The SA DAFF has announced the new WCRL TAC and there’s something in there for all of us. Here’s the full press release if you want it, but for a summary, you just have to read on. Simples.
Area Catch Period Nearshore and Interim Relief Measure Offshore Super-area 1+2 16 November 2016 – 30 April 2017 Super-area 3+4 16 November 2016 – 30 June 2017 16 November 2016 – 30 June 2017 Super-area 5+6 16 November 2016 – 30 June 2017 Super-area 7 16 November 2016 – 30 June 2017 (Interim Relief Measure only) 16 November 2016 – 30 June 2017 Areas 8 and 11 16 November 2016 – 30 June 2017 16 November 2016 – 30 June 2017 Area 8 (Deep water) 1 July 2017 – 30 September 2017 Areas 12, 13 and 14 16 November 2016 – 30 June 2017
The 2016/17 west coast rock lobster recreational fishing season will open on Saturday, 26 November 2016 and will close on Monday, 17 April 2017. The 2016/17 WCRL recreational fishing effort will be restricted to 21 days and will be split as follows: • Fishing allowed from 26 November 2016 to 27 November 2016 (2 days) • No fishing allowed from 28 November 2016 until 9 December 2016 • Fishing allowed from 10 December 2016 to 11 December 2016 (2 days) • No fishing allowed from 12 December 2016 until 15 December 2016 • Fishing allowed from 16 December 2016 to 18 December 2016 (3 days) • No fishing allowed from 19 December 2016 until 23 December 2016 • Fishing allowed from 24 December 2016 to 27 December 2016 (4 days) • No fishing allowed from 28 December 2016 until 30 December 2016 • Fishing allowed from 31 December 2016 to 2 January 2017 (3 days) • No fishing allowed from 3 January 2017 until 6 January 2017 • Fishing allowed from 7 April 2017 to 8 January 2017 (2 days) • No fishing allowed from 9 January 2017 until 13 January 2017 • Fishing allowed from 14 January 2017 to 15 January 2017 (2 days) • No fishing allowed from 16 January 2017 until 14 April 2017 • Fishing allowed from 15 April 2017 to 17 April 2017 (3 days)
Updated catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and Fisheries Independent Monitoring Surveys (FIMS) indicated that Super-area 7, which has been managed under Exceptional Circumstances for the previous two seasons, has returned to a threshold that is above Exceptional Circumstances. For the 2016/17 west coast rock lobster fishing season, Super-area 7 (Dassen Island), the area between a line in the north (270° true bearing) drawn from the co-ordinate 33°15’00”S and 18°07’00”E in respect of Zone C and as a southern boundary the northern beacon MB 1 of the rock lobster sanctuary at Melkbos Point, will be opened for fishing for the Commercial (Offshore), Small-scale (Interim Relief Measure) and Recreational fishing sectors.
Well, there we go. Great news on Super-area 7.
And I think it’s all completely clear now.
Happy crayfishing!