department of fisheries community survey 2007 · fisheries, fish and fish habitat protection, and...

The Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories at Hillarys Boat Harbour, Perth, are the

centre for fisheries research in Western Australia

Department of Fisheries Community Survey 2007

by Tara Baharthah

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 47, 2008

Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories

Community Survey 2007 By Tara Baharthah

Published by Department of Fisheries, Perth, Western Australia Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 47, June 2008.

ISSN 1447-2058 ISBN 1 921258 23 3

WA Fisheries and Marine Research LaboratoriesPO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6920Tel: +61 8 9203 0111Website: www.fish.wa.gov.auABN: 55 689 794 771

Fisheries Occasional Publication No.47 1

Contents

ABstRACt ................................................................................................................... 3

1.0 IntRoDUCtIon ............................................................................................... 4

2.0 MetHoD ............................................................................................................. 4

3.0 ResULts ............................................................................................................. 5

3.1 Participationrateinrecreationalfishing ...................................................... 5

3.2 SatisfactionIndex ......................................................................................... 8

3.3 SatisfactionRate .......................................................................................... 9

3.4 Generalfishingbackground ......................................................................... 10

3.5 Fishinginvolvementduringthelasttwelvemonths .................................... 10

3.6 Viewingfishandthemarineenvironment ................................................... 11

3.7 AwarenessandimpressionoftheDepartmentofFisheries ......................... 12

3.8 Allocationoffishresourcesamongthefishingsectors ................................ 21

3.9 Awarenessandopinionoffishingregulations ............................................. 22

3.10 Knowledgeofrecreationalfishingregulations ............................................ 22

3.11 Satisfactionwithmostrecentfishingtrip ..................................................... 25

3.12 Informationaboutrecreationalfishing ......................................................... 30

3.13 ContactwiththeDepartmentofFisheries .................................................... 32

3.14 AwarenessofrepresentativesoftheDepartmentofFisheries ..................... 34

3.15 RecollectionoftheDepartmentofFisheries ................................................ 35

3.16 OpiniononAquaculture ............................................................................... 36

3.17 Demographics .............................................................................................. 39

4.0 ReFeRenCes .................................................................................................... 41

5.0 APPenDICes...................................................................................................... 42

5.1 AppendixA:SurveyQuestionnaireForm .................................................... 42

2 Fisheries Occasional Publication No.47


ABstRACt

AtelephonesurveyoftheWesternAustralianpublicwasconductedtoassessthelevelofsuccessofprogrammes implementedby theDepartmentofFisheries.Thesamplecomprisedof749interviews,444inthemetropolitanareaand305inregionalareasthroughoutthestate.ThiscommunitysurveywasusedtodeterminethelevelofrecallandawarenessoftheDepartmentofFisheries,theunderstandingandsupportofthecommunityfortheDepartmentofFisheriesmanagement strategies and examine key aspects of community participation in recreationalfishing.

It is estimated that theoverall participation rate in 2007 for recreationalfishing inWesternAustraliais445000individualsor25.8%ofthetotalpopulation.Duetothelowsurveyresponseratethisestimateofparticipationratemaynotaccuratelyrepresentthetotalpopulation.Thoughtherehasbeen somevariation in the estimatedparticipation rateover thepast 10years, onaveragetheparticipationratehasbeenconstantataround34%ofthepopulation.

Anoverallsatisfaction-scoringindexhasbeendevelopedtomeasureandmonitorthesatisfactionofrecreationalfishersinWesternAustralia.Thesatisfactionindexisacombinationofknowledge,management,andconfidence.Thesatisfactionindexforrecreationalfishingwas81.3%.

Thesatisfactionratingof thebroadercommunity is theirperceptionsof theextent towhichthe Department of Fisheries is achieving sustainable fisheriesmanagement objectives. TheDepartmentofFisherieswasgivenasatisfactionrateof81.5%acrossitsfourserviceareasbytheWesternAustralianpublic.


1.0 IntRoDUCtIon

Acommunity surveyof theWesternAustralianpublicwasconducted to assess the levelofsuccessofprogramsimplementedbytheDepartmentofFisheries.

Theobjectivesoftheresearchwereto:

• AssessthelevelofrecallandawarenessoftheDepartmentofFisheriesinformationalandpromotionalactivities;

• AssesstheunderstandingandsupportofthecommunityfortheDepartmentofFisheriesmanagement strategies across all programmes (Recreational Fisheries, CommercialFisheries,FishandFishHabitatProtection,andAquacultureandPearling);and

• Examine key aspects of community fishing such as satisfaction with the quality ofrecreationalfishingandknowledgeoftherulesthatapply.

2.0 MetHoD

ThesurveywasconductedbytelephoneduringMay2007.ThefieldworkwasconductedbySurveyTalk.Telephonenumberswereselectedrandomlyfromthewhitepages.Respondentsweremales and femalesolder than17years and residing inWesternAustralia.The samplecomprised:

• 444Perthmetropolitaninterviews;and

• 305regionalinterviews.

Thesamequestionnaire(AppendixA)wasusedforallrespondents.

AlldatawasenteredintoaMicrosoftAccessdatabase.AnalysiswasperformedusingMicrosoftExcel.GraphswereproducedusingSigmaPlot.

Thesurvey response rateofcompleted interviewscompared to refusalswas10%.Thiswassignificantlylowerthanthe2006CommunitySurveyresponserateof18%.


3.0 ResULts

3.1 Participationrateinrecreationalfishing

RecreationalfishinginWesternAustraliaincludesangling,crabbing,prawning,spearfishing,fishingforlobsters,aswellasthecollectionofshellfishsuchasabaloneoraquariumfish.ItisestimatedthattheoverallparticipationrateforrecreationalfishinginWesternAustraliais 445,000individualsor25.8%ofthetotalpopulation.

