Green light for Green?s Pool

View across Green?s Pool, Denmark.

A ban on fishing at Green's Pool near Denmark has been ruled out after the Department of Fisheries conducted a thorough assessment of public submissions.

In April this year, the Department of Fisheries called for public submissions on whether fishing should be banned along 600m of beach and headland at the popular tourist and swimming destination located about 15km from Denmark.

Green's Pool, a major tourist attraction in the William Bay National Park, is popular almost year-round for swimming or fishing because it is protected from prevailing weather and current conditions by a surrounding headland.

Conflict between different users of the marine area around Green's Pool had prompted Fisheries Minister Norman Moore to ask for advice on whether fishing should be banned there.

It was previously suggested that the presence of anglers, as well as fishing hooks and other tackle left behind or lost in the water, was dangerous to swimmers, snorkellers and beach visitors.

""The Department of Fisheries carried out a thorough assessment of the submissions," Mr Moore said.

"Part of the department's advice was that the Denmark Shire Council did not have the relevant legal powers to regulate fishing within the William Bay National Park.

"I have decided not to prohibit fishing at Green's Pool and instead will write to the William Bay National Park Authority asking it to work with the Denmark Shire Council to educate the public about the conflicting needs of fishers and other users of the area."

Mr Moore said the department had received 65 responses to its call for public submissions - 49 for prohibiting fishing at Green's Pool, 13 against the prohibition and two submissions, from the WA Industry Fishing Council and the Department of Environment, neutral.

"It should be noted that most submissions supporting the ban were from individuals wanting Green's Pool to be a marine sanctuary rather than to address the issues of conflict and swimmer safety," he said.

"I believe that with the proper signage and by encouraging anglers to restrict their fishing activities when swimmers are around, most of these conflicts will resolve themselves."

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