MEDIA RELEASE                      2 March 2010                      www.FishingTaxGrab.com 

CALL FOR NEW RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENCES AND FEES TO BE DISALLOWED 

Campaigners against new fishing licences and fees want Members of Parliament to disallow new regulations that make WA the most expensive recreational fishery in the world. They say changes introduced today by the Minister for Fisheries Norman Moore with threat of $2,000 fines will reduce participation in recreational fishing by families, and that the requirement for a licence to fish from a hire dinghy for just a few hours will wipe out dinghy hire businesses. 

Neil Bartholomaeus of Manjimup and Ben Patrick of Fremantle set up a FishingTaxGrab.com web site in conjunction with other fishing enthusiasts to specifically encourage fishing and boating people to send letters to Members of Parliament seeking support for disallowance of controversial new regulations. Over 18,000 letters have been sent to Members of Parliament.  

Mr Bartholomaeus said the cost for the range of fishing licences in WA has increased from $87 to $207, making WA the most expensive recreational fishery in the world.

“The half price but high $103.50 cost for children to fish in WA is particularly harsh when there is no fee for children fishing in other states in Australia, with the exception of a few marine fisheries in Tasmania.

“The increased red tape and costs will cause a big drop in recreational fishing in WA, especially amongst the 43% of the 565,000 persons who fish for less than 5 days a year, usually on family holidays. 

“The Minister for Fisheries says funds from the increased and new fees will be applied to improvement of recreational fishing but there will be no improvement if the net effect of the fees is to reduce the number of people enjoying fishing as a recreation in WA,” Mr Bartholomaeus said.

Mr Patrick said there are 72,000 registered recreational boats in WA, and with an estimated 300,000 persons using the boats the Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence could be required by 100,000 persons.

“To require 100,000 persons to hold a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence where in most instances they may only fish for a few hours a year for fish that are not endangered, such as whiting, squid, crabs and bream, and not subject to special limitations, is unfair and irrational.

“There is a punishing $2,000 fine for not having a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence, much higher than the $200 fine for not having a Recreational Skippers Ticket, and even higher than the $1,500 fine for drunken driving of a car, plus Fisheries can confiscate fishing gear, boat and trailer. 

“At least one boat fishing licence will be required to fish from a hire dinghy for a typical half day at Albany, Denmark, Walpole, Augusta, Dunsborough, Bunbury, Mandurah or Kalbarri, and licences will be required for fishing from holiday houseboats at Albany, Walpole, Augusta, Bunbury and Mandurah. 

“This will wipe out most dinghy hire businesses in coastal holiday towns, because people who hire a dinghy to fish or crab may only do that once every few years and won’t be holding a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence, and won’t take out a licence at $30 for just a few hours,” Mr Patrick said. 

Mr Bartholomaeus said fair minded Members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council must disallow the regulations required for the irrational Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence and the harsh fee increases opposed by their constituents, and any higher fees paid must be reimbursed. 

Mr Bartholomaeus said template letters to send to Members of Parliament were available at the fishingtaxgrab.com web site and that it was vital people act now to beat the fishing tax grab. 

Contact Neil Bartholomaeus on 97724098 and Ben Patrick on 0429305080