The 2007 participation rate for recreational fishing is calculated as follows:

Metropolitan area:

SamplesizeformalesinPerthmetropolitanarea = 212 TheparticipationrateforPerthmetropolitanmales = 0.259 SamplesizeforfemalesinPerthmetropolitanarea = 232 TheparticipationrateforPerthmetropolitanfemales = 0.172

Regional areas (non metropolitan areas):

Samplesizeformalesinregionalareas = 138 Theparticipationrateforregionalmales = 0.486 Samplesizeforfemalesinregionalareas = 167 Theparticipationrateforregionalfemales = 0.246

Assumption:Personsagedfrom0to4yearsdonotparticipateinrecreationalfishing.

ABS population figures 2001 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2002):

NumberofmalesinthePerthmetropolitanarea = 656,798 NumberoffemalesinthePerthmetropolitanarea = 683,195 Numberofmalesinregionalareas = 265,470 Numberoffemalesinregionalareas = 245,789 Malesaged0–4inPerthmetropolitanarea = 43,879 Femalesaged0–4inPerthmetropolitanarea = 41,504 Malesaged0–4inregionalareas = 19,197 Femalesaged0–4inregionalareas = 18,129

Hencethenumberofpersonsparticipatinginrecreationalfishingiscalculatedasfollows:

+0.259(656798–43879) +0.172(683195–41504) +0.486(265470–19197) +0.246(245789–18129) =445108

Theparticipationrateiscalculatedasfollows:

numberofpersonsparticipating/populationaged5yearsandover

=445108/1728543 =0.258


HencetheoverallparticipationrateinrecreationalfishingforresidentsofWesternAustraliawas25.8%.

95% Confidence interval for participation rate and number participating

The95%confidenceintervalfortheparticipationrateinrecreationalfishingisbetween22.6%and28.9%.The95%confidenceintervalforthenumberofpersonsparticipatinginrecreationalfishingisbetween391051and499165.

Comparison of participation rate with previous years

Theestimatedparticipationratehasvariedbetween26%in2007and46%in2006(Table1).Thevariationintheestimatesofparticipationrateislikelyduetothedifferentwaythatthedatawascollectedandtheparticipationratecalculated(Figure1).Thelowresponserateforthisyear’ssurveymayhaveresultedinbiasedestimatesforparticipationandsatisfaction.Thesurveyresponseratefor2006/07was10percent,significantlylowerthanforpreviousyearssurveys(28percentin2005/06and41percentcompletedinterviews2004/05).Non-responsebiasoccurswherepeoplethatrespondtothesurveyhavedifferentopinionsandactivitiestothosethatdonotrespond.Consequentlytheopinionsofthepeoplethatrefusedtoparticipateinthisyear’ssurveyarenotdetermined.Thetrendinrecreationalfishingparticipationhas,onaverage,beenconstantaround34%ofthepopulation.

Table 1 Participation rate for recreational fishing

Source Year ParticipationRate %

Mean No. ofdays/trips per year

ABS 1987 27Patterson Research 1994 35 9.5 trips

Reark Research 1996 51

Reark Research 1997 36 19 days

Right Marketing 1998 45 25 days

Research Division 1999 34 18 days






Asset Research 2005 31 6 days

Asset Research 2006 46 18 daysSurveyTalk 2007 26 17 days


Pa

rtic

ipa

tio

n R

ate

(p

erc

en

tag

e)

Year

Figure 1 Participation rate for recreational fishing.

Days Fished

Thenumberofdaysfishedbyrecreationalfishersinthelasttwelvemonthsrangesfromoneto209days.Themeannumberofdaysfishingwas17daysandthemediansevendays.ThemajorityofpeopleinWesternAustraliafishedbetweenoneandtendays.However,somefishedforconsiderablymoredaysgivingaskewedfrequencydistribution(Figure2).Theresultsareoftenbiaseddue to the inabilityof respondents toaccurately recallpastfishing tripsovera12-monthperiod.

Number of Days

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Figure 2 Frequency distribution of number of days fished.

Themedian number of days fished appears consistentwith the years previous to 2004/2005 (Figure3)howeverthetrendwillbecomeapparentinfutureyearswhenmoredataisavailable.


YEAR

DA

YS

FIS

HE

D

Figure 3 Median number of days fished.

3.2 SatisfactionIndex

Anoverallsatisfaction-scoringindexhasbeendevelopedtomeasureandmonitorthesatisfactionofrecreationalfishersinWesternAustralia.

ThesatisfactionrateisacombinationofKnowledge,Management,andConfidence.

Knowledge = theleveloftheperson’sawarenessofbiologyandbehaviouroffishandthebestwaytocatchfish.

Management = theleveloftheperson’sawarenessofrulesandregulations.

Confidence = the level of the person’s satisfaction with the number, size andvariety of fish caught on their last trip and satisfaction with theoverallfishingtrip.

SatisfactionIndex = Mean(Knowledge + Management + Confidence)

=(q9+q10(atoc)+q11(atoe))/9

=(0.896+0.884+0.855+0.800+0.611+0.741+0.739+0.896+0.895)/9

=0.813

=81.3%

(Note:can’tsay/neitherresponseswereexcludedfromthecalculationofthesatisfactionindex)


Table 2 Satisfaction Index.

