Fascinating Footage Highlights Benefits Of Release Weight

[TerryF]

Fascinating footage highlights benefits of Release Weight

Recfishwest today 10 July 2008 launched the Release Weight DVD and information brochure to promote best practice for releasing demersal scalefish.

"The DVD includes some fascinating above and underwater footage of the Release Weight in action, showing fish clearly suffering the effects of barotrauma swimming off strongly with the aid of the release weight." Acting Executive Director of Recfishwest, Kane Moyle said today.

Recent changes to managing the recreational catch of demersal scalefish in the West Coast bioregion coupled with a changing ethos to catch and release fishing is seeing recreational fishers releasing more and more fish.

"It is extremely important that every fish released is correctly handled and it has been proven that the use of a Release Weight will significantly increase a fish's chance of surviving the capture." Mr Moyle said.

The importance of the Release Weight as an effective means for releasing demersal reef species has been shown through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Murdoch University, Department of Fisheries and ANSA project, Maximising the survival of released undersize West Coast Reef Fish.

The tag recapture data from this study found the Release Weight to be by far and away the superior method of releasing dhufish. Recaptures were 10.1% for fish release using a Release Weight whereas simple release recaptures were 6.3%.

"Recreational fishers are valuing more and more every fish they catch, a fish released in a healthy condition is one that can spawn and have the opportunity to be caught again later." Mr Moyle said.

Copies of the DVD and brochure will be distributed to tackle stores around Western Australia. A copy of the DVD will be provided free with every Release Weight purchased while stocks are available.

Recfishwest urges all recreational fishers to view this interesting and highly informative DVD. The DVD can be downloaded from http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ReleaseWeightDVD.htm

This project was made possible thanks to funding received through the Australian Government's Recreational Fishing Community Grants Programme.

Media Contact, Kane Moyle - Acting Executive Director Recfishwest, ph. (08) 9246 3366 Mob. 0419 949 118

10 July 2008

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The DVD is "Using the Release Weight to improve the survival of released fish - Proven best practice for releasing demersal reef fish."

The DVD and the RFW website has extra segments from "Gently does it" (made for FRDC) by Andrew Ettingshausen which should interest people who fish for other species - covers releasing several popular species of fish and general information about deep hooking and barotrauma..

Main movie:- Using the Release Weight to improve the survival of released fish, plays for 8 minutes 40 seconds. WA made

Part 2. Manufacturing the Release Weight. plays for 2 minutes 44 seconds. By Sunset Sinkers, a WA company.

Part 3. Introduction to "Gently does it" by Andrew Ettingshausen, ("ET"). plays for 1 minute 54 seconds

1:- Flathead, plays for 2 minutes 54 seconds

2:- Black Bream, plays for 1 minute 37 seconds

3:- Deep hooking fish, plays for 1 minute 43 seconds

4:- Barotrauma, plays for 3 minutes

5:- Pink Snapper, plays for 2 minutes 38 seconds

6:- Samson Fish, plays for 2 minutes 9 seconds

7:- Barramundi, plays for 1 minute 28 seconds

Source of all that to download any/all of the videos:- http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ReleaseWeightDVD.htm

TerryF

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Beavering away in the background.......

[Josh88]

I saw that being done on a fishing show a few weeks ago.

Seems like a good idea.