i cence eha l1 kePp a t tached to any f ieh inq ne t uh lch

ls used o ! in tended to be osEd bV h im I f loa t o f no t I 'ess than fou ! inch€s

i n d l a m e t e ! U h i c h s h a l l b e l e q i b l y n g l k e d a n d k e p t m a l k e d e l t h e r b v p a l n t l n g

blanding or otherlriae etanping qn the float the number of the l!6enqe held

by such

pe!9on.

12. Fo! the pulpose of testlng the length oP any ftshing net such nEt Ehall

be me66ured al'ong the colk l ine upon uhich the net is hunq' The size of the

mesh ehal' l be determlned by lt|eaaurlnq from knot to knot on the lnslde Df the

mesh trrhen reEdY for use and gtretched so that the oppo8ite knots on the

al,ternatlve colnets ale ln contact' In the event of the net belnq dlv the

Fa l t to be meesu led sha l ] be 988ked e l ther ln l resh u 'a te r o ! in sa l i Uater

fo ! no t less than ten minu tes and the d lnens lons o f the mesh or meshes o f the

po!ti.on Eo sooked shall theleupon be determlned'

13. No pelgon shsll obgtrust anv uaters o! the paasage of anv boEt or veasgl

th rough ln o r ac loaa anv ua tere bV the use o f a f l sh lnq ne t l inEs f loa tg o r 6

boat vegael dEbllE or anv other neans'

14. l lo pei8on ehEll capiure kil l o! destrov or attempt to captule ki11 or

degtloy anv f19h in the uatels on any legelve by the digchBtqe o! use of anv

spealgun ll l le o! other firealm uhatEoever o! bv uEe of any explosive hooJaoever

lgnited or exploded.

15 . Any person ua ing hav ing used o ! be inq about tc use s f i sh lnq ne t o ! take

f ish in the ua te tg on anv lese lve o t be lng in pogaesg ion o f a f iBh inq ne t on 6nv

r e s e t v e s h a l l f o r t h u i t h o n d e m a n d b y a n y o f f l E e r P r o d u 6 e h i 6 l i g e n c e a n d l f

req|l lred by an offlce! pernit such net to be neasured not onlv as to length but

alEo as to size of mesh and give his name €nd Bddress'

15 . An o f f i ce ! mav Ee lze anv f i sh lnq ne t u lh ich is be inq r ' iged o ! t ' i i eh he

suspects on reason6ble glounds i9 about to be or has Eeen used bV a person

uho iE not the hoLde! of a l icence o! uhich does not cornPlv ulith ot confo tm

to the reqli lementa of thege by-1ar're'

'1?. No pelaon sh6ll at anv tlme uEe a

to attempt to take e6tch o! trap fieh

f ixed engine to take Eatch q! trap o!

ln lratelg on a leaelve.

5 6

LY

la,rntdBc Jo EuBaur palJloads AuB Aq qsIJ Jo Ealoade paTJTradB AUB EuTlBi (E)

( uorJ EuosJad IfE

lTqIqDJd alXazBg lualruJa^og aql uT qsllqnd asTlou Aq 'ABu fTcunol aLtI (!) -.,2

-:EnoIToJ 6E nEI-Aq B aaJqt ilua:ll nBI-Iq JatJB 6ulppB iq papuaure 3rB enEl-Aq slll

.Z16! traquacao Ja Aap q+62 aqt uo apEur 6u!q611 ot EuTlelar 6nET-Aq aql

ol lualJpuauJe 6u1oo11og aql JouJa^og aql Aq uollBlrJlJuoc roJ llurqns puB a>leu ol