Number of Respondents

Satisfaction %

KnowledgeHabitat and behaviour 200 0.800 Knowledgeable

Ways to catch fish 200 0.855 Knowledgeable

Management

Bag & size limits 199 0.884 Knowledgeable

Awareness of rules & regulations 749 0.896 Knowledgeable

Confidence

Number of fish caught 203 0.611 Satisfied

Variety of fish caught 197 0.741 Satisfied

Size of fish caught 199 0.739 Satisfied

Environment where fishing 201 0.896 Satisfied

Overall fishing trip 200 0.895 Satisfied

Satisfaction Index 0.813

The satisfaction index for recreational fishingwas 81.3% (Table 2)with a 95%confidenceintervalbetween79.6%and83.0%.Thesatisfactionindexissignificantlyhigherthanthevalueof77.0%reportedbythe2006CommunitySurvey(Baharthah,2006).

3.3 SatisfactionRate

ThesatisfactionratingofthebroadercommunityistheirperceptionsoftheextenttowhichtheDepartmentofFisheriesisachievingsustainablefisheriesmanagementobjectives.

Satisfaction Rate = Mean(Managing commercial fishing

+ Managing recreational fishing

+ Protection of fish habitat

+ Managing aquaculture and pearling

+ Fair allocation of resources between groups)

=(q4b+q5b+q6b+q7b+q8)/5

=(0.811+0.856+0.774+0.820+0.782)/5

=0.809

=80.9%

(Note:can’tsay/neitherresponseswereexcludedfromthecalculationofthesatisfactionrate)

Thefollowingresultsarefromthe54%ofrespondentswhoknewtheDepartmentofFisherieswasresponsibleforoneormoreofthefoursub-programs.


Table 3 Satisfaction Rate.

Number of respondents

Satisfaction%

Commercial Fisheries 328 0.811Recreational Fishing 312 0.856

Fish Habitat Protection 292 0.774

Aquaculture & Pearling 206 0.820

Allocation of Resources 303 0.782

Overall Satisfaction Rate 0.809Satisfaction Rate across four service areas 0.815

TheDepartmentofFisherieswasgivenanoverallsatisfactionrateof80.9%bytheWesternAustralianpublic(Table3).The95%confidenceintervalforthesatisfactionrateisbetween78.8%and82.9%.

TheDepartmentofFisherieswasgivenasatisfactionrateof81.5%acrossitsfourserviceareasofcommercialfishing,recreationalfishing,fishandfishhabitatprotection,andaquacultureandpearling.Theconfidenceintervalisbetween79.2%and83.8%.

Thesatisfactionrateissignificantlyhigherthanthevalueof66.1percentfor2005/2006butnotsignificantlydifferenttothevalueof83.7percentfor2004/2005.Thetrendinsatisfactionwillbecomeapparentinfutureyears.Therelevanceofthisindicatorforexternalreportingpurposesiscurrentlybeingreviewed.

Overall, in terms of recreational fishing, commercial fishing, aquaculture and fish habitatprotection,81.5%ofthecommunityratedtheDepartmentofFisheries’performanceasgood.

3.4 Generalfishingbackground

Question 1

Inquestion1,respondentswereasked,“Thinkingbackoverthelasttwelvemonths,haveyoudoneanyrecreationalfishing,includingangling,crabbing,prawning,spearfishing,collectingabaloneoraquariumfish?”

Malerespondentsinregionalareasweremostlikelytoparticipateinrecreationalfishingduringthelasttwelvemonths(Table4).

Table 4 Participation in recreational fishing.

Male FemalePerth metropolitan area 0.259 0.172Regional areas 0.486 0.246

3.5 Fishinginvolvementduringthelasttwelvemonths

Question 2

Inquestion2,respondentswereasked:“Inthelast12months, inwhatareashaveyoubeenfishing?Howmanydaysdidyougofishing?”


Around 81%of fisherswent fishing in theWestCoast bioregion,which includes thePerthmetropolitanarea(Table5).

Table 5 Fishing effort in Bioregions.

Bioregion Mean Days Fished

% Participating

Effort (Days)

% Effort

South Coast – Marine 8 37 1,324,000 12Southern Inland - Freshwater 5 10 221,000 2

West Coast (inc. PMA) 24 81 8,701,000 77

Gascoyne 13 9 553,000 5

Pilbara / Kimberley – Marine 10 8 351,000 3

Pilbara / Kimberley – Freshwater 6 3 61,000 1

Total 11,211,000 100

ThePerthMetropolitanareaattracted59%offishers(Table6).

Table 6 Fishing effort in West Coast.

Area Mean Days Fished

% Participating

Effort (Days)

% Effort

Perth Metropolitan Area (PMA) only 36 33 5,201,000 46West Coast other than PMA only 12 28 1,445,000 13

Both PMA and West Coast 23 20 2,055,000 18

Total 81 8,701,000 77

It is likely that themeannumberofdaysfishedhasbeenoverstateddue to the inabilityofrespondentstoaccuratelyrecallpastfishingtripsovera12-monthperiod.

Thefishingeffortindayswillalsobeoverstatedsinceitiscalculatedfromthemeannumberof days fished. The percentage effort column provides a more meaningful breakdown ofrecreationalfishingeffortbybioregion.

All Areas of the State

Thenumberofdaysfishedbyrecreationalfishersinthelasttwelvemonthsrangesfromoneto209days.Themeannumberofdaysfishedwas17daysandthemedianwassevendays.Around43%offisherswentfishingbetweenoneandfivedaysand17%fishedbetweensixandtendays.However,somefishedforconsiderablymoredaysgivingaskeweddistribution.

3.6 Viewingfishandthemarineenvironment

Question 3

Inquestion3,respondentswereasked:“Also,thinkingbackoverthelasttwelvemonths,haveyougonesnorkellingordivingjusttolookatfishandthemarineenvironmentratherthantocapturefishorotheranimals?”

