Fish reef benefits Nothing artificial
ARTIFICIAL fishing reefs made of concrete pyramids and backed by Fisheries could have roles to play close to western suburb coasts.
“We would consider those areas for artificial reefs and would check with organisations like the (Fremantle) Port about safety issues,” Fisheries chief executive Stuart Smith said.
Last year, a Fisheries delegation to study South Korea’s 40-year and China’s 100-year artificial reef programs concluded that the structures did not concentrate current populations but increased wild stocks.
Mr Smith said the aggregation versus new stock debate was the key issue. Foreign reefs were studied because they were built for the commercial fish production sector, had been tested and had productivity recorded during four decades.
Taller, steel-frame skeletons can be deployed in deeper water for the threatened stocks of pink snapper, baldchin groper and dhufish, for which Fisheries introduced a three-month annual closed season in 2009.
Depending on environmental approvals, the first steel reefs are to be placed off the Pilbara and North-West communities’ coasts in two years.
The structures could soften the impact on local fish populations from short-term mining project workers.
Councils, individuals, community organisations, fishing charter operators and recreational divers are among those mooted to request and help pay for the reefs across the State.
A sole metropolitan recreational fishing reef, partially funded by fishing licences, could take five years to develop.
“These devices aren’t being considered as a replacement for traditional fisheries management. They have the potential to take the pressures off natural systems,” Recfishwest acting executive director Kane Moyle said.
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