a guide to assist rock lobster fishers install sleds · australian sea lion populations that live...
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Your licence fees at workBETTER FISHERIES
PuBlisHeD feBruarY 2012
sea lion exclusion DevicesA guide TO ASSiST rOck lObSTer fiSherS inSTAll SledS
iMPortant cHanGes:Sea Lion Exclusion Devices (SLEDs) must be fitted in all rock lobster pots (commercial and recreational) used in the identified SLED zones for the 2011/12 fishing season and following seasons.
2 Fish for the future
Contents
bAckgrOund TO SledS ...........................3
Sled ZOne MAPS ......................................5Central West ............................................5
Abrolhos Islands – neW Sled ZOneS .......6Easter Group ..................................................7Pelsaert Group ...............................................7
APPrOved SledS .....................................8
MeASuring And cOMPliAnce Of SledS .................................................10
3BACKGROUND TO SLEDS
BaCkground to sLeds
australian sea lion populations that live along the West Australian coastline and
surrounding islands overlap with fishing grounds for the western rock lobster, and interactions between sea lions and rock lobster pots have occurred over many years. In the past, there have been recorded deaths of small sea lion pups that have become trapped in the pots and drowned.
Australian sea lions are listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and ‘specially protected’ under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. Consequently, there is an obligation for the West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery and its managers to address this fishing related mortality issue.
An effective SLED that did not reduce the catch of legal size rock lobster and at the same time prevented sea lions from entering rock lobster pots was successfully developed.
4 BACKGROUND TO SLEDS
Following extensive trials and consultation with industry, two SLED designs were approved. The mandatory use of SLEDs in the West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery was implemented for the 2006/07 season in the Mid-West region, in waters less than 20 metres deep. Two new SLED zones for the Abrolhos Islands have been introduced. It will be mandatory for all commercial and recreational rock lobster fishers to have SLEDs in all their pots within the SLED zones from the 2011/12 rock lobster season and beyond.
5SLED ZONE MAPS
sLed Zone MaPs
all rock lobster pots (commercial and recreational) used in the zones below
must have an approved SLED fitted.
Illawong
Coolimba
Leeman
Green Head
Jurien Bay
Cervantes
central West
n
Geraldton
Jurien Bay
Perth
Albany
29°35.16'S114°53.58’E
29°44.28'S114°52.2’E
29°47.82'S114°50.64’E
29°54.96'S114°53.52’E
30°4.2'S114°54.42’E
30°12.42'S114°57’E
30°25.02'S114°58.5’E
30°30.54'S115°0.06’E
30°51.06'S115°10.32’E
Sea Lion Protection ZoneLand
0 – 10 m10 – 20 m20 m +
Bathymetry
GDA 94
6 SLED ZONE MAPS
Abrolhos islands – neW Sled ZOneSSLEDs are now mandatory in two areas of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, the Pelsaert and the Easter groups of islands. See the following maps:
Wallabi group
North Island
easter group Zone
Pelsaert group Zone
Abrolhos islands
1
2
Carnarvon
Kalbarri
Perth
Abrolhos Islands
Geraldton
Sea Lion Protection ZoneLand
0 – 10 m10 – 20 m20 m +
Bathymetry
GDA 94
7SLED ZONE MAPS
Rat Island
Suomi Island
Little North Island
Leo Island
Wooded Island
easter group
28°48.924'S113°45.500’E
28°48.710'S113°43.602’E
28°36.66'S113°54.402’E
28°38.128'S113°38.951’E
28°44.415'S113°53.496’E
1
Pelsaert group
Gun IslandMurray Island
Middle Island
Pelsaert Island
Coronation Island
Post Office Island
Hummock Island
28°50.308'S113°49.270’E
28°51.579'S113°47.171’E
28°50.158'S114°2.323’E
28°53.456'S114°2.133’E
28°59.577'S113°58.218’E
28°56.930'S113°51.251’E
28°59.506'S113°55.205’E
2
Sea Lion Protection ZoneLand
0 – 10 m10 – 20 m20 m +
Bathymetry
GDA 94
8 APPROVED SLEDS
aPProved sLeds
A SLED is fitted by fixing a piece of rigid, non-flexible material across the top of the neck that ensures that the gap from the edge of the external SLED to either side of the top of the neck is no greater than 132 mm.
132 mm132 mm132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
10 mm – 30 mm
10 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 m
m
Rectangular and square neck pots
132 mm132 mm132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
10 mm – 30 mm
10 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 m
m
Round neck pots
Alternatively a SLED can be fitted by the fixing of a rigid, non-flexible piece of material rising vertically from the base of the pot to a height that ensures the diagonal distance to the neck from the top centre of the internal SLED is no greater than 132 mm. The diagonal distance is to be measured to the edge of the neck in any direction in a round neck pot, and to the midpoint of the four sides in a square or rectangular neck pot.
9APPROVED SLEDS
132 mm132 mm132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
10 mm – 30 mm
10 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 m
m
Dimensions of internal SLED
The internal SLED must be a minimum of 10 mm in diameter and the top of the internal SLED must be a minimum of 10 mm and a maximum of 30 mm in diameter.
132 mm132 mm132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
10 mm – 30 mm
10 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 m
m
Rectangular and square neck pots
132 mm132 mm132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
10 mm – 30 mm
10 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
Top view
Top view
Side view
Side view
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 mm
132 m
m
Round neck pots
MEASURING AND COMPLIANCE OF SLEDS10
MeasurIng and CoMPLIanCe oF sLeds
the Department has developed a free SLED gauge to help fishers check their own
gear and ensure that it complies with SLED rules. Fisheries and Marine Officers will also be using these gauges in their normal surveillance activities.
The gauge is a moulded/stamped ball of 132 mm diameter which tests the distance from the internal SLED to the bottom of the neck.
• Measurement of round neck pots is by unforced use of the ball to check the diagonal SLED neck distance.
11MEASURING AND COMPLIANCE OF SLEDS
• Measurement of square necks (finger neck pots) is by unforced use of the ball to check the diagonal distance at each of the four midpoints of the neck.
• Measurement of a pot fitted with a SLED (batten across the neck) will be with the 132 mm ball, such that it does not exceed that measurement.
Rock lobster fishers fishing in the identified area can get their free SLED gauge and SLED from participating Mid West fishing tackle stores and Department of Fisheries regional offices.
12 Fish for the futureCF269_02 FEB2012
FURTHER INFORMATIONVisit the Department website at www.fish.wa.gov.au or contact:
dePArTMenT Of fiSherieS – heAd Office3rd floor, The Atrium, 168 St George’s Terrace, Perth 6000 Ph: (08) 9482 7333 Fax: (08) 9482 7389 e-mail: [email protected] ABN: 55 689 794 771
MidWeST regiOnAl Office & gerAldTOn diSTricT Office69-75 Connell RdGeraldton WA 6530Ph: (08) 9921 6800Fax: (08) 9921 3617
dOngArA diSTricT OfficeFishing Boat HarbourMcIntyre CoveDongara WA 6525Ph: (08) 9927 1187Fax: (08) 9927 2019
Jurien bAY diSTricT OfficeBoat Harbour Office ComplexJurien HarbourJurien WA 6516Ph: (08) 9652 1048Fax: (08) 9652 1408
lAncelin diSTricT OfficeGingin Road Lancelin WA 6044Ph: (08) 9655 1111Fax: (08) 9655 1734