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As the election on 8th March approaches and prepoll voting begins on 24th February, AFTA has requested a prompt response to the AFTA Policy Submission on Recreational Fishing in Western Australia, which was sent out on 9th December to all parties.
Recreational fishers deserve to be informed about the plans of the next government regarding recreational fishing to make well-informed decisions that serve their best interests.
It should be noted by political parties that 750,000 people (25.4%) in Western Australia engage in fishing at least once a year, which is higher than the Australian average of 21.4%. Participation rates are higher in WA among both men (30.4% vs. 25.3%) and women (21.9% vs. 17.8%), with more individuals fishing in both urban (22.4% vs. 18.0%) and regional areas (38.3% vs. 29.9%).
In 2018-19, there were 28.6 million fishing events in WA, with saltwater fishing being the most popular (93.9%), followed by estuary fishing (70.1%). Freshwater fishing was less common (46.9% vs. 63.1% nationally). Recreational fishing contributed $1.15 billion to WA’s economy in 2019-20, supporting 9,380 full-time jobs, including $709 million and 5,387 jobs in Perth and $437 million and 3,993 jobs in regional areas.
Labor Government:
During the current term of the Labor Government, under the Fisheries portfolio led by Minister Don Punch, the recreational fishing industry has experienced significant setbacks, particularly regarding the management of the demersal fishery and restrictions on recreational fishing. This was highlighted by the largest petition ever tabled in the WA Parliament.
Despite this, the government sought recognition for spending $4.1 million of recreational fishers’ taxes (not from the RFIF) to purchase 12 licenses, equating to approximately 38.5 tonnes of demersal scalefish (pink snapper and dhufish) annually. Of this, 18.5 tonnes were reallocated to other commercial fisheries under the Voluntary Fisheries Adjustment Scheme (VFAS) for commercial operators, 10 tonnes were were allocated to the Charter sector & 10 tonnes allocated to the recreational sector.
However, it is important to acknowledge the government’s recent initiatives:
- The Carnarvon artificial reef project,
- The design of a new fishing platform for the Bunbury breakwater,
- The Albany artificial reef,
- Rule changes introduced in December 2024 to enhance recreational fishing opportunities,
- The announcement in October 2024 of the deployment of 30 FADs from Steep Point near Shark Bay to Albany, which is a modest increase in an established program.
Recreational fishers have appreciated the fish restocking program, which released 15,000 Yellowtail Kingfish, bringing the four-year total to 150,000. However, there is a need for further investment in new hatcheries and the restocking of more species. On the freshwater fishing front, the Government has provided improved opportunities for WA anglers.
Nonetheless, the Government’s demersal ban has had a profound impact on recreational fishers and the tackle trade, leading to tackle store closures and economic downturns. Despite the government’s claim of providing more demersal fishing opportunities for charter and recreational fishers, these measures pale in comparison to the extensive periods of closures affecting the viability of some stores due to severe cutbacks in fishing for demersal species like Dhufish and Pink Snapper.
The closure of Bluewater Tackle World Myaree and Joondalup stores by Liza Harvey marked the end of an era for the WA recreational fishing trade, partly due to the challenging trading conditions following the government’s changes to access to the fishery.
Additionally, recreational fishers face further restrictions with the prohibition of wire trace use within 800 meters of Perth metropolitan beaches, essential for shark fishing exacerbated by Local Government Areas (LGA’s) are also restricting access to coastal fishing areas.
The original South Coast Marine Parks proposals by the government were seen as unnecessary, overly restrictive, and poorly thought out. Now, the industry faces another challenge with the proposed expansion of the Marmion Marine Park. The draft plans for expanding the Marmion Marine Park are expected to be released after the March election. The proposed expansion aims to extend the marine park boundary northward to Two Rocks and westward to the State waters limit, increasing its size to approximately 34,500 hectares. The planning process will review existing zoning arrangements.
Located in the Central West Coast region, the proposed marine park expansion covers an area heavily utilized for recreational activities, including fishing. With roughly 75% of Western Australia’s population residing in the Perth metropolitan area and an estimated 750,000 recreational anglers in the state, a significant portion are based in Perth. There are five major marinas and boat ramps between Fremantle and Two Rocks, providing convenient access for anglers. Proposing seven sanctuary zones in this region requires thorough justification, consultation with stakeholders, and a triple bottom line impact assessment.
Fishing families have relied on these inshore waters for generations, targeting species such as herring, whiting, squid, tailor, salmon, skippy, pink snapper, dhufish, and western rock lobster. Families with limited budgets cannot venture further offshore due to safety concerns, making it essential to keep these inshore waters accessible for future generations. As an industry, we advocate for sustainability based on a triple bottom line assessment. However, closing off areas in these regions appears illogical, especially when most of the species caught are crucial local species.