Around 28.6% of respondentswent snorkelling or diving just to view fish and themarineenvironment(Table7).


Table 7 Viewing fish and the marine environment.

Count %

Yes 214 28.6No 534 71.3

Can’t Say 1 0.1

Total 749 100.0

3.7 AwarenessandimpressionoftheDepartmentofFisheries

Question 4a

In question 4a, respondents were asked: “Who, if anyone, do you think is responsible formanagingcommercialfishinginWesternAustralia?”

TheDepartmentofFisherieswasrecognisedby55.0%asresponsibleformanagingcommercialfishinginWesternAustraliaand21.5%ofrespondentsthoughtthatthestategovernmentwasresponsible(Table8).

Multipleresponseswereaccepted.

Table 8 Organisations responsible for commercial fishing.

Count %

Department of Fisheries 412 55.0Don’t Know 182 24.3

State Government 161 21.5

Other 21 2.8

Local council/shire 14 1.9

CALM 10 1.3

Department of Agriculture 6 0.8

Department for Planning and Infrastructure

3 0.4

Department of Water 3 0.4

OverthepastyeartherehasbeenaslightincreaseintheproportionofrespondentswhosaidthattheDepartmentofFisherieswasresponsibleforthemanagementofcommercialfisheries(Figure4).


Department of Fisheries CALM Don't Know State Government

Figure 4 Organisations responsible for commercial fishing.

Question 4b

“Thereareanumberofrulesandregulationsinplace,whichlimitscatchsize,allowablefishingdaysanddesignatedareastofish.”

Inquestion4b,respondentswereasked:“HowwouldyouratetheDepartmentofFisheriesintheirmanagementofcommercialfisheries?”

Of the respondents that knew that the Department of Fisheries was responsible for themanagementofcommercialfisheries,64.6%gaveagoodorverygoodrating(Table9).

Table 9 Management of commercial fisheries.

Count %Very Good 67 16.3Good 199 48.3

Poor 48 11.6

Very Poor 14 3.4

Neither 7 1.7

Can’t Say 77 18.7

Total 412 100.0

Overthelastyear,therewasasignificantincrease(p<0.05)intheproportionofverygoodresponsesintheratingofthemanagementofcommercialfisheries(Figure5).


Figure 5 Management of commercial fisheries.

Question 5a

Inquestion5a,respondentswereasked:“Who,ifanyone,isresponsibleformanagingrecreationalfishinginWesternAustralia?”

The Department of Fisheries was recognised by 48.7% of respondents as responsible formanagingrecreationalfishinginWesternAustraliaand18.7%ofrespondentsthoughtthatthestategovernmentwasresponsible(Table10).


Table 10 Organisations responsible for recreational fishing.

Count %

Department of Fisheries 365 48.7Don’t Know 218 29.1


Other 30 4.0


CALM 8 1.1

DPI 5 0.7

Department of Agriculture 4 0.5Department of Water 3 0.4


Overthepastyeartherehasbeenanincreaseinthepercentageofpersonsthatdidnotknowwhowasresponsibleformanagingrecreationalfishing(Figure6).

Figure 6 Organisations responsible for recreational fishing.

Question 5b

Inquestion5b,respondentswereasked:“HowwouldyouratetheDepartmentofFisheriesintheirmanagementofrecreationalfisheries?”

OftherespondentsthatknewthattheDepartmentofFisherieswasresponsibleforrecreationalfishing,73.2%gaveagoodorverygoodrating(Table11).Around12.4%ofrespondentshadapoororverypooropinionoftheDepartmentofFisheries’performance.

Table 11 Management of recreational fishing.


Poor 36 9.9

Very Poor 9 2.5

Neither 5 1.3

Can’t Say 48 13.1

Total 365 100.0

Overthelastyeartherehasbeenasignificantdecrease(p<0.05)inthepercentageofrespondentsthatgavetheDepartmentofFisheriesapoorratingandanincreaseinthepercentagethatgaveaverygoodrating(Figure7).


Figure 7 Management of recreational fishing.

Question 6a

Inquestion6a,respondentswereasked:“WhenyouthinkaboutthefishhabitatinoceansandwaterwaysinWesternAustralia,thatis,wherefishliveandbreed,whodoyouthink,ifanyone,isresponsibleforprotectingthefishhabitat?”

The Department of Fisheries was recognised by 45.3% of respondents as responsible forprotectingthefishhabitat(Table12).Alargenumberofrespondents(22.8%)thoughtthatthestategovernmentwasresponsible.


Table 12 Organisations responsible for fish habitat protection.

Count %Department of Fisheries 339 45.3State Government 171 22.8

Don’t Know 164 21.9

CALM 77 10.3

General Public 43 5.7


Department of Water 27 3.6

Other 25 3.3

Department of Agriculture 22 2.9DPI 18 2.4


Overthelastyeartherehasbeenasignificantchange(p<0.05)intheresponsesaboutwhoisresponsibleforprotectingfishhabitatprotection.ThepercentageofrespondentswhosaidCALMdecreasedandlocalcouncilresponsesincreased(Figure8).

Figure 8 Organisations responsible for fish habitat protection.

Question 6b

Inquestion6b,respondentswereasked:“HowwouldyouratetheDepartmentofFisheriesintheirconservationandprotectionofthefishhabitat?”

OftherespondentsthatknewthattheDepartmentofFisherieswasresponsibleforconservationandprotectionoffishhabitat,66.7%gaveagoodorverygoodrating(Table13).Asmallernumberofrespondents(19.4%)hadapoororverypooropinionoftheDepartmentofFisheries’performance.

Table 13 Conservation and protection of fish habitat.


