Fish-cleaning posts for popular jetty

The need for some change at the site, which is hugely popular with amateur fishermen, was put forward after images of salmon being left to bleed out on the jetty were shared on social media.

In April, Cockburn councillor Stephen Pratt called on the City to look at installing fish-cleaning stations at the spot.

“Due to the popularity of the jetty I think there is an opportunity to provide better facilities,” he said.

In the subsequent report to councillors, Cockburn’s environment manager Chris Beaton said the images and anecdotal reports indicate that “use and misuse of the Woodman Point Ammunition Jetty is getting out of hand”.

“Current activities on the jetty are a major issue both on the environmental front and for recreational amenity and safety for the general public.”

Mr Beaton said installation of a fish cleaning station had been considered by a working group for some time.

“The provision of one or more mobile fish-cleaning stations on the jetty has been suggested and this is currently being investigated by the working group to determine the practicalities… of installing such a facility,” he said.

“Other less popular fishing sites along the Cockburn coast do not seem to generate the same issues as those on the Ammunition Jetty and it is felt that fish-cleaning stations at other locations, particularly those managed by the City, are not warranted.”

Mr Beaton said the working group, comprising the City, Department of Transport, Department of Fisheries, Fremantle Ports, Department of Parks and Wildlife and RecFish West, had been looking at the future of the deteriorating jetty for some time.

Extra rubbish bins have been installed. A look into the apparent mistreatment of sharks and rays caught from the jetty had turned up nothing because it could not be established that any laws had been broken.