Liberals & Nationals Opposition:
Throughout the past term, the Liberal and National Oppositions have maintained accessibility to AFTA and its members. We have valued their support for recreational fishing.
AFTA welcomes the adoption of one of its policy proposals with the Liberal Government will consolidate all existing WA fishing licenses into a single license at a cost of $40
Liberal Leader Libby Mettam has also expressed concerns regarding the impacts of extending marine parks and sanctuary zones at South Coast Marine Park and the proposed extension of the Marmion Marine Park. As Libby Mettam stated, “ If these sanctuary zones in the Marmion Marine Park similarly exceed what is necessary, it will impose a heavy and seemingly unjustified cost that could lead to unintended consequences, exacerbating overfishing in other areas and jeopardizing certified sustainable industries that have fished these waters for generations.”
We also appreciate that the Nationals Leader Shane Love has pledged that, if in government, they would return to the drawing board on the South Coast Marine Park and undertake a Special Inquiry into the selection of all new Marine Parks in WA.
The Opposition supported the petition opposing the proposed nine-month west coast demersal ban which garnered over 17,000 signatures, marking it as the largest online parliamentary petition in WA history, which was tabled by Nationals MP, The Hon Colin de Grussa MLC. It is notably disappointing that Minister Don Punch decided to terminate any further inquiry as requested by the petitioners, led by AFTA member Tim Farnell.
AFTA welcomes the Nationals’ $20 million commitment to address longstanding water quality issues at Jurien Bay Marina, focusing on preventing fish kills and preserving the local marine ecosystem as well as keeping the push up to the Cook Labor Government for failing to deliver its promised $1.4 million artificial reef project off Carnarvon.
The current government’s stance and restrictions on leisure activities reached a peak during the Australia Day weekend when Nationals Leader Shane Love criticised LABOR’S WAR ON THE WEEKEND.
AFTA Election Policy Questions:
As part of the preparation for our comparative policy analysis, the AFTA Policy Submission on Recreational Fishing in Western Australia was submitted to all political parties on 9th December for consideration prior to the release of their policy documents.
AFTA sought the following commitments:
- Will your party commit to forming a Minister for Outdoor Recreation & Lifestyle portfolio?
- Cost of Living Relief:
- Will your party commit to a restructuring of Recreational Fishing Licences and reduce licence fees to bring downward pressure on the costs of participation?
- Advisory Committees:
- Will your party commit to appointing a Fisheries Management Advisory Committee with members from the recreational, commercial, fishing tourism, and indigenous traditional fishing sectors to oversee the planning and implementation of all Fishery Management Frameworks and Harvest Strategies?
- Will your party commit to establishing a Ministerial Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee to report directly to the Minister on specific issues related to the recreational fishing sector?
- Harvest Strategies:
- Will your party develop and implement a program of licence buyouts and reduce closures for recreational fishers commensurate with the stock level acquired back into the system?
- Seasonal Species Closures:
- Will you party commit to conducting a detailed and comprehensive scientific study, in collaboration with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), on the aggregation, breeding patterns (triggers), and locations of Snapper and Dhufish to ensure that future decisions are based on sound scientific evidence?
- Will your party review the species closures with a view to increasing recreational fishing participation?
- Netting Closures:
- Will your party commit to the fair and just buyout of commercial net licenses from our sheltered rivers and estuaries?
- Will your party commit to increasing departmental effort in engagement and observation to support recovery of these climate change – commercial fishery impacted regions?
- Fish Restocking:
- Will your party commit to $12million in funding for restocking?
- Will your party commit to establishing new hatcheries?
- LGA restrictions on fishing:
- Will your party commit to removing LGA restrictions on fishing access and protect the public’s right to access our waterways and coast?
- Marine Parks:
- Will your party commit to proactive engagement through a Ministerial Advisory Committee or a Ministerial Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee?
- As a part of the process will your party commit to the Triple Bottom Line assessment of Environmental, Economic and Social impacts?
- Funding:
- Will your party commit to the $170m Recfishwest funding proposal?
- Will you party commit to increasing, not only direct funding to the Dhufish Forever Program, but additional departmental resources to reduce the demands on volunteers?
- Biosecurity Issues -White Spot Disease:
- Will your party commit to phasing out the sale of uncooked, imported crustaceans in WA?
- Sharks:
- Will your party commit to reviewing the restrictions on wire traces?
- Will your party commit to reviewing and increasing the maximum “inter-dorsal fin” measurement of 700mm?
- Offshore Windfarms:
- Will your party reject the application for Offshore Windfarms where the passage is through State controlled waters/lands?
The Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) will be releasing a Western Australia recreational fishing policy analysis, which will be widely distributed on February 23rd prior to the commencement of pre-polling. As previously communicated, no responses or policy documents will be published after this.