Poor 53 15.6

Very Poor 13 3.8

Neither 5 1.5

Can’t Say 42 12.4

Total 339 100.0


Therehasbeenasignificantchange(p<0.05)intheratingoftheconservationandprotectionoffishhabitatbyDepartmentofFisheriesoverthepastyear(Figure9).Theproportionofverygoodresponseshasincreased.

Figure 9 Conservation and protection of fish habitat.

Question 7a

In question 7a, respondents were asked: “When you think about aquaculture, pearling, orfishfarminginWesternAustralia,whodoyouthink,ifanyone,isresponsibleformanagingaquaculture?”

Around37%ofrespondentsrecognisedthattheDepartmentofFisherieswasresponsibleforthemanagementofaquacultureandpearling(Table14).Ahighproportionofrespondents(35.2%)didnotknowwhowasresponsible.



Table 14 Organisations responsible for managing aquaculture.

Count %Department of Fisheries 275 36.8Don’t Know 264 35.2


Department of Agriculture 44 5.9

CALM 30 4.0


Private Industry 14 1.9

Other 9 1.2

Department of Water 6 0.8DPI 5 0.7

Overthelastyeartherehasbeenasignificantchange(p<0.05)intheresponsesaboutwhoisresponsibleformanagingaquacultureandpearling.Thepercentageoflocalcouncilresponsesincreasedandthepercentageofstategovernmentresponsesdecreased(Figure10).

Figure 10 Organisations responsible for managing aquaculture.

Question 7b

“TheDepartmentofFisheriesprovidesinformationsuchasadvisingontechnology,identifyingsuitablesitesandconductingandsupportingresearch.”

Inquestion7b,respondentswereasked:“HowwouldyouratetheDepartmentofFisheriesintheirmanagementanddevelopmentofaquacultureandpearling?”


Of the respondents that knew that the Department of Fisheries was responsible for themanagementofaquaculture,61.3%feltthattheDepartmentofFisherieswasdoingagoodorverygoodjob(Table15).Asmallerpercentage(13.4%)hadapoororverypooropinionoftheDepartmentofFisheries’performance.

Table 15 Management and development of aquaculture.


Poor 31 11.2

Very Poor 6 2.2

Neither 1 0.3

Don’t Know 69 25.0

Total 276 100.0

Therehasbeenasignificantchange(p<0.05)intheratingofthemanagementanddevelopmentofaquacultureandpearlingbyDepartmentofFisheriesoverthepastyear(Figure11).Therehas been a significant increase in very good responses and a significant decrease in poorresponses.

Figure 11 Management and development of aquaculture.


3.8 Allocationoffishresourcesamongthefishingsectors

Question 8

“The Department of Fisheries is responsible for recreational fishing, commercial fishing,aquacultureandprotectingthefishhabitat.”

In question 8, respondents were asked: “In your opinion, do you think the Department ofFisheriesmanagestheshareoffishresourcesfairlybetweenthesesectors?”

Ahighproportionofrespondents(58.1%)thoughtthattheDepartmentofFisheriesallocatesresourcesfairlybetweenitssectors(Table16).Asmallernumberofrespondents(16.2%)feltthattherewasnotafairallocationoffishresources.

Table 16 Opinion on allocation of resources.

Count %Yes 237 58.1No 66 16.2

Can’t Say 105 25.7

Total 408 100.0

Overthelastyeartherehasbeenasignificantdecrease(p<0.05)intheproportionofrespondentswhothoughtthattheDepartmentofFisheriesdoesnotallocateresourcesfairlybetweensectors(Figure12).

Figure 12 Opinion on allocation of resources.


3.9 Awarenessandopinionoffishingregulations

Question 9

Inquestion9,respondentswereasked:“Beforetoday,wereyouawarethattherearerecreationalfishingrulesthatapplywhenfishinginWesternAustralianwaters?”

Themajorityofrespondents(89.6%)wereawarethattherearerecreationalfishingrulesthatapplywhenfishinginWesternAustralia(Table17).

Table 17 Knowledge of recreational fishing rules.

Count %Yes 671 89.6No 78 10.4

Total 749 100.0

Therehasbeenasignificantincrease(p<0.05)intheproportionofrespondentsthatwerenotawarethatrecreationalfishingrulesapplyinWesternAustralia(Figure13).

Figure 13 Knowledge of recreational fishing rules.

3.10 Knowledgeofrecreationalfishingregulations

Question 10a

Inquestion10a,respondentswereasked:“Thinkingbacktothelasttimeyouwentfishing,howknowledgeablewereyouofthebagandsizelimitsoffishyouwereplanningtocatch?”


Mostfishersrespondedthat theywerefairlyknowledgeableorveryknowledgeable(86.7%)aboutthebagandsizelimitsofthefishtheywereplanningtocatch(Table18).

Table 18 Knowledge of bag and size limits.

Count %Very Knowledgeable 113 55.7Fairly Knowledgeable 63 31.0

Not Very Knowledgeable 23 11.3

Can’t Say 4 2.0

Total 203 100.0

Overthepastyear,therewasasignificantdecrease(p<0.05)intheproportionofrespondentswhowerenotveryknowledgeableregardingthebagandsizelimitsofthefishtheywereplanningtocatchandacorrespondingincreaseintheproportionofveryknowledgeableresponses(Figure14).

Figure 14 Knowledge of bag and size limits.

Question 10b

Inquestion10b,respondentswereasked:“Howknowledgeablewereyouonthebestwaystocatchthefishyouwereafter(e.g.method,bait,hooks)?”

Mostfishersrespondedthat theywereveryknowledgeable(48.8%)orfairlyknowledgeable(35.4%)aboutthebestwaystocatchthefishtheywereafter(Table19).


