WA Fisheries Management Deep Dive Part 2 – Community Backlash

It’s been several months since we last covered the Western Australian Government’s sweeping new demersal fishing restrictions. Far from fading away, the issue has only grown more heated. If the government hoped the controversy would quietly disappear, they are clearly disappointed.

The most significant development since our December article is that the commercial fishing sector has taken decisive legal action . Sea Harvest and Westmore Seafoods have launched a Supreme Court challenge against the new regulations. They argue that the restrictions are not reasonably proportionate to the stated goal of rebuilding dhufish and pink snapper stocks and that the measures lack a rational basis .

The outcome of this case remains uncertain. Courts are traditionally reluctant to second-guess environmental regulatory decisions. Nevertheless, the challenge itself is noteworthy: it sets an important precedent and may encourage other affected parties, commercial or recreational, to pursue similar legal avenues.

Beyond the courtroom, the economic fallout is already visible. Seafood wholesalers are now forced to import pink snapper from as far away as New Zealand to meet local demand, driving sharp price increases that are being felt by consumers across the state.

The fishing community, both commercial and recreational, has responded with sustained resistance. Multiple protests have taken place since the restrictions were announced, including a major demonstration in Perth in mid-January. One particularly striking incident saw two fishermen dump 200 kg of fish heads and offal outside the office of Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis. A visceral symbol of their anger and desperation.

Social media has amplified the outrage. Commercial operators, tackle shops, recreational fishers, and even people outside the industry are openly venting their frustration. The restrictions are hitting far beyond the boats and the bait shops.

I recently spent time in Jurien Bay during what should have been peak holiday season. The town was noticeably quieter than expected. Every local I spoke to pointed directly to the fishing restrictions as the reason for the drop in visitors and business.

The financial losses are severe, but the human cost is even more troubling . Many multi-generational commercial fishing families have been blindsided. Operators are now questioning whether they can pass their businesses on to their children. Even if one accepts the scientific justification for the restrictions ( which is debatable ), that does not lessen the profound disruption and distress being experienced by individuals, families, and entire communities.

In a particularly tone-deaf move, in December the WA Government directed commercial license holders to contact “Stay Afloat,” a mental health support service for the seafood industry. The only problem? Stay Afloat had already been shut down months earlier. Talk about twisting the knife; an oversight that was as cruel as it was careless.

We at Backbone Australia extend our heartfelt support to everyone in the fishing community struggling with the mental health impacts of these restrictions. If you or someone you know is finding it hard to cope, help is available through services such as Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) and Lifeline (13 11 14).

Only time will tell how this saga unfolds. We hope the government listens seriously to the mounting feedback, from courtrooms, streets, businesses, and families, and reconsiders its approach before more livelihoods and communities are irreparably damaged.