Wetting a line losing popularity
Recreational fishing - one of WA's most time-honoured pursuits - appears to be losing popularity, according to figures showing fewer people are casting a line and less often.
In its latest annual snapshot of the sector, the Fisheries Department said though almost 700,000 West Australians recreationally fished last year the percentage of the population doing so dropped.
The so-called participation rate - which measures the percentage of people who went fishing at least once during the period - fell to 29 per cent for the 12 months to June 30.
This was down from a participation rate of 33 per cent for the previous year and came despite expectations the figure would be almost as high again in 2013-14.
On top of that, Fisheries noted that on average people who went recreational fishing were doing it less frequently.
It said the median number of days amateur fishers cast a line fell from six to five last year, while it had halved over the past eight years.
About 75 per cent of people only went fishing between one and 10 times a year. Fisheries' strategic policy manager Nathan Harrison played down the results, saying they were based on a relatively small sample size.
Mr Harrison suggested the popularity of some kinds of recreational fishing was actually increasing and noted a Statewide survey under way would give a clearer picture.
The comments were echoed by Recfishwest boss Andrew Rowland, who said the number of people taking out licences to recreationally fish species such as rock lobster was at record highs.
Despite this, Dr Rowland acknowledged the figures highlighted the challenges facing fishing as technology competed for people's spare time.
"We want people getting out there and enjoying the environment," Dr Rowland said.
Self-confessed fishing diehards Paul Rogers and Jamie Burns, fly-in, fly-out workers who said they went fishing "whenever the weather permitted" when they were home, queried the results.
They said fishing appeared to be growing in popularity but suggested the increasingly technical nature of fishing gear could be forcing people away.