Table 19 Knowledge of best ways to catch fish.



Can’t Say 3 1.5

Total 203 100.0

Overthepastyear,therewasasignificantdecrease(p<0.05)intheproportionofrespondentswhowerenotveryknowledgeableregardingthebestwaystocatchfishandacorrespondingincreaseintheproportionofveryknowledgeableresponses(Figure15).

Figure 15 Knowledge of best ways to catch fish.

Question 10c

Inquestion10c,respondentswereasked:“Howknowledgeablewereyouonthehabitsofthefishyouwereafter(e.g.wherefound,whenfeeding)?”

Ahighproportionoffishersrespondedthattheywerefairlyknowledgeable(42.9%)aboutthehabitsofthefishtheywereafter(Table20).


Table 20 Knowledge of habits and behaviour of fish.



Can’t Say 3 1.4

Total 203 100.0

Overthepastyear,therewasnosignificantchangeintheknowledgeoffishersregardingthehabitsandbehaviourofthefishtheywereafter(Figure16).

Figure 16 Knowledge of habits and behaviour of fish.

3.11 Satisfactionwithmostrecentfishingtrip

Question 11a

Inquestion11a,respondentswereasked:“Thinkingbacktothelasttimeyouwentfishing,howsatisfiedwereyouwiththenumberoffishyoucaught?”

Ahighproportionofrespondents(61.1%)weresatisfiedorverysatisfiedwiththenumberoffishcaughtintheirlastfishingtrip(Table21).


Table 21 Satisfaction with the number of fish caught.

Count %Very Satisfied 41 20.2Satisfied 83 40.9

Dissatisfied 51 25.1

Very Dissatisfied 21 10.3

Neither 3 1.5

Can’t Say 4 2.0

Total 203 100.0

Overthepastyeartherehasbeennosignificantchange(p<0.05)intheresponseswithregardtothenumberoffishcaught(Figure17).

Figure 17 Satisfaction with the number of fish caught.

Question 11b

In question 11b, respondentswere asked: “How satisfiedwere youwith the variety of fishcaught?”

Mostfishers(71.9%)weresatisfiedorverysatisfiedwiththevarietyoffishcaught(Table22).


Table 22 Satisfaction with the variety of fish caught.




Neither 2 1.0

Can’t Say 4 2.0

Total 203 100.0

Overthepastyear,therewasasignificantdecrease(p<0.05)intheproportionofdissatisfiedresponsesregardingthevarietyofthefishcaught(Figure18).

Figure 18 Satisfaction with the variety of fish caught.

Question 11c

Inquestion11c, respondentswereasked: “Howsatisfiedwereyouwith the sizeof thefishcaught?”

Mostfishers(72.4%)weresatisfiedorverysatisfiedwiththesizeoffishcaught(Table23).


Table 23 Satisfaction with the size of fish caught.




Neither 2 1.0

Can’t Say 2 1.0

Total 203 100.0

Overthepastyeartherehasbeennosignificantchangeinthesatisfactionwiththesizeoffishcaught(Figure19).

Figure 19 Satisfaction with the size of fish caught.

Question 11d

Inquestion11d,respondentswereasked:“Howsatisfiedwereyouwiththeenvironmentwhereyouwerefishing?”

Mostfishers (88.7%)weresatisfiedorverysatisfiedwith theenvironmentwhere theywerefishing(Table24).


Table 24 Satisfaction with the environment where fishing.


Dissatisfied 13 6.4


Can’t Say 2 1.0

Total 203 100.0

Overthepastyear,therewasnosignificantchangeinthesatisfactionwiththefishingenvironment(Figure20).

Figure 20 Satisfaction with the environment where fishing.

Question 11e

Inquestion11e,respondentswereasked:“Thinkingofthetripoverall,howsatisfiedwereyouwiththatfishingtrip?”

Mostfishers(88.2%)weresatisfiedorverysatisfiedwiththeoverallfishingtrip(Table25).


Table 25 Satisfaction with the overall trip.

Count %Very Satisfied 86 42.4Satisfied 93 45.8Dissatisfied 19 9.4Very Dissatisfied 2 1.0Can’t Say 3 1.4Total 203 100.0

Over the past year, therewas no significant change in the satisfactionwith the overall trip(Figure21).

Figure 21 Satisfaction with the overall trip.

3.12 Informationaboutrecreationalfishing

Question 12a

Inquestion12a,respondentswereasked:“ThinkingaboutfishingregulationsandotherinformationtodowithrecreationalfishinginW.A….wheredoyoufindoutaboutthingstodowithfishing?”

Around 39.9% of fishers used Department of Fisheries brochures and publications to findoutaboutfishingregulationsandotherinformationtodowithrecreationalfishinginWesternAustralia(Table26).



Table 26 Information about fishing.

Count %Department of Fisheries brochures / publications 81 39.9Department of Fisheries internet web site 30 14.8Newspapers 19 9.4Other fishers 17 8.4Department of Fisheries shows / displays 16 7.9Tackle shops 14 6.9Fishing magazines 11 5.4None 11 5.4Department of Fisheries Officers / Researchers / Volunteer Fisheries Liaison Officers

10 4.9

Other 8 3.9Other fishing web sites 7 3.4Clubs / associations 5 2.5Television 3 1.5Radio 2 1.0

Somedetailwascollectedabout thewaysfishersgain their information.Unfortunately, thisinformationwasverysparse.

SomefishersusedtheWesternAnglermagazine,theWestAustralian,SundayTimesandlocalnewspapersandradio,andfishingtelevisionprogrammestogaininformationaboutrecreationalfishing.

Question 12b

Inquestion12b,respondentswereasked:“Whichoftheseisthemainwayyoufindoutaboutthesethings?