116, AJBnueC go Isp q19g aqt uo pa^IoEaJ 6ul^sq apJogar Aqalaq AlTfEdIctunH

pauolluauJa^oqe aql Jo lleuno! aqt rlI Eullqsua alanod Jaq+o ffB Jo puB

lgU pauplluauja^oqE aq1 Aq 1T uodn parraJUog Eranod aql Jo asucn6rno uI

jilitr-Edilffi

'pafBada,r AqaJaq a.rs 9961 'raquJalcas ql9Z aql

Jo atlaz€g luasrura^og aqt oI paqBllqnd ouTqEIJ 01 EUI+EIa,I EneI-Aq aql .CZ

.sdrBl-Aq aEa[]1 IEUTBEB acuaJJo IUB Jo palol^uor laaq Esq

oqn uoaJad s ol pans6l aguasll aq+ alo^al uollnToaal Aq Asu TIsunoS aql 'ZZ

'(00'00t$) sUvt'l0o 0!H0NnH 3N0 6ulpaacxa lou auIJ B ot aTqBII

aq IIEqB SrtlBI-Aq asaql Jo iuB Jo qgBaJq B llululoc TrBq6 otlo uos.rad Auv 'uz

'acuaJJ o

uB El1u roc gE op ol uoErad Jaqlo Aue aEEJnogua ,ro lgaJTF IfE'lE oqn uoBJad AUE

puB snel-Aq a6aq1 rapun A+TJoqlnB JO sallnp 6Iq Jo uollnaaxa aql u! uaqn

racTJJo Aue ol aben6uBl a^T6nqe aBn ro 01 uof+BUJJoJUI asfBJ a^16 ro qllll

aragJalu-r iBfaF Jo lsn,r+sqo lclJlsar llne86g ffart6 oqo uoEJad Auv 'oa

.^r6uIpJo33B'palIaJJOJ aq rIBqE auBF altl pue AlEaFBhi raH ol pslTeJJoJ 8s auBs

alll uu|;tpuoa 6ttrEl-^q agaql Jo uot+ua^srluot uI Fa6n aq 01 papualu! aB|r ro uaaq

pBll uollranb u! 6uTql aql leqt 6u!^alfaq roJ 6punoJ6 afqguoasal arB araql lBql

paIJsIlsE JI IIeq6 oqn acTtEnf E oJoJaq ua)iel aq ol punoJ oE 6ulqt aqt aanB3

ralJBaraql ITBq6 pue PJBsq a3JlorJ 6rT13uno3 aql uo acllou Aq Joaraql EuIpuTJ Jo

acltou aA!6 IIeLl6 Ja3IJJ0 q3ns puE aIeTlJp Jaqlo Jo aouelldde luauaTdurT auI6ua

pax-rJ auTt xau 4eoq qcns azlas Aeu Ja9!JJ0 aql J9aJa!11 uoTssa9Eocl TBnl9e uT

uosJad AqE lneqtln sJalen 6ue u! JacTJJo ue Aq punoJ aq fTBrls qETJ 6uT>le1 JoJ

aIlTtJe rarllo Jo stuaTldde luaua1du! auTbua paxIJ auTI lau lBoq AUE uaqflt '61

.i+EaFeH JaH ot palTaJ,roJ aq IIEqs snel-Aq asaq+ Jo suoTsT^oJd aqx ol ^rErluoc

uoErad uE J,o uols6as8od aqt uI ro fq paen (1eoq Aue bulpnlgul lou lnq )

Baf3IlrB ,ro ̂lradoJd Jaq4o pue EauTbus paxlJ 81au EuTtlsIJ II! '9,

(b) TEking any fiEh ulhatsoeve! by 6ny specLfied neana of caPturs;

(c) taktnq any BFecifled specieg ol f lsh by anv neEns of captute

uhatsoevet;

(d) tatlnq 6ny fish r,Jhataoeve! by any mean3 of captu!€ ln uatera on E resetve

o! ln any spec i f ied t lme in any spec l f led year dur lng E Epec i f led por t lon o f

evely year or unti. l a lurther notice is so published.

5 8

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A p p e n d i x 3 . S u r f a c e s a l i n i t y s a n p l e s t a k e n f r o m W e l l s t e a d e s t u a r y a n dBrener r iver in January 1981.

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DEPARTMENT OFFISHEFIIES AND \NILDLI FE

r08 Adera'de Te(ace. PedhWesrern Ausr rar ' . 6000

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