By Grace Jones | posted on February 21, 2019
RECFISHWEST have refuted claims made by Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly that they were appropriately consulted prior to the gazettal of fishing at the popular Denmark tourist destination of Greens Pool last year.
On Tuesday afternoon, Fishers, Shooters and Farmers Party MLC Rick Mazza tabled to State Parliament that the prohibition at Greens Pool be disallowed due to a 900-signature petition asking for the ban was not filed through proper procedure.
During proceedings, Mr Mazza asked Minister Kelly what consultation with stakeholder groups had been undertaken.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Alannah MacTiernan responded on behalf of Minister Kelly.
“Consultation was undertaken with Recfishwest, the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Shire of Denmark and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,” she said.
“The decision to prohibit fish- ing at Greens Pool was made on a resource-sharing basis, noting this location is highly popular for swimmers and for other non-extractive activities.”
Minister MacTiernan also stated a seasonal ban had been considered rather than a permanent one.
Recfishwest CEO Andrew Rowland said the organisation had not been appropriately consulted despite an early copy of a press release distributed by Mr Kelly’s office stating otherwise.
“The minister made the decision to close Greens Pool to fishing due to public safety concerns,” he said.
“Greens Pool has provided safe and accessible fishing opportunities for families for decades.
“Don’t use safety as an excuse if you want to close the beach due to conservation concerns.”
Mr Rowland said the ban was not in the best interests of all parties that use Greens Pool.
“A vocal minority within the local community has been pushing to have the fishing spot closed for the best part of a decade,” he said.
“We live in 2019 in one of the safest countries in the world and closing a beach due to safety concerns is far fetched.
“The lack of process in forming good public policy is alarming.”
Mr Mazza said he had been contacted by members of the Denmark fishing community with concerns of the ban not having broad base consultation as stated by Minister Kelly.
“Greens Pool is a very safe place to fish in during the winter and a blanket ban for 12 months of the year is very onerous,” he said.
“I haven’t seen the petition Minister Kelly was given and I would like to know how the petition got 900 signatures in a matter of days.”
Mr Mazza said in tabling the disallowance, he hoped that the gazettal could be changed to a seasonal ban to allow each party to “get what they want”.
“Most fishers I have spoken with would be happy with a seasonal ban during the busy summer months,” he said.
“We are always worried that fishers could be swept off rocks in the winter.
“Greens Pool is a shared resource and fishing from the beach or the rocks with your kids for some herring is a very Western Australian thing to do.”
Western Angler fishing magazine editor Scott Coghlan said the fishing ban at Greens Pool was originally floated in 2009 but was reasoned to be for conservation issues rather than safety issues.
“I think it’s interesting that on the day of the announcement, Minister Kelly announced a trial of compulsory lifejackets at Salmon Holes, and then closed one of the safest beaches to fish from only hours later,” he said.
Shire of Denmark CEO Bill Parker was unable to comment before deadline.