Department ofFisheries brochures andpublicationswas themainway that a large numberofrespondents(38.9%)foundoutaboutfishingregulationsandotherinformationtodowithrecreationalfishing(Table27).

Table 27 Main way information about fishing is found.

Count %Department of Fisheries brochures / publications 79 38.9Department of Fisheries web site 22 10.8Other 22 10.8Tackle shops 13 6.4None 11 5.4Newspapers 10 4.9Other fishers 9 4.4Department of Fisheries shows / displays 8 3.9Other fishing web sites 7 3.5Department of Fisheries officers 6 3.0Clubs / associations 5 2.5Television 5 2.5Fishing magazines 4 2.0Radio 2 1.0Total 203 100.0


3.13 ContactwiththeDepartmentofFisheries

Question 13a

Inquestion13a,respondentswereasked:“DuringthepasttwelvemonthshaveyoucontactedtheDepartmentofFisheriesforanyreason?”

Only9.8%ofrespondentshadcontactedtheDepartmentofFisheriesinthepasttwelvemonths(Table28).

Table 28 Contacted the Department of Fisheries.

Count %

Yes 73 9.8No 675 90.1

Don’t Know 1 0.1

Total 749 100.0

Overthepastyear,therehasbeenasignificantdecreaseinthepercentageofrespondentsthatcouldnotsaywhethertheyhadcontactedtheDepartmentofFisheries(Figure22).

Figure 22 Contacted the Department of Fisheries.

Question 13b

Inquestion13b,respondentswereasked:“HowdidyoumakecontactwiththeDepartmentofFisheries?”

Ofthe73peoplethatcontactedtheDepartmentofFisheriesinthepasttwelvemonthsahighproportionofrespondents(42.5%)usedthetelephone(Table29).



Table 29 Ways contacted the Department of Fisheries.

Count %Telephone 31 42.5In person 27 37.0Internet 8 11.0Can’t Say 6 8.2Mail 5 6.8Email 2 2.7

ThereappearstohavebeenadecreaseintheproportionofrespondentswhohavecontactedtheDepartmentofFisheriesbytelephoneoverthepastyear(Figure23).

Figure 23 Ways contacted the Department of Fisheries.

Question 13c

In question 13c, respondents were asked: “Considering all aspects of your contact withtheDepartment of Fisheries, overall, how satisfiedwere youwith the level of service youreceived?”

Themajority of respondents that had contacted theDepartment of Fisherieswere satisfied(50.7%)withthelevelofservicetheyreceived(Table30).


Table 30 Satisfaction with level of service.

Count %Very Satisfied 27 37.0Satisfied 37 50.7Dissatisfied 4 5.5Very Dissatisfied 4 5.5Neither 1 1.3Total 73 100.0

Over thepastyear, therehasbeennosignificantchangein thesatisfactionwith the levelofservicereceived(Figure24).

Figure 24 Satisfaction with level of service.

3.14 AwarenessofrepresentativesoftheDepartmentofFisheries

Question 14

Inquestion14,respondentswereasked:“Inthelast12months,haveyoubeenapproachedorcontactedbysomeonefromtheDepartmentofFisheries,orrepresentativesoftheDepartmentofFisheriessuchasVolunteerFisheriesLiaisonOfficers(VFLO’s)?”

Themajorityofrespondents(95.1%)hadnotbeenapproachedorcontactedbyanyonefromtheDepartmentofFisheries(Table31).



Table 31 Contacts from the Department of Fisheries.

Count %No / Can’t Say 712 95.1Yes - VFLO’s 20 2.7Yes - Department officers 11 1.5Yes - Researchers 10 1.3Yes – Other 7 0.9

Overthepastyear,therehasbeenasignificant(p<0.05)decreaseintheproportionofrespondentswhohavebeencontactedbyDepartmentOfficers(Figure25).

Figure 25 Contacts from the Department of Fisheries.

3.15 RecollectionoftheDepartmentofFisheries

Question 15

Inquestion15,respondentswereasked:“Doyourecall,overthelasttwelvemonths,seeingorhearinganythingabouttheDepartmentofFisheriesinthemedia?”

MostrespondentsrecalledseeingorhearingoftheDepartmentofFisheriesinthemediaoverthepasttwelvemonths,mainlyfromthetelevision(32.0%),andnewspapersandmagazines(31.8%)(Table32).



Table 32 Recollection of the Department of Fisheries in the media.

Count %No 293 39.1Yes – Television 240 32.0

Yes – Newspapers/Magazines 238 31.8

Yes – Radio 94 12.6

Yes – Unsure 37 4.9Yes – Internet 17 2.3

Overthepastyear,therehasbeenasignificantincreaseintheproportionofrespondentsthathavenotheardabouttheDepartmentofFisheries(Figure26)andadecreaseintheproportionofrespondentsthatwereunsurewhethertheyhadheardaboutthedepartmentinthemedia.

Figure 26 Recollection of the Department of Fisheries in the media.

3.16 OpiniononAquaculture

Question 16a

Inquestion16a, respondentswereasked:“Aquaculture is the farmingofaquaticplantsandanimals.Doyoufeelthataquacultureisbeneficialtothestate?”

Themajorityofrespondentsfeltthataquaculturewasbeneficialtothestate(84.0%)(Table33).


Table 33 Benefit of aquaculture to the state.

Count %Yes 629 84.0No 53 7.1Can’t Say 67 8.9Total 749 100.0

Overthepastyeartherehasbeenaslightincreaseintheproportionofrespondentswhodonotconsideraquaculturebeneficialtothestate(Figure27).

Figure 27 Benefit of aquaculture to the state.

Question 16b

Inquestion16b,respondentswereasked:“Whatdoyouthinkisthemainbenefit?”

Ofthe629respondentsthatfeltaquaculturewasbeneficialtothestate,themajoritythoughtthatthemainbenefitwasthatitrelievespressureonwildfishstocks(57.5%)(Table34).

Table 34 Benefits of aquaculture.

Count %Relieves pressure on wild fish stocks 362 57.5Provides regional employment and economic development 119 18.9Provides consumers with greater range and availability of seafood 62 9.9Provides fresh seafood 52 8.3Can’t Say 29 4.6Other 5 0.8Total 629 100.0


Question 16c

In question 16c, respondentswere asked: “Do you think that aquaculture has any negativeimpacts?”

Themajorityofrespondents(68.9%)feltthataquaculturehadnonegativeimpacts(Table35).

Table 35 Negative impact of aquaculture.

Count %

Yes 116 15.5No 516 68.9

Can’t Say 117 15.6

Total 749 100.0

Overthepastyear,therehasbeenasignificantincreaseintheproportionofrespondentsthatfeltthataquaculturehadnonegativeimpactsandadecreaseintheproportionthatcouldnotsay(Figure28).

Figure 28 Negative impact of aquaculture.

Question 16d

Inquestion16d,respondentswereasked:“Whatdoyouthinkisthemainnegativeimpact?”

Of the 116 respondents that felt that aquaculture had negative impacts, a large proportionconsidered that pollution (39.7%) and the risk of disease (30.2%) were themain negativeimpactsofaquaculture(Table36).


Table 36 Negative impacts of aquaculture.

Count %Pollution 46 39.7Risk of disease 35 30.2Competition for space 12 10.3Can’t Say 8 6.9Other 8 6.9Economic viability 7 6.0Total 116 100.0

3.17 Demographics

Question 17

Inquestion17respondentswereasked:“Firstly,intowhichoftheseagegroupsdoyoufall?”

Theagestructureofrespondentswassignificantlydifferent(p<0.05)tothepopulationagestructureofWesternAustralia(Table37),mostlyduetoalowerproportionofrespondentsagedbetween20and34.

Table 37 Age categories.

Count %18 to 19 years 30 4.020 to 24 years 36 4.825 to 34 years 74 9.935 to 44 years 171 22.845 to 54 years 168 22.455 to 64 years 134 17.965 years & over 123 16.4Unknown 13 1.8Total 749 100.0

Question 18

Inquestion18respondentswereasked:“Whichofthefollowingcategoriesbestdescribeswhatyoucurrentlydo?”

A largenumberof respondents (42.9%)wereemployed in full-timework (Table38).Somewereretiredoragedpensioners(20.7%)andothersinvolvedinpart-timework(16.6%).Theactivitystructureofrespondentswassignificantlydifferent(p<0.05)tothepopulationactivitystructureofWesternAustralia,possiblyduetothelownumberofpeopledoinghomedutiesandlookingforworkandthehighnumberofretiredandagedpensionerrespondents.


Table 38 Activity structure.

Count %

Full - time work in a job or business 321 42.9Part - time or casual work in a job or business 124 16.6

Full - time student 40 5.3

Looking for work 9 1.2

Retired or aged pensioner 155 20.7

Other pensioner 13 1.7

Home duties 78 10.4

Other/Refused 9 1.2

Total 749 100.0

Question 19

Inquestion19respondentswereasked:“Whatkindofworkdoyoudo?”

Therewere445respondentsemployedinafullorpart-timecapacity.Of these,36.0%wereprofessionalsand14.6%weremanagers(Table39).Therewasasignificantdifference(p<0.05)betweentheemploymentstructureofrespondentsandthepopulationemploymentstructureofWesternAustralia,mainlyduetoahigherproportionofprofessionalsandalowerproportionofrespondentsworkingclerical,salesandserviceareas.

Table 39 Type of work.

Count %

Managers 65 14.6Professionals 160 36.0

Technicians and associated professionals 41 9.2

Tradespersons 39 8.8

Production, plant and transport operators 28 6.3

Clerical, sales and service – advanced, intermediate 37 8.3

Clerical, sales and service – elementary 13 2.9

Labourers, process workers, cleaners etc 52 11.7

Unknown 10 2.2

Total 445 100.0

Question 20

Inquestion20respondentswereasked:“Whatisthepostcodeofthesuburb/towninwhichyoulive?”

Question 21

Inquestion21,thesexoftherespondentwasrecorded.


4.0 ReFeRenCes

AustralianBureauofStatistics(1987).RecreationalFishingWesternAustralia.

AustralianBureauofStatistics(1998).WesternAustralianYearBook.

AustralianBureauofStatistics(2000).PopulationbyAgeandSex,WesternAustralia,30June1999.

AustralianBureauofStatistics.(2002).Censusresults.

PattersonMarketResearch(1994).ConsultantsreportfortheDepartmentofFisheries.

RearkResearch(1996)CommunityAttitudesSurvey.ConsultantsreportfortheDepartmentofFisheries.

RearkResearch(1997)CommunityAttitudesSurvey.ConsultantsreportfortheDepartmentofFisheries.

RightMarketing(1998)TheDepartmentofFisheriesCommunitySurvey1998.ConsultantsreportfortheDepartmentofFisheries.

T.Baharthah&N.R.Sumner(1999)DepartmentofFisheriesCommunitySurvey1999.





T.Baharthah(2004)DepartmentofFisheriesCommunitySurvey2004.




5.0 APPenDICes

5.1 AppendixA:SurveyQuestionnaireForm

department of fisheries community survey 2007 · fisheries, fish and fish habitat protection, and...

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